Installation of Speed Humps - Bellwoods Avenue

Between Queen Street West and Dundas Street West

(Trinity-Niagara)

The Toronto Community Council recommends the adoption of the recommendations contained in the following joint communication (undated) from Councillors Pantalone and Silva:

Purpose:

To reduce the incidents of speeding vehicles on Bellwoods Avenue between Queen Street West and Dundas Street West.

Recommendations:

(1)That approval be given to alter sections of the roadway on Bellwoods Avenue between Queen Street West and Dundas Street West for traffic calming purposes as described below, with implementation subject to the favourable results of polling the affected residents pursuant to the policy related to speed hump installation as adopted by the former City of Toronto Council:

"The construction of speed humps on Bellwoods Avenue from Queen Street West to Dundas Street West, generally as shown on the attached print of Drawing No. 421F-5342 March 1999";

(2)That at the same time residents are polled for the speed hump implementation proposal, they also be polled regarding the suggestion regarding the removal of the stop sign at Bellwoods Avenue and Robinson Street;

(3)That the speed limit be reduced from 40 kilometres per hour to thirty kilometers per hour on Bellwoods Avenue between Queen Street West and Dundas Street West, coincident with implementation of the traffic calming measures; and

(4)That the appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take whatever action is necessary to implement the foregoing, including the introduction in Council of any Bills that might be required.

Background:

At our request on behalf of area residents, Transportation Services staff investigated concerns regarding excessive speeding and the feasibility of installing speed humps on Bellwoods Avenue between Queen Street West and Dundas Street West (attached April 9, 1999, letter).

We have consulted with area residents and have been advised to proceed with the polling process on Bellwoods Avenue for both the speed humps and the proposed stop sign removal at Robinson Street.

(Communication dated April 9, 1999, addressed to

Councillors Pantalone and Silva, from

the Director of Transportation Services, District 1, Works and Emergency Services)

I refer to a letter dated November 19, 1998, from Councillor Pantalone and a letter dated May21,1998 from Councillor Silva, regarding the above.

Bellwoods Avenue between Queen Street West and Dundas Street West operates one-way northbound on a pavement width of 7.3 metres. Parking is permitted on the west side to a maximum of one hour between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. daily and to a maximum of three hours at other times. Parking is prohibited at anytime on the east side. The permit parking system is in effect from 12:01 to 10:00 a.m., daily. The maximum speed limit is 40 kilometres per hour and heavy vehicles are prohibited.

In response to Councillor Silva's request, I advise that on April 24, 1995, the former City of Toronto Council approved the extension of the permit parking termination hours from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on Bellwoods Avenue between Queen Street West and Dundas Street West. This request was made by former Councillor Martin Silva on behalf of local residents.

Transportation Services staff have now completed our investigations with respect to speed profiles on Bellwoods Avenue and the findings are detailed below.

Traffic speed and volumes on Bellwoods Avenue between Queen Street West and Dundas Street West:

Transportation Services staff conducted twenty-four hour automatic speed and volume surveys over a three-day period on the subject section of Bellwoods Avenue. On average, Bellwoods Avenue carries approximately 1,800 vehicles per day. The speed data obtained reflected the following:

Average Speed42 km/h

Pace Speed 40-50 km/h

(10 km/h range with the highest

number of vehicles)

Operating Speed52 km/h

(Maximum speed of 85 percent of the traffic)

A review of the Toronto Police Service's collision data records for Bellwoods Avenue between College Street and Dundas Street West for the three year period beginning November 30, 1995 and ending November 30, 1998 revealed seven collisions were reported of which one involved a pedestrian.

Under the provisions of the Highway Traffic Act, the lowest enforceable speed limit allowed on a public highway in the Province of Ontario is 40 kilometres per hour. However, under special provision granted by the Province to the former City of Toronto, the maximum enforceable speed limit may be lowered to 30 kilometres per hour in conjunction with the implementation of significant traffic calming measures.

In light of this speed survey, this street is an appropriate candidate for the installation of speed humps.

Traffic calming plan for Bellwoods Avenue between Queen Street West and Dundas Street West:

In order to address this speeding problem, Transportation Services staff have developed a traffic calming plan with the view of reducing operating speeds to a range of 30 kilometres per hour.

The traffic calming proposal, as illustrated on the attached print of Drawing No. 421F-5342 dated March 1999 consists of seven speed humps with spacings between the speed humps of approximately 68 to 82.5 metres. A speed limit reduction to 30 kilometers per hour would also be appropriate. No impacts on parking are anticipated and the effects on snow removal, street cleaning and garbage collection should be minimal.

As stipulated in the Speed Hump Policy, once it has been determined that speed hump installation meets the initial criteria, a formal poll should be conducted of adults (18 years of age and older) of households directly abutting the affected section of street, and also households on side streets whose only access is from the street under consideration for speed hump installations. Under this policy, at least 60 percent of those responding should be in favour of the proposal to authorize implementation.

The changes proposed to Bellwoods Avenue, as described above, constitute an alteration to a public highway pursuant to the provisions of the Municipal Act. The intent of Council to enact a by-law to authorize any physical changes resulting in the alteration of the pavement configuration must be advertised and subsequently be subject to a public hearing. In the interim, consultations with the emergency services agencies have been undertaken to ensure that the detailed design does not unduly hamper their respective operations.

Reversing the direction of traffic on Bellwoods Avenue south of Robinson Street:

Reversing the direction of traffic on Bellwoods Avenue south of Robinson Street from the existing northbound operation to flow southbound would most likely decrease total daily volume of traffic on Bellwoods Avenue between Queen Street West and Dundas Street West. However, the current northbound traffic on Bellwoods Avenue would be distributed to other nearby streets. Specifically, Claremont Street and Euclid Street are the only other streets in the immediate vicinity that carry northbound traffic. Claremont Street, which operates two-way between Queen Street West and Dundas Street West carries between 2,300 and 3,000 vehicles per day (approximately 50/50 distribution between northbound and southbound traffic flow) which is 65 percent more traffic volume on a daily basis than Bellwoods Avenue. Euclid Avenue, which operates one-way northbound between Queen Street West and Dundas Street West carries between 1,500 and 1,800 vehicles per day which is approximately the same daily traffic volume as on the subject block of Bellwoods Avenue. If the direction of traffic on Bellwoods Avenue south of Robinson Street were to be reversed to flow southbound, Claremont Avenue and Euclid Avenue would see an increase in daily northbound traffic flow of approximately 20-30 percent (300-450 vehicles).

Bearing in mind the impacts associated with this proposal, should you wish to pursue same, it should be done in the context of an area traffic management study.

Installation of additional "Stop" signs on Bellwoods Avenue between Queen Street West and Dundas Street West as indicated on the drawing presented by Mr. Gil Maiato:

As indicated in the "Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices", the installation of "Stop" signs are limited to intersections where there are right-of-way conflicts and are not to be used as a traffic calming tool. Furthermore, proliferation of "Stop" signs as indicated on Mr. Gil Maiato's sketch would:

(a)reduce the effectiveness of "Stop" signs as a traffic control device, which is what they are intended for, thereby increasing the likelihood of "rolling" stops;

(b)create greater noise and pollution from stops/starts;

(c)cannot be placed in strategic locations as is the case with speed humps ("Stop" sign locations are determined by intersections); and

(d)not be as effective in controlling speed when compared to speed humps.

In fact, observations conducted by staff of the "Stop" sign control on Bellwoods Avenue at Robinson Street revealed high level of non-compliance with many motorists either executing "rolling" stops or not stopping at all in spite of the fact that the "Stop" sign is clearly visible to approaching motorists.

As there are no right-of-way conflicts at the intersections indicated on the sketch, "Stop" signs are neither warranted or necessary at these intersections. Further, the implementation of speed humps on Bellwoods Avenue would result in operating speeds of 30 kilometres per hour or less and would improve safety for all road users, including pedestrians and children. In addition, due to the anticipated improvement in traffic safety on Bellwoods Avenue created by the implementation of speed humps, consideration could also be given to removing the "Stop" sign for northbound Bellwoods Avenue traffic at Robinson Street, as was done on Balliol Street when significant traffic calming measures were introduced.

I would be pleased to hear your thoughts on this matter before taking any action.