Gore Vale Avenue between Queen Street
West and Dundas Street West -
Operational Safety (Trinity-Niagara)
The Toronto Community Council recommends the adoption of the recommendations contained in the following
communication (May 28, 1999) from Councillors Pantalone and Silva:
Purpose:
To reduce the incidents of speeding vehicles on Gore Vale Avenue between Queen Street West and Dundas Street West.
Recommendations:
(1)That approval be given to alter sections of the roadway on Gore Vale 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 Gore Vale Avenue from Queen Street West to Dundas Street West, generally as
shown on the attached print of Drawing No. 421F - 5344 March 1999."
(2)That the speed limit be reduced from forty kilometers per hour to thirty kilometers per hour on Gore Vale Avenue
between Queen Street West and Dundas Street West, coincident with implementation of the traffic calming measures.
(3)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 the area residents, Transportation Services Staff investigated concerns regarding excessive
speeding and the feasibility of installing speed humps on Gore Vale Avenue between Queen Street West and Dundas Street
West (see attached May 12th , 1999 letter).
We have consulted with area residents and have been advised to proceed with the polling process on Gore Vale Avenue for
the speed humps.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
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Communication dated May 12, 1999 from the
Director of Transportation Services, District 1, Works and Emergency Services
addressed to Councillor Pantalone
I refer to your letter dated December 2, 1998, regarding the above. I apologize for any inconvenience caused by the delay in
this response.
Gore Vale Avenue between Queen Street West and Dundas Street West operates one-way southbound on a pavement
width of 6.4 metres. Parking is prohibited at anytime on the west side. Parking is permitted on the east side to a maximum
of three hours. The permit parking system is in effect from 12:01 a.m. to 7:00 a.m., daily. The maximum speed limit is 40
kilometres per hour and heavy vehicles are prohibited.
Transportation Services staff conducted a twenty-four hour automatic speed and volume survey on Gore Vale Avenue and
it was found that this street carries approximately 1,600 vehicles per day. The speed data obtained reflected the following:
Average Speed44 km/h
Pace Speed 40-50 km/h
(10 km/h range with the highest (783 vehicles)
number of vehicles)
Operating Speed52 km/h
(Maximum speed of 85% of the traffic)
A review of the Toronto Police Service's collision data records for Gore Vale Avenue for the three year period beginning
November 30, 1995 and ending November 30, 1998 revealed five collisions were reported in which speeding may have
been a factor and no collisions involved pedestrians.
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 and 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-5344 dated March 1999 consists of
six speed humps with spacings between the speed humps of approximately 72 to 85 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% of those responding should be in favour of the proposal to authorize
implementation.
The changes proposed to Gore Vale 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.
I would be pleased to hear your thoughts on this matter before taking any action.
Insert Table/Map No. 1
Gore Vale
