March 12, 1999

To:Urban Environment and Development Committee

From:General Manager, Transportation Services

Subject:Designation of Individuals for Approval of Traffic Control Signal Plans

Purpose:

This report requests that the authority to approve traffic control signal plans and modifications thereto be delegated to certain staff members of the City of Toronto Works and Emergency Services Department.

Financial Implications:

There are no financial implications to this approval.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)Council designate staff members of the City of TorontoWorks and Emergency Services Department holding the position of:

Commissioner

General Manager, Transportation Services

Director, Transportation Systems

District Director, Transportation Services

Manager, Traffic Operations, Transportation Services

Manager, Electrical and Lighting Systems

Supervisor, Traffic Signals

as persons authorized to approve traffic control signals and traffic control signal systems pursuant to Section 144(31) of the Ontario Highway Traffic Act;

(2)the above authority shall be deemed to have come into force March 1, 1999; and

(3)the appropriate City of Toronto Officials be authorized to take the necessary action to give effect thereto, including the introduction of the necessary Bill in Council.

Background:

Subsection 144(31) of the Ontario Highway Traffic Act (HTA), concerning the installation of traffic control signals and signal systems, formerly required that Municipalities obtain approval from the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario for traffic control signal installations and modifications. This subsection was repealed and the following substituted therefor:

(31) Subject to subsection (31.1), no traffic control signal system or traffic control signal used in conjunction with a traffic control signal system shall be erected or installed except in accordance with an approval obtained from a person designated to give such approvals by the municipality or other authority that has jurisdiction over the highway or the intersection.

(31.1) No traffic control signal system or traffic control signal used in conjunction with a traffic control signal system shall be erected or installed on a highway designated as a connecting link under subsection 21(1) of the Public Transportation and Highway Improvement Act except in accordance with an approval obtained from the Minister or an official of the Ministry authorized by the Minister to grant such approval.

The above amendments were passed under Bill 92 (The Road Safety Act (No. 2)) and were effective March 3, 1997.

At that time, Metropolitan Toronto Council adopted a report dated June 27, 1997 from the Commissioner of Transportation designating staff members of the Metropolitan Toronto Transportation Department as persons authorized to approve traffic control signals.

It would now be appropriate to change those designations to reflect the District Operations of Transportation Services within the Works and Emergency Services Department.

Discussion:

As a result of the aforementioned amendments to the HTA, effective March 3, 1997, the City of Toronto is no longer required to submit traffic control signal plans to the Ministry of Transportation for approval. (The exception to this change is that all traffic control signal systems that are to be installed on "connecting links", e.g., ramps to Provincial highways will still require approval by the Ministry of Transportation prior to installation.) However, the City of Toronto is now responsible for designating a person or persons to review and approve traffic control signal plans, and to ensure that such plans meet the legal requirements as identified in Regulation 626 of the HTA.

Conclusion:

Delegating the authority to approve traffic control signal plans and modifications thereto to the above-mentioned staff of the Works and Emergency Services Department will permit qualified staff to approve traffic control signal installations on behalf of the City of Toronto.

Contact Name and Telephone Number:

Les Kelman

Director, Transportation Systems

(416) 392-5372 Telephone

(416) 392-4940 Fax

David C. Kaufman

General Manager, Transportation Services

Barry H. Gutteridge

Commissioner, Works and Emergency Services

/dmb