Proposed Installation of Traffic Control Signals at
Lawrence Avenue West and Glen Rush Boulevard/
Welland Road (North York Centre South - Ward 9)
The Urban Environment and Development Committee recommends the adoption of the following report (March 8,
1999) from the General Manager, Transportation Services.
Purpose:
To propose the installation of traffic control signals at the intersection of Lawrence Avenue West and Glen Rush
Boulevard, removal of the existing pedestrian crossover (PXO) located to the immediate west of the intersection of
Lawrence Avenue West and Welland Road, and geometric improvement to the southeast corner of the Lawrence Avenue
West/Glen Rush Boulevard intersection.
Funding Sources:
The funds associated with the installation of the traffic control signals and removal of the PXO, estimated at a cost of
$100,000.00 are contained in the Works and Emergency Services Capital Program under project No. C-TR031. Funding for
intersection improvements required to accommodate this signal installation are estimated at $20,000.00, and are contained
in the 1999 Current Estimates of District 3.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1)traffic control signals be installed at the intersection of Lawrence Avenue West and Glen Rush Boulevard;
(2)coincident with the traffic control signal installation, the existing pedestrian crossover be removed;
(3)intersection improvements be undertaken at the intersection of Lawrence Avenue West and Glen Rush Boulevard to
reduce the radius on the southeast corner of the intersection and realign the existing sidewalks; and
(4)the appropriate by-law(s) be amended accordingly.
Background:
A review of the pedestrian crossing activities at the Lawrence Avenue West/Glen Rush Boulevard/Welland Road
intersection was completed in early 1997 and it was determined at that time that this PXO had a satisfactory safety record,
with one pedestrian-related collision in the previous five year period. However, the unusual geometry of this intersection
was noted during a review of school related pedestrian crossing concerns brought forward by the adjacent community. The
residents requested the installation of traffic control signals at the intersection of Bathurst Street and Coldstream Avenue
and a general review of the local area with regards to improvements to help the local school children crossing the local
arterial roads.
The further review of this PXO location determined that many drivers failed to yield to pedestrians in the PXO and that,
despite the appropriate signs being installed to prohibit westbound left turns between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., Monday to
Friday, many illegal turns were completed. As a result, police enforcement of the traffic regulations was requested.
More recently, the local community has requested a review of the operation of this PXO which serves many schools, in
light of the traffic fatality involving a local 15 year old female school student. The investigation is not complete but the
setting sun is believed to have been a factor in the collision which occurred at approximately 5:30 p.m.
Comments:
Lawrence Avenue West, in this vicinity is a four lane arterial roadway with a speed limit of 50 km/h. Traffic control signals
are located approximately 340 metres to the east of the PXO, at Ledbury Street, and 275 metres to the west, at Bathurst
Street. This intersection is an off-set intersection with Glen Rush Boulevard running to the south of Lawrence Avenue West
on an abrupt skew with stop sign controls. Welland Road runs to the north of Lawrence Avenue West and is stop
controlled.
The most unusual feature of this PXO is that it is located in the middle of the off-set intersection and is therefore impacted
negatively by heavy turning moments in the immediate area of the PXO.
There are approximately 270 pedestrians crossing Lawrence Avenue West at the PXO during an eight hour period of a
typical weekday. During recent studies of this PXO, staff observed numerous occasions where motorists failed to yield the
right-of-way to pedestrians crossing within the PXO. Furthermore, it was observed that vehicle queues sometimes extended
through the PXO during the morning and afternoon peak periods. This created additional safety hazards for pedestrians
because drivers could not see them as they crossed between stopped vehicles.
In addition, it was noted that there were frequent westbound left turns performed during the morning peak period despite
the westbound left turn prohibition. During the afternoon peak period the westbound left turn movement caused westbound
queueing which extended through the PXO.
The re-evaluation of the operational characteristics at this location has indicated that since the last review, there has been an
increase of about 5,000 vehicles in the daily total vehicular traffic on Lawrence Avenue West to 34,000 vehicles per day.
Generally, maximum roadway traffic volumes should not exceed 35,000 vehicles at PXO locations. It was also determined
that the 85th percentile operating speed on Lawrence Avenue West is 59 km/h. On roadways where operating speeds exceed
60 km/h, a PXO should not be considered as the potential risks to pedestrian safety increases. Finally, it was noted that the
longer vehicular queues extending through the PXO create visibility restrictions, particularly as a result of increased illegal
left turning vehicles during prohibited times.
It was further determined that the current roadway geometrics may be negatively impacting pedestrian and vehicle traffic
operations as a result of the traffic conditions described above. Specifically, when travelling northbound on Glen Rush
Boulevard, the radius on the southeast corner of the intersection with Lawrence Avenue West is expansive. Right turning
motorists are required to look over their left shoulder to observe eastbound traffic, and this may be reducing their attention
of pedestrian activities within the PXO.
Current records indicate that there were five personal injury accidents at the subject intersection from January 1, 1995 to
October 18, 1998, one of which was pedestrian related. Collision data for the remainder of 1998 is not available.
The above indicates that the conditions at this PXO have changed sufficiently to warrant the installation of traffic signals.
As a result of the unusual geometrics of this location, several options for the installation of traffic control signals are
available.
(i)no modifications to the existing intersection geometry with traffic signal controls installed at the Lawrence Avenue
West/Glen Rush Boulevard/Welland Road intersection;
(ii)modifications to the southeast corner of the Lawrence Avenue West/Glen Rush Boulevard intersection with traffic
signal controls installed at the Lawrence Avenue West/Glen Rush Boulevard/Welland Road intersection; or
(iii)modifications to the southeast corner of the Lawrence Avenue West/Glen Rush Boulevard intersection, traffic signal
controls installed at the Lawrence Avenue West/Glen Rush Boulevard intersection, and the Welland Road intersection with
Lawrence Avenue West remain as stop controlled.
It has been determined that the most appropriate installation design is to provide for improvements to the southeast corner
of the intersection of Lawrence Avenue West with Glen Rush Boulevard together with the installation of traffic control
signals at this intersection. Welland Road at its intersection with Lawrence Avenue West, should remain as stop controlled.
To further increase driver awareness and due to the location of the existing sidewalk on the east side of Glen Rush
Boulevard, pedestrian crossings should be restricted to only the east side of the signalized intersection.
Conclusions:
The existing PXO on Lawrence Avenue West at Glen Rush Boulevard / Welland Road is no longer operating in a
satisfactory fashion as a result of changing traffic conditions. Since the last review of this intersection in the fall of 1997,
vehicular traffic has increased from 29,000 daily vehicles on Lawrence Avenue West to 34,000, just short of the maximum
guideline of 35,000 daily vehicles for the installation of PXO's on arterial roads.
Longer westbound queues of left turning vehicles at Glen Rush Boulevard, which extend over the PXO's, are creating more
difficult conditions for pedestrians as a higher proportion of drivers complete the left turn during prohibited times.
Therefore, traffic control signals should be installed to improve the operational safety of this location.
Contact Name:
Roberto Stopnicki,
Director, Transportation Services - District 3
395-7480 (telephone)
395-7482 (facsimile)
Insert Table/Map No. 1
Location map - Lawrence Ave. W. At Glen Rush Blvd/Welland Rd.