October 21, 1999

To: Works Committee

From: Barry H. Gutteridge, Commissioner, Works and Emergency Services

Subject: Oversized Street Name Signs - Status Report

(All Wards)

Purpose:

The purpose of this report is to provide the Works Committee with a status report on the oversized street name signs pilot project.

Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

Funds in the amount of $250,000.00 were provided in the Transportation Services 1999 Capital Budget to undertake a pilot programme for the installation of oversized street name signs. The next phase of this programme is included in the Division's 2000 - 2004 Capital Works submission.

Recommendation:

It is recommended that this report be received for information.

Background:

In 1998, Councillor Anne Johnston on behalf of the Seniors' Task Force, requested that all departments consider initiatives to assist seniors, since 1999 was established as the International Year of the Older Person. In keeping with this spirit, and recognizing the increasing concern with an aging population being able to readily observe and identify street signage, Transportation Services Division recommended that funds be allocated to undertake a pilot project to assess and install street name signs that address these issues.

Comments:

At the present time, the existing street name signs in the City of Toronto vary in size, shape, colour and location. The pilot project consists of two phases. To ensure that the signs that would be installed for the pilot project were designed for the needs of all road users, the first phase was to evaluate alternative designs for oversized street name signs. We retained a leading consultant in human factors testing to assist with this phase of the project. Transportation Services also liaised with the Seniors' Task Force for their input during the development of the sign designs. The second phase of the pilot project is the implementation of the recommended designs at approximately 100 intersections.

The goal of the first phase was to determine the most appropriate sign design (letter height, sign placement, reflectivity, etc.) so that a sign in a downtown or a suburban environment can be easily detected in order to allow drivers a sufficient amount of time and distance to make a lane change or a turn.

Methodology:

For the purpose of the study, street name signs with reflective upper and lower case white letters on a blue background, and with letter heights of four inches, five inches, six inches or eight inches, were installed at test intersections. For the downtown study, six signs were installed on each of Adelaide Street and Richmond Street, and 12 signs were installed on Markham Road for the suburban test. The signs were placed at the far-right, far-left or advance-right sides of the signalized intersections. Approximately 50 percent of the test signs had logos and designer borders while the other 50 percent had no logos with a simple white border.

The test involved 32 subject drivers who were selected and instructed by the human factors researchers to travel a section of roadway and to make turns at certain intersections. The subjects were told not to make any lane changes or turns unless they could do so safely. The test subjects were not familiar with the test roadways but were advised that they were testing the adequacy of street name signs. All test subjects (50 percent male & 50 percent female) were 50 years old and up; 64.1 and 59.4 years were the average age for the downtown and suburban test subjects, respectively. The study took place during off-peak hours in the daytime and the evening.

For each turning movement by the subjects, a number of observations were made, such as: was the turn made or not made, approach speed, speed at intersection. The subjects were asked, after completing each turn, to rate the adequacy of the time to make the required lane change and complete the turn once they realized they were at the test intersection. The subjects were also asked a series of questions regarding the adequacy of the test signs.

The test results indicated that subjects in the downtown environment missed no turns at locations with signs that had eight inch letters and that were mounted on the far-right side of the intersection (attached to a traffic signal mast arm). In the suburban environment, subjects missed no turns at locations that had eight inch letters that were mounted on the right side at approximately 80 metres in advance of the intersection. The subjects preferred the eight inch letter height over all the other letter heights tested. The subjects also advised that the signs with the simple white border without logos were easier to read.

Police, Fire and Ambulance Services were contacted for comments on the pilot project. All three emergency services agreed that the installation of oversized street name signs would assist them in responding to emergency situations.

Findings:

As a result of the above-noted assessment, the following findings emerged to guide the long term upgrade of street name signage in Toronto:

(1) For downtown intersections, with mean speeds of approximately 55km/h or less, the preferred sign design should use eight inch upper and lower case letters. Signs should be located on the far-right traffic signal mast arm;

(2) For suburban intersections, with mean speeds of approximately 65km/h or less, the preferred sign design should use eight inch upper and lower case letters. Signs should be located on the right-side approximately 80 metres in advance of the intersection; and

(3) For clear visibility in night-time conditions as well as day light street name signs should be reflective with white letters on a blue background, a simple border, and no logos.

Implementation:

It is estimated that there are about 20,000 intersections in Toronto and in the order of 75,000 street name signs (approximately 1,900 intersections are signalized). Clearly, to replace all of these in a short to mid-time frame is not practical, nor is it necessary. The vast majority of these intersections are local streets, where traffic operates at low speeds. The existing signage consists of letter heights of three and one half inches to four inches. Although there would be some benefit to using reflective materials on the signs, this is being examined in the context of normal ongoing maintenance and replacement programmes.

The greatest benefit in oversized street name signage will be derived in areas where there is higher usage, vehicle speeds are higher and there would tend to be more drivers unfamiliar with an area (i.e. commercial traffic, tourists, etc.) Accordingly, the first stage of implementing the pilot programme has focussed on the intersections of major arterial streets. This would be supplemented by the intersections of major and minor arterials, and then the intersections of two minor arterials. There are approximately 700 intersections that fall into these categories. Of the total, about 360 are located in the central areas of the city and 340 in surrounding districts.

The funds in the pilot programme will accommodate the conversion of about 100 intersections this year, with locations by district in the proportions noted above. It is noted that existing street name signage in District Four (Scarborough Community Council area) is reasonably consistent with the new standards. Thus, less work is required to upgrade this area.

As part of the 2000 - 2004 Capital Budget, funds in the amount of $1.7million over a three to five year period will be requested to complete the 600 outstanding priority locations. The direction of the programme would be evaluated on completion of these locations to decide whether further expansion is merited.

Conclusions:

Based on the results of our study, the installation of oversized street name signs represents an opportunity to improve the safety and efficiency of our road system for all users. Signs at approximately 100 intersections will be installed this year under the pilot programme. Transportation Services will request funds over a three to five year period under its Capital Programme to install signs at an additional 600 high priority intersections.

Contact:

Myles Currie

Manager, Traffic Signing/Pavement Markings

District 1

Tel: (416) 397-5179

Fax: (416) 392-8504

Email: myles_currie@toronto.ca

David C. Kaufman

General Manager, Transportation Services

Barry H. Gutteridge

Commissioner, Works and Emergency Services

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