REQUEST TO REVERT THE TWO-WAY OPERATION

ON ATLAS AVENUE BETWEEN EGLINTON AVENUE WEST

AND THE BETH SHALOM SYNAGOGUE TO ONE-WAY

NORTHBOUND - Ward 28, York-Eglinton

Director, Transportation Services District 1

(June 22, 1999)

Purpose:

To respond to a request from York Community Council for a report on the feasibility of changing the operation of Atlas Avenue, between Eglinton Avenue West and the entrance/exit to Beth Shalom Synagogue, from two-way to one-way northbound.

Funding Sources:

The funds required for implementation of Scenario Three outlined in this report, involving two speed humps and a roadway narrowing, estimated at $3,500.00, are contained in the Works and Emergency Services Department 1999 Capital Budget.

Recommendations:

1)That Scenario Three, recommending a pavement narrowing with a speed regulator hump immediately south of the entrance/exit to Beth Shalom Synagogue and a mid-block speed regulator hump, be approved, subject to a poll revealing the majority of municipally addressed property owners support this alternative; and

2)A road alteration by-law be prepared and public notice be given.

Background:

York Community Council, at its meeting of November 12, 1998, in considering a petition from residents requested staff to report on the concerns expressed in relation to the proposal of converting the portion of Atlas Avenue between Eglinton Avenue West and the entrance/exit to the Beth Shalom Synagogue to one-way northbound operation, recommend alternative solutions, and that deputants be invited when the report is considered. (Clause No. 8(s) of Report No. 14 of the York Community Council)

Comments:

Atlas Avenue currently operates two-way from Eglinton Avenue West to the entrance/exit into Beth Shalom Synagogue, and one-way northbound between the Synagogue and Gloucester Grove.

The portion of Atlas Avenue between Eglinton Avenue West and the entrance/exit to Beth Shalom Synagogue was changed to two-way in 1996, in response to a request from the Synagogue to provide more direct vehicular access to their parking facility at the rear of the building.

At the time, turn prohibitions along Eglinton Avenue West at each of the local side streets between Strathearn Road and Alameda Avenue prevented ingress for 12 hours of the day (7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.). Direct access from Eglinton Avenue West into the Beth Shalom Synagogue parking facilities was confined exclusively to Winnett Avenue at all times.

The residents of Atlas Avenue are requesting the two-way portion of Atlas Avenue between Eglinton Avenue West and the entrance/exit to the Beth Shalom Synagogue be reinstated to a one-way northbound operation. Their request is in response to concerns that motorists ignore the one-way regulation to continue traveling southbound on Atlas Avenue to Gloucester Grove endangering public safety. The petition also mentions motorists reversing at high speeds.

Another problem that has resulted in reverting Atlas Avenue into a two-way operation between Eglinton Avenue West and the entrance/exit to Beth Shalom Synagogue is motorists utilize the parking lot as a cut through to Winnett Avenue to enter the residential area south Eglinton Avenue West. This has prompted the Synagogue to chain the exits onto Winnett Avenue during certain times of the day.

In response to Council's motion to review alternative options, outlined below and shown in the attached appendix are three scenarios and their corresponding implications for consideration:

Scenario One:

Revert Atlas Avenue from two-way to one-way northbound operation, between the entrance/exit to Beth Shalom Synagogue and Eglinton Avenue West, as requested by the residents.

This option may discourage motorists from illegally entering Atlas Avenue from Eglinton Avenue West. However, motorists can continue to ignore the one-way northbound regulation on Atlas Avenue when exiting the Synagogue to Gloucester Grove. Speed will continue to be an issue on Atlas Avenue, with the one-way northbound regulation. Residents within the community, and anyone attending the Beth Shalom, will experience more circuitous routings. This in turn will increase overall vehicular volumes on those select streets.

The costs associated with implementing this option (i.e. changing signage) is estimated at $300.00.

Scenario Two:

Revert Atlas Avenue from two-way to one-way northbound operation and install a pavement narrowing and speed hump at the entrance/exit to Beth Shalom Synagogue and a speed hump mid-block between the Synagogue and Gloucester Grove.

The traffic operations impacts of this alternative are the same as Scenario One above. The additional traffic calming measures will deal with the vehicle speed concerns expressed by residents.

The traffic calming devices under this scenario, as detailed in attached appendix, are an asphalt hump and modular concrete narrowing, installed on top of the existing roadway, unlike the permanent materials utilized for the existing traffic calming devices in the area. The costs associated with implementing this option are estimated at $3,800.00.

Scenario Three:

Maintain the two-way operation on Atlas Avenue but install a pavement narrowing, with a speed regulator hump, immediately south of the entrance/exit to Beth Shalom Synagogue, and a mid-block speed regulator hump between the Synagogue and Gloucester Grove.

This scenario maintains the existing operation, which eliminates the traffic circulation concerns associated with reverting the section of Atlas Avenue to one-way northbound operation, while also dealing with the residents' speeding concerns. The narrowing at the synagogue driveway will physically reinforce the change from two-way to one-way operation.

Again, the materials proposed are an asphalt hump and a modular concrete curb narrowing installed on top of the existing roadway. The costs associated with implementing this option are estimated at $3,500.00.

Conclusions:

Reverting Atlas Avenue from two-way to one-way northbound operation may result in dissuading motorists from illegally entering the street to access the community. However, it would not discourage speeding on the street on its own, and would also result in circuitous routes through the neighbourhood.

Maintaining the existing two-way section on Atlas Avenue between Eglinton Avenue West and the entrance/exit to Beth Shalom Synagogue will continue to provide unobstructed vehicular ingress/egress to the Synagogue's parking facility at the rear of their building. This will also reduce the need for motorists attending the Synagogue to use the local streets, thereby increasing the vehicular volumes in the community.

The introduction of two speed humps, at the narrowing point and mid-block, will result in lower motorists rate of speed along Atlas Avenue between Gloucester Grove and the entrance/exit to Beth Shalom Synagogue. This in turn will promote a continuous self-enforcing speed control enhancing the safety and livability of the street. Accordingly, Scenario Three appears to provide the solution which best addresses the concerns of all parties.

Contact Person:

Jacqueline White

Manager, Traffic Operations, West District 1

397-5021

392-8504 (fax)