August 16, 1999

To:Works Committee

From:Commissioner, Works and Emergency Services

Subject:Proposed Speed Limit Reduction on Yonge Street between Poyntz Avenue and Greenfield Avenue.

North York - Centre; Councillors John Filion, Norm Gardner.

Purpose:

To reduce the speed limit on Yonge Street between Poyntz Avenue and Greenfield Avenue during construction of the Sheppard Subway - Yonge 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 Yonge Street between Poyntz Avenue and Greenfield Avenue until completion of the Yonge Subway Station surface construction in the fall of 2001; and

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

Background:

Construction of the Yonge Station for the Sheppard Subway will be underway from early 1998 through to the fall of 2001. The cut-and-cover method is being used for the construction of the station and the wye tracks that will form the connections between the Sheppard line and the Yonge line. To facilitate the construction of the Yonge Station where it is situated above the existing Sheppard Station a detour has been constructed to the west of the Yonge Street/Sheppard Avenue intersection and put into operation in August 1999.

Discussion:

The detour road will provide similar traffic carrying capacity to that existing on Yonge Street prior to the construction, with six lanes being provided for through traffic. The geometry of the detour, however, has curves that are more severe than those normally encountered on the arterial road network.

The Yonge Street - Sheppard Avenue intersection has a high volume of pedestrian and vehicular traffic and the introduction of a reduced speed limit would permit the use of Police enforcement if required to enhance the safety of all users of this intersection.

Conclusions:

The posted speed limit should be reduced from 50 km per hour to 40 km per hour on Yonge Street between Poyntz Avenue and Greenfield Avenue for the duration of construction of the Sheppard Subway Yonge 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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