Installation of Speed Humps - Sherwood Avenue
from Yonge Street to Mount Pleasant Road
(North Toronto)
The Toronto Community Council recommends that
(1)approval be given to alter sections of the roadway on Sherwood Avenue, from Yonge Street to Mount Pleasant
Road, for traffic calming purposes as described below, with implementation subject to the favourable results of
polling of 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 SHERWOOD AVENUE, from Yonge Street to Mount Pleasant Road,
generally as shown on the attached print of Drawing No. 42IF-5407, dated June 1999."
(2)a speed limit of thirty kilometres per hour be introduced on Sherwood Avenue, from Yonge Street to Mount
Pleasant Road, coincident with the implementation of speed humps and as legislation permits; and
(3)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.
The Toronto Community Council submits the following report (July 6, 1999) from the Director of Transportation
Services, District 1, Works and Emergency Services:
Purpose:
To respond to a request from the former City of Toronto City Services Committee to report on a review of the traffic
calming measures on Sherwood Avenue, from Yonge Street to Mount Pleasant Road, implemented in 1997, and to a
request from Councillor Michael Walker to report on the feasibility of installing speed humps on this street to further
reduce the speed of motor vehicles.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
Not applicable
Recommendations:
That this report be received for information.
Background:
The former City of Toronto Council, at its meeting of September 22 and 23, 1997, in adopting Clause No. 46 contained in
Report No. 11 of the City Services Committee, titled "Alteration of Sherwood Avenue Between Yonge Street and Mount
Pleasant Road (Ward 16)", received a draft by-law to authorize the alteration of the subject section of Sherwood Avenue by
the installation of precast modular roadway narrowing devices, approved the implementation of island/staggered parking
on Sherwood Avenue as a traffic calming measure to reduce the speed of traffic on this street, and requested that
Transportation Services staff report back with a review of these traffic calming initiatives.
Comments:
In 1996, a group of residents of Sherwood Avenue, between Yonge Street and Mount Pleasant Road, forwarded a petition
to then Ward 16 Councillor Michael Walker requesting that measures be taken to reduce the speed of traffic on this street.
Transportation Services' staff worked with Councillor Walker and representatives of the residents to develop a traffic
calming plan to create selective roadway narrowings using precast, modular concrete islands and planters. Staff reported on
this plan to the City Services Committee (Clause No. 13 contained in Report No. 7 of the City Services Committee,
adopted by City of Toronto Council at its meeting of June 2 and 3, 1997) wherein approval was given to undertake the
statutory advertising campaign and to have residents notified of the required public hearing into this matter which was held
by the City Services Committee at its meeting of June 25, 1997. As a result of objections received from deputants, the
original traffic calming plan was not adopted and staff were requested to report on a new traffic calming plan using an
"island parking" and "staggered parking" arrangement. Subsequently, Councillor Walker held a public meeting with area
residents to further discuss traffic calming options. The result of all the foregoing was the adoption by City Council of the
above noted Clause wherein an island/staggered parking arrangement was implemented on Sherwood Avenue.
By letter dated November 19, 1998, Councillor Walker forwarded to Transportation Services a copy of a petition from
residents of Sherwood Avenue wherein they voiced their concerns about the continuing problem of speeding vehicles on
their street and requested that consideration be given to the installation of speed humps on this street.
The subject section of Sherwood Avenue operates two-way on a pavement width of 8.5 metres with a maximum speed
limit of 40 kilometres per hour. Permit parking is in effect from 12:01 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., daily, on both sides of Sherwood
Avenue, from Yonge Street to Mount Pleasant Road, with "staggered parking" and "island parking" in place as a form of
traffic calming.
Transportation Services' staff conducted a 24-hour speed and volume survey in March of this year on the subject section of
Sherwood Avenue over a four-day period. The results of the survey revealed a combined daily total of 1,828 vehicles in
both directions during the midweek period, of which 1,741 (95 percent) travelled at a rate of speed of 55 kilometres per
hour or less and 86 (5 percent) travelled at a rate of speed in excess of 55 kilometres per hour. The operating speed (the
speed at or below which 85 percent of the vehicles travelled) for the midweek period was 48 kilometres per hour with an
average speed of 41 kilometres per hour.
These results were compared with the results of similar studies conducted by staff in February of 1996, prior to the
implementation of the existing traffic calming measures. At that time, Sherwood Avenue carried a combined daily total of
2,020 vehicles of which 165 (8 percent) travelled in excess of 55 kilometres per hour. Compared to the most recent
surveys, this excessive speeding was reduced from 8 percent of all traffic in 1996 to 5 percent in 1999. The operating speed
(85th percentile) was reduced from 52 kilometres per hour in 1996 to 48 kilometres per hour in 1999 and the average speed
was reduced from 42 kilometres per hour to 41 kilometres per hour.
It would appear that the implementation of the island/staggered parking on the subject section of Sherwood Avenue has
been successful in reducing the incidences of high end speeding (that is, vehicles travelling in excess of 55 kilometres per
hour). Further, the operating speed and the average speed of all motor vehicles travelling on Sherwood Avenue have both
experienced minor reductions.
These speed profiles do not indicate that there is a high level of speeding on this street, considering that the speed limit is
40 kilometres per hour. In fact, the volume of traffic using Sherwood Avenue and the speeds travelled are lower than many
other streets in the vicinity. Based upon the above analysis, and taking into consideration the fact that the implementation
of island/staggered parking has had a positive impact in reducing speeds on this street, no further action is recommended at
this time.
Notwithstanding the above and bearing in mind 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 Sherwood Avenue, then the following recommendations should be adopted:
(1)That approval be given to alter sections of the roadway on Sherwood Avenue, from Yonge Street to Mount Pleasant
Road, for traffic calming purposes as described below, with implementation subject to the favourable results of polling of
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 SHERWOOD AVENUE, from Yonge Street to Mount Pleasant Road, generally as
shown on the attached print of Drawing No. 42IF-5407, dated June 1999."
(2)That a speed limit of thirty kilometres per hour be introduced on Sherwood Avenue, from Yonge Street to Mount
Pleasant Road, coincident with the implementation of speed humps and as legislation permits; and
(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.
The traffic calming proposal, as illustrated on the attached print of Drawing No. 42IF-5407, dated June 1999, consists of
seven speed humps with spacings of between 45 to 90 metres. A speed limit reduction to 30 kilometres per hour would be
appropriate. No impacts on parking are anticipated, no changes to parking regulations are required, and the effects on snow
removal, street cleaning and garbage collection should 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 installations.
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 Sherwood 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. Again,
subject to your Council's approval of the above recommendations, consultations with the emergency services will be
undertaken to ensure that the detailed design does not unduly hamper their respective 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 the cost to implement this proposal is $15,400.00, funds for which are available in the Transportation
Services Division 1999 Capital Budget.
Contact Name and Telephone Number:
Randy Hillis, Traffic Investigator, (416) 392-7771.
