Traffic and Parking Concerns on

Deep Dene Drive and Bramber Road

Ward 16 - Scarborough Highland Creek

The Scarborough Community Council recommends the adoption of the following report (September 22, 1999) from the Director of Transportation Services, District 4:

Purpose:

To report on the results of studies conducted on Deep Dene Drive and Bramber Road.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

The $1000.00 (approximate) funds associated with the installation of the parking prohibition and speed limit signs is available in the Transportation Services 1999 budget, Cost Centre No. TP0226.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)the 40 kilometre per hour speed limit identified in Appendix 1 of this report be adopted; and

(2)the appropriate by-law be amended accordingly.

Council Reference/Background/History:

As a result of a petition, forwarded by Councillor Moeser, Transportation Services is reporting the results of our investigations of speeding on Deep Dene Drive and parking on Bramber Road. Residents specifically requested all-way stops on Deep Dene Drive in an attempt to reduce motorists' speeds.

Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:

Deep Dene Drive is a local road which runs between Kingston Road and Ellesmere Road, west of Meadowvale Road. Bramber Road intersects Deep Dene Drive on the east side of the street. In total four minor streets intersect Deep Dene Drive, all of which are controlled by stop signs at Deep Dene Drive. A 50 kilometre per hour speed limit is posted on Deep Dene Drive.

All-Way Stop Control:

The justification for the installation of all-way stop controls is based on a technical warrant established by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) and adopted as city policy by the former Scarborough Council. The analysis of this warrant is based on data compiled from peak period counts.

Traffic studies were conducted at Deep Dene Drive and Acland Crescent, and Deep Dene Drive and Camor Court on Wednesday, June 23, 1999. These studies produced the following results that illustrate that the warrant's requirements are not satisfied:

In addition to the Warrant, the following outlines the main reasons why the installation of unwarranted all-way stop controls are not recommended:

(i)Most motorists are reasonable and prudent with no intention of maliciously violating traffic regulations. However, when an unreasonable restriction is imposed (such as an unwarranted all-way stop control) it can result in flagrant violations. In such cases, pedestrians may start to cross the road with a false sense of security, and conflict with a motorist approaching the stop sign without expecting to stop. This will obviously place the pedestrian at risk.

(ii)A situation of indecision is created as to when to cross as a pedestrian or when to start as a motorist.

(iii)Unwarranted stop signs often result in an increase in speeds by motorists who try to make up lost time for what they perceive as unnecessary delays.

(iv)The City has an obligation to provide services in an environmentally conscious manner. The installation of unwarranted stop controls not only undermines the warrant but also contributes to unnecessary fuel consumption and higher levels of noise and air pollution. These pollutants most specifically impact those residents in the immediate vicinity of the intersection.

Speed Study:

A 24-hour speed study was conducted on Tuesday, June 22, 1999 on Deep Dene Drive, south of Camore Court. Our study revealed that the majority of motorists are travelling at reasonable speeds on Deep Dene Drive with 63% compliance with the 50 kilometre per hour speed limit. Study results are as follows:

Although speed limit compliance is good, application of the study results to the 40 kilometre per hour speed limit warrant reveal that a speed limit reduction is justified. This is in large part due to the fact that the recommended safe speed on the curve near Bramber Road is 40 kilometres per hour.

Parking on Bramber Road:

Although staff did not observe cars parked within the turning basin at the east end of Bramber Road during our investigations, we are supportive of prohibiting parking in this area to ensure that traffic movements and city services are not impeded by parked vehicles. A by-law amendment is not required to accommodate this signing.

Collisions:

A review of the collision history for the three-year period, January 1, 1996 to December 31, 1998 reveals one collision reported on Deep Dene Drive, excluding the intersections at Ellesmere Road and at Kingston Road. This collision occurred in 1996 in the vicinity of 20 Deep Dene Drive. This collision occurred when, in two separate incidents, the first motorist lost control and struck a hydro pole and then, 15 minutes later, a second motorist struck the first vehicle. The road condition at the time was icy. No collisions were reported on Bramber Road.

Conclusions:

In summary, our traffic studies reveal that an all-way stop control is not warranted on Deep Dene Drive. However, we are recommending the installation of a 40 kilometre per hour speed limit on this street. On Bramber Road we are recommending that the turning basin at the east end of the street be signed as "No Parking Anytime". No by-law amendment is required to facilitate the installation of the parking prohibition signs.

Contact Name:

Bruce Clayton

Supervisor, Traffic Engineering, Works and Emergency Services

Telephone: 396-7844

Fax: 396-5681

E-mail: clayton@city.scarborough.on.ca