Proposed Installation of Speed Humps -

Orchard View Boulevard, from Edith Drive

to Duplex Avenue (North Toronto)

The Toronto Community Council recommends that

(1)approval be given to alter sections of the roadway on Orchard View Boulevard, from Edith Drive to Duplex Avenue, for traffic calming purposes as described below, with implementation subject to favourable results to the polling of 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 ORCHARD VIEW BOULEVARD, from Edith Drive to Duplex Avenue, generally as shown on the attached print of Drawing No. 421F-5403, dated June 1999";

(2)a speed limit of 30 kilometres per hour be introduced on Orchard View Boulevard, from Edith Drive to Duplex Avenue, coinciding with the implementation of speed humps and as legislation permits; and

(3)the appropriate City Officials be requested to take whatever action is necessary to give effect thereto including the introduction in Council of any Bills that are required.

The Toronto Community Council submits the following report (July 7, 1999) from the Director of Transportation Services, District 1, Works and Emergency Services:

Purpose:

To report as requested by the Toronto Community Council on a plan to reduce the speed of motor vehicles on Orchard View Boulevard, from Edith Drive to Duplex Avenue, by the introduction of speed humps.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

Not Applicable.

Recommendation:

That this report be received for information.

Background:

The Toronto Community Council, at its meeting of April 28, 1999, in considering a communication (April 26, 1999) from North Toronto Councillor Michael Walker, requested the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services to report on the feasibility of installing speed humps on Orchard View Boulevard between Edith Drive and Duplex Avenue (Clause 60(y) of Report No. 7 of the Toronto Community Council, adopted by City Council at its meeting of May 11 and 12, 1999).

Comments:

Transportation Services' staff have reviewed traffic conditions on Orchard View Boulevard in order to report to Council on the feasibility of installing speed humps to reduce the speed of motor vehicles on this street.

Orchard View Boulevard between Duplex Avenue and Edith Drive is classified as a residential street which operates two-way on a pavement width of 8.5 m with a speed limit of 50 km/h. Parking is prohibited at anytime on the north side and parking is permitted on the south side to a maximum period of one hour from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., daily and the permit parking system is in effect from 12:01 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., daily.

Speed and volume surveys were conducted over two days at the end of April, 1999, which revealed that about 1,900 vehicles use this portion of Orchard View Boulevard daily, travelling at an average speed of 38 km/h, with an average operating speed (the speed at which 85 percent of the traffic travels at or below) of 48 km/h. Approximately 170 (4.4 percent) vehicles per day travelled in excess of 55 km/h.

A review of the accident occurrence records as reported by Toronto Police Services at this location has revealed that from November 30, 1995 until November 30, 1998, there were two accidents at a midblock location on Orchard View Boulevard, only one of which may have had speed as a contributing factor (it was a side-swipe accident on a rainy day, the other accident involved a motorist, backing out of a driveway, hitting a parked car).

Orchard View Boulevard between Duplex Avenue and Edith Drive is a block of approximately 200 m in length and the above data does not indicate the presence of a speeding problem, and in fact, exhibits a typical speed profile for this type of street and of streets in the general area. In light of the above, it is not recommended that speed humps be installed on this portion of Orchard View Boulevard.

Notwithstanding the above and in consideration that the primary criteria for the installation of speed humps have been technically satisfied, should Toronto Community Council wish to proceed with the installation of speed humps on the subject section of Orchard View Boulevard, the following recommendations should be adopted:

(1)That approval be given to alter sections of the roadway on Orchard View Boulevard, from Edith Drive to Duplex Avenue, for traffic calming purposes as described below, with implementation subject to favourable results to the polling of 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 ORCHARD VIEW BOULEVARD, from Edith Drive to Duplex Avenue, generally as shown on the attached print of Drawing No. 421F-5403, dated June 1999";

(2)That a speed limit of 30 kilometres per hour be introduced on Orchard View Boulevard, from Edith Drive to Duplex Avenue, coinciding with the implementation of speed humps and as legislation permits; and

(3)That the appropriate City Officials be requested to take whatever action is necessary to give effect thereto including the introduction in Council of any Bills that are required.

The traffic calming proposal, as illustrated on the attached print of Drawing No. 421F-5403, dated June 1999, consists of three speed humps, with an estimated installation cost of $4,500.00, funds for which are available under the Transportation Services Division 1999 Capital Budget. A speed limit reduction to 30 kilometres per hour would be appropriate. If this proposal were to be implemented, no impacts on parking would be anticipated, no changes to parking regulations would be required, and the effect on snow removal, street cleaning and garbage collection would be minimal.

As stipulated in the Policy, once it has been determined that speed hump installation is technically warranted, a formal poll should be conducted of adults (18 years and older) of households directly abutting the affected section of the street, and also of households on side streets whose only access is from the street under consideration for speed hump installation. Under this policy, at least 60 percent of those responding should be in favour of the proposal to authorize implementation. Accordingly, subject to approval by your Council of the above recommendations, Transportation Services' staff will conduct a poll of residents and report on the results at the deputation meeting for the project.

The changes proposed to Orchard View Boulevard as set out above constitute alterations to public highway pursuant to the provisions of the Municipal Act. Accordingly, the intent of Council to enact a by-law to authorize physical changes resulting in the alteration of the pavement configuration must be advertised and subsequently be subject to public hearing. It is noted that emergency services are being advised of the proposal to ensure the proposal does not unduly hamper their operations. However, the introduction of speed humps would result in slower operating speeds for all vehicles, including emergency vehicles, resulting in increased response times.

This project would be pre-approved in accordance with Schedule A of the Class Environmental Assessment for the Municipal Roads Project.

It is estimated that this project would cost approximately $4,500.00, funds for which available under the Transportation Services Division 1999 Capital Budget.

Contact Name and Telephone Number:

Michael J. Harris,

Supervisor of Traffic Engineering,

District 1, Central Area.

(416) 392-7711