March 18, 1999
To:Urban Environment and Development Committee
From:General Manager, Transportation Services
Subject:Proposed Installation of Traffic Control Signals at
Lawrence Avenue West and Glen Rush Boulevard / Welland Road
Ward 9, North York Centre South
Purpose:
To propose the installation of traffic control signals at the intersection of Lawrence Avenue
West and Glen Rush Boulevard, removal of the existing pedestrian crossover (PXO) located
to the immediate west of the intersection of Lawrence Avenue West and Welland Road, and
geometric improvement to the southeast corner of the Lawrence Avenue West/Glen Rush
Boulevard intersection.
Funding Sources:
The funds associated with the installation of the traffic control signals and removal of the
PXO, estimated at a cost of $100,000.00 are contained in the Works and Emergency Services
Capital Program under project No. C-TR031. Funding for intersection improvements required
to accommodate this signal installation are estimated at $20,000.00, and are contained in the
1999 Current Estimates of District 3.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1)traffic control signals be installed at the intersection of Lawrence Avenue West and Glen
Rush Boulevard;
(2)coincident with the traffic control signal installation, the existing pedestrian crossover be
removed;
(3)intersection improvements be undertaken at the intersection of Lawrence Avenue West
and Glen Rush Boulevard to reduce the radius on the southeast corner of the intersection and
realign the existing sidewalks; and
(4)the appropriate by-law(s) be amended accordingly.
Background:
A review of the pedestrian crossing activities at the Lawrence Avenue West/Glen Rush
Boulevard/Welland Road intersection was completed in early 1997 and it was determined at
that time that this PXO had a satisfactory safety record, with one pedestrian-related collision
in the previous five year period. However, the unusual geometry of this intersection was noted
during a review of school related pedestrian crossing concerns brought forward by the
adjacent community. The residents requested the installation of traffic control signals at the
intersection of Bathurst Street and Coldstream Avenue and a general review of the local area
with regards to improvements to help the local school children crossing the local arterial
roads.
The further review of this PXO location determined that many drivers failed to yield to
pedestrians in the PXO and that, despite the appropriate signs being installed to prohibit
westbound left turns between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., Monday to Friday, many illegal turns
were completed. As a result, police enforcement of the traffic regulations was requested.
More recently, the local community has requested a review of the operation of this PXO
which serves many schools, in light of the traffic fatality involving a local 15 year old female
school student. The investigation is not complete but the setting sun is believed to have been a
factor in the collision which occurred at approximately 5:30 p.m.
Comments:
Lawrence Avenue West, in this vicinity is a four lane arterial roadway with a speed limit of 50
km/h. Traffic control signals are located approximately 340 metres to the east of the PXO, at
Ledbury Street, and 275 metres to the west, at Bathurst Street. This intersection is an off-set
intersection with Glen Rush Boulevard running to the south of Lawrence Avenue West on an
abrupt skew with stop sign controls. Welland Road runs to the north of Lawrence Avenue
West and is stop controlled.
The most unusual feature of this PXO is that it is located in the middle of the off-set
intersection and is therefore impacted negatively by heavy turning moments in the immediate
area of the PXO.
There are approximately 270 pedestrians crossing Lawrence Avenue West at the PXO during
an eight hour period of a typical weekday. During recent studies of this PXO, staff observed
numerous occasions where motorists failed to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing
within the PXO. Furthermore, it was observed that vehicle queues sometimes extended
through the PXO during the morning and afternoon peak periods. This created additional
safety hazards for pedestrians because drivers could not see them as they crossed between
stopped vehicles.
In addition, it was noted that there were frequent westbound left turns performed during the
morning peak period despite the westbound left turn prohibition. During the afternoon peak
period the westbound left turn movement caused westbound queueing which extended
through the PXO.
The re-evaluation of the operational characteristics at this location has indicated that since the
last review, there has been an increase of about 5,000 vehicles in the daily total vehicular
traffic on Lawrence Avenue West to 34,000 vehicles per day. Generally, maximum roadway
traffic volumes should not exceed 35,000 vehicles at PXO locations. It was also determined
that the 85th percentile operating speed on Lawrence Avenue West is 59 km/h. On roadways
where operating speeds exceed 60 km/h, a PXO should not be considered as the potential risks
to pedestrian safety increases. Finally, it was noted that the longer vehicular queues extending
through the PXO create visibility restrictions, particularly as a result of increased illegal left
turning vehicles during prohibited times.
It was further determined that the current roadway geometrics may be negatively impacting
pedestrian and vehicle traffic operations as a result of the traffic conditions described above.
Specifically, when travelling northbound on Glen Rush Boulevard, the radius on the southeast
corner of the intersection with Lawrence Avenue West is expansive. Right turning motorists
are required to look over their left shoulder to observe eastbound traffic, and this may be
reducing their attention of pedestrian activities within the PXO.
Current records indicate that there were five personal injury accidents at the subject
intersection from January 1, 1995 to October 18, 1998, one of which was pedestrian related.
Collision data for the remainder of 1998 is not available.
The above indicates that the conditions at this PXO have changed sufficiently to warrant the
installation of traffic signals. As a result of the unusual geometrics of this location, several
options for the installation of traffic control signals are available.
(i)no modifications to the existing intersection geometry with traffic signal controls installed
at the Lawrence Avenue West/Glen Rush Boulevard/Welland Road intersection;
(ii)modifications to the southeast corner of the Lawrence Avenue West/Glen Rush
Boulevard intersection with traffic signal controls installed at the Lawrence Avenue
West/Glen Rush Boulevard/Welland Road intersection; or
(iii)modifications to the southeast corner of the Lawrence Avenue West/Glen Rush
Boulevard intersection, traffic signal controls installed at the Lawrence Avenue West/Glen
Rush Boulevard intersection, and the Welland Road intersection with Lawrence Avenue West
remain as stop controlled.
It has been determined that the most appropriate installation design is to provide for
improvements to the southeast corner of the intersection of Lawrence Avenue West with Glen
Rush Boulevard together with the installation of traffic control signals at this intersection.
Welland Road at its intersection with Lawrence Avenue West, should remain as stop
controlled. To further increase driver awareness and due to the location of the existing
sidewalk on the east side of Glen Rush Boulevard, pedestrian crossings should be restricted to
only the east side of the signalized intersection.
Conclusions:
The existing PXO on Lawrence Avenue West at Glen Rush Boulevard / Welland Road is no
longer operating in a satisfactory fashion as a result of changing traffic conditions. Since the
last review of this intersection in the fall of 1997, vehicular traffic has increased from 29,000
daily vehicles on Lawrence Avenue West to 34,000, just short of the maximum guideline of
35,000 daily vehicles for the installation of PXO's on arterial roads.
Longer westbound queues of left turning vehicles at Glen Rush Boulevard, which extend over
the PXO's, are creating more difficult conditions for pedestrians as a higher proportion of
drivers complete the left turn during prohibited times. Therefore, traffic control signals should
be installed to improve the operational safety of this location.
Contact Name:
Roberto Stopnicki,
Director, Transportation Services - District 3
395-7480 (telephone)
395-7482 (facsimile)
David C. Kaufman
General Manager, Transportation Services
Barry H. Gutteridge
Commissioner, Works and Emergency Services
RLP:bcb
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