Traffic Concerns: Norseman Street Between Islington Avenue

and Royal York Road (Lakeshore-Queensway)

The Etobicoke Community Council recommends the adoption of the report (March 30, 1999) from the Director, Transportation Services, District 2:

The Etobicoke Community Council reports, for the information of City Council, having requested the Director, Transportation Services, District 2, to:

(i)investigate the need for a crossing guard at the pedestrian crosswalk;

(ii)introduce larger signage identifying the 40 km/h speed limit zone;

(iii)examine, in consultation with the Forestry Division, Parks & Recreation Services, West District, the possibility of planting trees along the boulevard to provide a narrowing effect on the road; and

(iv) report back to the Etobicoke Community Council at the October or November 1999 meeting with respect to the effect of the extended 40 km/h speed limit zone.

The Etobicoke Community Council submits the following report (March 30, 1999) from the Director, Transportation Services, District 2:

Purpose:

To address the concerns of area residents with respect to the speed and volume of vehicular traffic on Norseman Street between Islington Avenue and Royal York Road.

Funding Sources:

The funds associated with the installation of regulatory signs are contained in the Transportation Service Division's Operating Budget.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)all-way stop controls not be installed at the intersection of Norseman Street and Chartwell Road;

(2)all-way stop controls not be installed at the intersection of Norseman Street and FernalroyBoulevard;

(3)the Toronto Police Service be requested to enforce the 40 km/h speed limit on Norseman Street, near Chartwell Road;

(4)the 40 km/h speed zone on Norseman Street, between Islington Avenue and Placid Road, be extended eastward to Royal York Road (Attachment No. 1); and

(5)the appropriate City officials be requested to take whatever action is necessary to give effect to the foregoing, including the introduction in Council of any bills that may be required.

Background:

Councillor Irene Jones received a petition (Attachment No. 2) from residents of Norseman Street requesting that all-way stop controls be installed on Norseman Street at the intersections of Chartwell Road and Fernalroy Boulevard and, that the 40 km/h speed zone on Norseman Street, east of Islington Avenue, be extended eastward to Royal York Road. These requests are as a result of concerns regarding the excessive speed and volume of traffic on the aforementioned section of Norseman Street.

A public meeting was held with the Ward Councillors, Toronto Police Service and Transportation Services staff on December 8, 1998, to discuss these concerns. A map of the area is Attachment No.3.

Comments and Discussion:

To assess traffic conditions on Norseman Street, the following information was obtained:

(1)approach counts conducted at the intersections of Norseman Street and Chartwell Road, and Norseman Street and Fernalroy Boulevard;

(2)an audit of the pedestrian crossover at the west approach to the intersection of NorsemanStreet and Gladfern Road;

(3)radar speed studies conducted on Norseman Street near Chartwell Road; and

(4)review of the three year collision history.

Norseman Street, between Islington Avenue and Royal York Road, is classified as a primary residential collector roadway. Traffic volumes on this section of roadway are in the range of 4,600to 6,200 vehicles a day, well within acceptable levels for a collector type roadway. The speed limit is 40 km/h between Islington Avenue and Placid Road, and 50km/h east of Placid Road. NorsemanElementary School is located at 105 Norseman Street, at Chartwell Road.

The following warrants need to be met in order to justify the installation of all-way stop controls on roads and streets considered to be primary collector or arterial streets:

(a)a total vehicle volume on all intersection approaches exceeding 500 vehicles per hour for each of any eight hours of the day; and

(b)a volume split that does not exceed 70/30.

(1)Approach Counts:

The results of the all-way stop studies conducted at the intersections of Norseman Street and Chartwell Road, and Norseman Street and Fernalroy Boulevard are summarized in the following tables:

Intersection: Norseman Street and Chartwell Road

Count Type: ManualDate: Thursday, March 11, 1999

TIME	E/B	W/B	N96/B	E/B+W/B TOTAL	TOTAL ENTERING INTERSECTION	BALANCE OF FLOW E-W/N
7-8 AM	116	195	65	311	376	83/17
8-9 AM	265	270	192	535	727	74/26
11 AM - 12 NOON	183	187	104	370	474	78/22
12 - 1PM	173	161	84	334	418	80/20
1-2 PM	153	121	53	274	327	84/16
2-3 PM	157	139	58	296	354	83/17
3-4 PM	298	230	102	528	630	84/16
4-5 PM	272	223	111	495	606	82/18
TOTAL	1617	1526	769	3143	3912	80/20
VEH/H	202	191	96	393	489	N/A

Intersection: Norseman Street and Fernalroy Boulevard

Count Type: Automatic Date: Tuesday, March 9, 1999

It is evident that traffic volumes at both intersections do not meet the warrants for installation of all-way stop controls on a primary collector type roadway.

Notwithstanding the aformentioned, the installation of all-way stop controls at the intersection of Norseman Street and Chartwell Road can not be justified given the proximity of this location to the pedestrian crossover at the west approach of the intersection of Norseman Street and Gladfern Road. The distance between the crossover and the west approach of the intersection of Norseman Street and Chartwell Road is only approximately 50 metres, well short of the desired minimum spacing of 215 metres between traffic control devices. This spacing is the distance in which motorists can detect a signal or hazard and react in a safe manner.

(2)Pedestrian Crossover Audit:

An audit of the aforementioned pedestrian crossover concluded that there are no unsuitable or potentially unsafe factors, including road width, traffic volumes, and visibility that would justify the removal or relocation of this traffic control device. Furthermore, a pedestrian count study conducted on Tuesday, March 2, 1999, for an eight hour period (7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.) revealed a total of 155 pedestrians crossing at the pedestrian crossover. This pedestrian volume is considered relatively high.

(3)Radar Speed Studies:

The results of the radar speed studies conducted on Norseman Street near Chartwell Road in late October, 1999, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., indicate an 85th percentile speed of 54km/h. This speed justifies police enforcement on Norseman Street in the posted 40 km/h section.

Although 40 km/h speed limits are reserved for school zones, staff support the residents request to have the 40 km/h speed zone extended eastward to Royal York Road, given that the existing 40 km/h section on Norseman Street extends well beyond the school zone. The extension of the 40 km/h zone will make the speed limit on the entire residential section of Norseman Street uniform.

(4)Collision Review:

A review of the collision history on Norseman Street between Islington Avenue and Royal York Road, for the period January 1, 1995 - May 1998, revealed seven reportable collisions. Four collisions were intersection related including one that occurred at the intersection of Norseman Street and Chartwell Road. No reportable collisions occurred at the intersection of Norseman Street and Fernalroy Boulevard. Also, all the collisions were the results of driver error and none were speed related.

Conclusion:

Traffic conditions at the intersections of Norseman Street and Chartwell Road and Norseman Street and Fernalroy Boulevard do not warrant the installation of all-way stop controls at these locations. Notwithstanding the aforementioned, the installation of all-way stop controls at the intersection of Norseman Street and Chartwell Road can not be justified given the intersection's near proximity to the pedestrian crossover at the west approach of the intersection of Norseman Street and Gladfern Road. The crossover's usage is relatively high; and, based on the audit conducted for this location under existing conditions, there are no safety factors to justify its removal or relocation.

The results of the speed studies indicate a speeding problem is evident on Norseman Street near Chartwell Road, in the school zone, and that police enforcement is warranted. Also, the extension of this 40 km/h zone eastward to Royal York Road would create a uniform speed limit across the entire residential section of Norseman Street.

The collision review for the section of Norseman Street, between Islington Avenue and Royal York Road, revealed a relatively low number of collisions. The collisions that did occur were driver error and not speed related.

Contact Name:

Mark Hargot, Traffic Coordinator - Transportation Services - District 2

Tel: (416)394-8453; Fax: (416) 394-8942

_____

Mr. Michael Beg, Etobicoke, appeared before the Etobicoke Community Council in connection with the foregoing matter.

(Copies of Attachments Nos. 1-3, referred to in the foregoing report, were forwarded to all Members of Council with the agenda of the Etobicoke Community Council meeting of March 30, 1999, and copies thereof are on file in the office of the City Clerk.)