Proposed Speed Limit Reduction on Sheppard Avenue East
Between Bayview Avenue and Hawksbury Drive
(Ward 9 and 12 - North York Centre South and Seneca Heights)
The Urban Environment and Development Committee recommends the adoption of the following report (December
15, 1998) from the General Manager, Transportation Services:
Purpose:
To reduce the speed limit on Sheppard Avenue East between Bayview Avenue and Hawksbury Drive during construction
of the Sheppard Subway - Bayview 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 Bayview Avenue and Hawksbury
Drive until completion of Bayview Station surface construction in the fall of 2001; and
(2)the appropriate by-law(s) be amended accordingly.
Background:
Construction of the Bayview 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 during the construction period detour roads will be constructed which will provide four traffic lanes plus left-turn
lanes between Bayview Avenue and Hawksbury Drive.
Discussion:
Sheppard Avenue East between Bayview Avenue and Hawksbury Drive is a five-lane east-west roadway. The posted speed
limit is 60 km per hour. The adjacent land use is a shopping centre on the north side, with a residential community and a
YMCA facility on the south side. There are driveways to the shopping centre, the YMCA, and access to the residential
community via Kenaston Gardens and Barberry Place.
Although the proposed detour roads will provide similar traffic carrying capacity to that existing on Sheppard Avenue, the
geometry of the detours will not meet the standards required to maintain the posted speed limit of 60 km per hour. This
deficiency, in addition to presence of construction equipment within the work zone, barricades delineating the work area,
and truck movements accessing the work zone can restrict the visibility of workers, pedestrians, and turning vehicles to
motorists driving through the work area. Therefore, 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
Bayview Avenue and Hawksbury Drive for the duration of construction of the Sheppard Subway Bayview Station.
Contact Name and Telephone Number:
David Butler, Manager
Sheppard Subway Traffic Operations
(416) 392-5285
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location map