August 16, 1999

To:Works Committee

From:Commissioner, Works and Emergency Services

Subject:Proposed Speed Limit Reduction on Sheppard Avenue East between Greenbriar Road and Blue Ridge Road.

North York - Centre South; Councillors Joanne Flint, Milton Berger.

Seneca Heights; Councillors Joan King, David Shiner.

Purpose:

To reduce the speed limit on Sheppard Avenue East between Greenbriar Road and Blue Ridge Road during construction of the Sheppard Subway - Bessarian Station.

Funding Sources:

All costs associated with this work will be the responsibility of the Toronto Transit Commission under the Rapid Transit Expansion Program.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)the speed limit be reduced to 40 km per hour on Sheppard Avenue East between Greenbriar Road and Blue Ridge Road until completion of Bessarian Station surface construction in the fall of 2001; and

(2)the appropriate by-law(s) be amended accordingly.

Background:

Construction of the Bessarian Station for the Sheppard Subway will be underway from early 1999 through to the fall of 2001. The cut-and-cover method is being used for the construction of the station. To maintain traffic flow on Sheppard Avenue East during the construction period a detour road has been constructed which will provide four traffic lanes. The detour in its final configuration will be in place in mid-August 1999.

 Discussion:

Sheppard Avenue East between Greenbriar Road and Blue Ridge Road is operating as a four-lane detour road during the construction of the Bessarian Subway Station. The posted speed limit is 60 km per hour. There are a considerable number of traffic turning movements in the area as the adjacent land use includes a strip mall, a garden centre, a medical centre, and a day care facility. These turning movements are being made from the through traffic lanes on the Sheppard Avenue East detour that has been constructed with several curved sections. There are also a number of school children that cross Sheppard Avenue at the Burbank Drive intersection, assisted by a School Crossing Guard.

As drivers gain familiarity with the new detour layout it is expected that traffic speed will approach the normal operating speed of Sheppard Avenue East. This would not be appropriate with the curvature of the detour road and the number of vehicles making turns from the through traffic lanes. In order to reduce this possibility, and ensure its control by Police enforcement if the situation arises, a reduction in the speed limit for vehicles travelling on Sheppard Avenue East through the work area is justified.

Conclusions:

The posted speed limit should be reduced from 60 km per hour to 40 km per hour on Sheppard Avenue East between Greenbriar Road and Blue Ridge Road for the duration of construction of the Sheppard Subway Bessarian Station.

Contact Name and Telephone Number:

David Butler, Manager

Sheppard Subway Traffic Operations

(416) 392-5285

    David C. Kaufman

General Manager, Transportation Services

    Barry H. Gutteridge

Commissioner, Works and Emergency Services

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