Proposed Eastbound and Westbound Left-Turn Prohibition
During the Morning Peak Period - Bathurst Street and
College Street (Downtown, Trinity-Niagara)
The Toronto Community Council recommends the adoption of the following report
(May18,1999) from the Director of Transportation Services, District 1, Works and
Emergency Services:
Purpose:
To introduce eastbound and westbound left-turn prohibitions during the morning peak period
on College Street at Bathurst Street to decrease delays to Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)
streetcars.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
Funds to undertake the necessary signage adjustments in the estimated amount of $1,200.00
are contained in the Transportation Services Division 1999 Current Budget.
Recommendations:
(1)That eastbound and westbound left turns be prohibited on College Street at Bathurst
Street from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., Monday to Friday, TTC vehicles excepted;
(2)That TTC vehicles also be exempted from the existing 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to
Friday eastbound and westbound left-turn prohibitions on College Street at Bathurst Street;
and
(3)That the appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take whatever action is
necessary to give effect to the foregoing, including the introduction in Council of any Bills
that are required.
Comments:
In response to a request from Councillor Olivia Chow's office and in consultation with
Councillors Kyle Rae, Joe Pantalone and Mario Silva, as well as with Toronto Transit
Commission staff, Transportation Services reviewed the feasibility of prohibiting eastbound
and westbound left turns during the weekday morning peak period to decrease delays to transit
vehicles. During the consultation process, TTC staff also requested that consideration be given
to exempting eastbound and westbound streetcars from the existing weekday afternoon and
the proposed weekday morning peak period left-turn prohibitions.
The intersection of Bathurst Street and College Street is controlled by traffic signals, which
operate with a transit priority feature. Eastbound and westbound left turns are currently
prohibited from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Our field observations confirmed that left-turning vehicles do contribute to delays experienced
by eastbound and westbound streetcars during the weekday morning peak period. These delays
can be as long as three minutes.
The potential benefits associated with prohibiting eastbound and westbound left turns during
the weekday morning peak period would be decreased delays to east-west streetcar service and
decreased delays to east-west private vehicles. The potential disadvantage of this proposal is
the redirection away from this intersection and possible use of local roadways in this area by
approximately 200 east-west left-turning vehicles during the two-hour morning rush period.
Exempting streetcars from the westbound left-turn prohibitions will not have any significant
impacts on the westbound traffic because these turns would infrequent and are not part of the
regular streetcar service.
Contact Name and Telephone Number:
Danny Budimirovic, P. Eng.
Traffic Engineer, District 1 - Central Area
Phone No. (416) 392-5209
