Proposed Installation of Traffic Control Signals
Lawrence Avenue East and East Avenue/Rouge Hill
GO Station Access (Scarborough Highland Creek - Ward 16)
The Urban Environment and Development Committee recommends the adoption of the following report (March 3,
1999) from the General Manager, Transportation Services.
Purpose:
To obtain approval for the installation of traffic control signals at the intersection of Lawrence Avenue East and East
Avenue/Rouge Hill GO Station Access.
Funding Sources:
The funds associated with new traffic control signal installations are contained in the Transportation Services Division's
Capital Program under Project No. C-TR031. Total funding in this program is $1.6 million for 1999. The estimated cost of
installing traffic control signals at the intersection of Lawrence Avenue East and East Avenue/Rouge Hill GO Station
Access is $76,500.00.
Recommendation:
It is recommended that traffic control signals be approved at the intersection of Lawrence Avenue East and East
Avenue/Rouge Hill GO Station Access.
Council Reference/Background History:
At the request of Councillor Moeser, Transportation Services staff investigated the intersection of Lawrence Avenue East
and East Avenue/Rouge Hill GO Station Access to determine if a pedestrian crossing device could be provided.
Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:
Lawrence Avenue East, in the vicinity of East Avenue, is a minor arterial road with a speed limit of 60 km/h and a two-way
24 hour traffic volume of approximately 6,200. At East Avenue/Rouge Hill GO Station Access, there is an eastbound and a
westbound left-turn lane. Adjacent traffic control signals are located on Lawrence Avenue East, 400 metres to the west at
Port Union Road. GO Train commuter parking lots are located on both the north and south sides of Lawrence Avenue East.
The driveway to the Rouge Hill GO Station on the south side of Lawrence Avenue East is directly in line with East
Avenue, and provides access to the parking lot as well as a turning loop for picking-up and dropping-off passengers. To the
east of this driveway, Toronto Transit Commission buses loop at an off-street facility immediately south of Lawrence
Avenue East.
A pedestrian crossover (PXO) warrant study revealed a pedestrian crossing volume of 1413 in the peak eight hours of a
normal weekday. Of these 1413 pedestrians, 216 were delayed more than ten seconds before they could complete their
crossing. Based on this information, both the pedestrian volume and the pedestrian delay warrants for a PXO are 100
percent satisfied. Therefore, the installation of a PXO is technically warranted.
Staff evaluated this location for a potential PXO according to guidelines that were developed for the "Audit of Operational
and Physical Suitability of Pedestrian Crossovers in Toronto". The Provincial standards and the comparative characteristics
at this location are described in more detail below:
| Standards or Criteria to be Met for Physical
Suitability of a PXO |
Met/
Not Met |
Comment |
| Vehicle operating speed less than 60 km/h |
Not Met |
85th percentile speed is 64
km/h |
| Not more than four lanes wide on a two-way street,
or more than three lanes on a one-way street |
Not Met |
Five lanes |
| Traffic volume less than 35,000 vehicles per day
(total both directions) |
Met |
6,200 vehicles per day |
| No driveway entrances within 30 metres |
Not Met |
Go Station driveway would be
adjacent to the PXO |
| No significant volume of turning movements
which interfere with PXO |
Not Met |
Turning movements to and
from the Rouge Hill Go Station |
| No visibility problems exist for either pedestrians
or motorists |
Met |
No Visibility problems |
| No loading zones (including T.T.C.) in the
immediate vicinity |
Met |
T.T.C. turning loop is off-street |
| Not less than 215 metres to another PXO or traffic
device |
Met |
400 metres to Port Union Road |
As described above this potential PXO site fails to meet four of the "environmental standards". Specifically, the operating
speed (85th percentile) on Lawrence Avenue East is above 60 km/h, Lawrence Avenue East, is more than four lanes wide,
the Rouge Hill Go Station driveway would be immediately adjacent to the PXO, and turning movements occur to and from
the driveway and East Avenue. The collision records provided by the Toronto Police Service for the three year and five
month period ending May 31, 1998 revealed that there were no pedestrian-related collisions during this period.
Given the failure to meet a four of the key "environmental standards", staff feel that traffic control signals would provide
the best form of crossing control and are recommended for this location.
Staff have contacted the Ward Councillors and both Councillors Faubert and Moeser have voiced support for the proposed
installation of the traffic control signals at this location.
Conclusions:
The installation of a PXO is warranted on Lawrence Avenue East and East Avenue/Rouge Hill GO Station access.
However, because of the failure of this location to meet the "environment standards" for the installation of a PXO, traffic
control signals will provide for a safer crossing environment and should be installed at this location.
Contact Name and Telephone Number:
Peter K. Hillier
Manager, Traffic Operations, District 4
(416) 396-7148
Insert Table/Map No. 1
Lawrence Avenue East and Rouge Hill GO Station Access
