January 4, 2000

To: North York Community Council

From: Roberto Stopnicki, Director, Transportation Services, District 3

Subject: Permanent installation of traffic calming measures within the Armour Boulevard/Bombay Avenue residential community

(North York Centre South)

Purpose:

To approve the permanent installation of the traffic calming measures within the Armour Boulevard/Bombay Avenue residental community.

Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

All costs associated with the permanent installation of the traffic calming measures are included within the Division's operating budget.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1) the speed humps on Armour Boulevard and Bombay Avenue be maintained permanently; and

(2) all other temporary traffic calming measures be removed.

Background:

As a result of traffic concerns that were raised by local residents, a Traffic Work Group, made up of residents who live on Armour Boulevard and Bombay Avenue, was established through the local Councillor's office. The mandate of the Traffic Work Group was to develop a neighbourhood traffic management plan which would deal with the concerns for the rate of speed of vehicles on both Armour Boulevard and Bombay Avenue, as well as the amount of traffic which could be considered transient to the community.

In accordance with the Traffic Calming Policy for the former City of North York, staff of the Transportation Services Division worked with the Traffic Work Group. After several Traffic Work Group meetings a neighbourhood traffic management plan was developed and presented at a meeting with the greater community in September 1998. Temporary traffic calming measures that were approved as part of the neighbourhood traffic management plan consisted of Pinch Points, Intersection Dividers, Sidewalk Extensions and Speed Humps. In addition to the traffic calming measures, the Traffic Work Group also supported the reconstruction of the intersections of Armour Boulevard/York Downs Drive; Armour Boulevard/Lyonsgate Drive and Bombay Avenue/Avenue Road.

With the endorsement of the local Councillors this matter was brought forward to the North York Community Council, where it was recommended that the temporary installation of the neighbourhood traffic management plan and the intersection reconstruction be approved. Toronto City Council, at its' meeting of December 16, 1998, approved the calming test measures within the Armour Boulevard/Bombay Avenue community and to reconstruct the intersections as part of the 1999 Capital Budget.

Throughout the test period, minor modifications were made to the design and location of the pinch points on Armour Boulevard and Bombay Avenue. In addition, at the request of affected residents, all temporary traffic calming measures that were not on either Armour Boulevard or Bombay Avenue were removed.

To date, only the Armour Boulevard/Lyonsgate Drive intersection has been reconstructed.

Comments:

To determine what impacts the traffic calming measures had on vehicle traffic volumes and speeds, several vehicle speed and volume studies were undertaken, at various locations along Armour Boulevard and Bombay Avenue, during the six month trial period.

In addition to the completion of the speed and volume studies, a questionnaire was forwarded to the residents within the greater community. The survey results provided an overview of the residents perception of what impacts the traffic calming has had on driving behaviours as well as the community itself.

The results of the vehicle speed and volume studies indicated that since the installation of the temporary traffic calming measures, vehicle speeds and volumes have decreased on both Armour Boulevard and Bombay Avenue.

The results of the questionnaire indicate that the majority of the residents felt that traffic calming had addressed their concerns, without compromising safety or a 'sense of community'. There was support for the retention of the speed humps and removal of all other traffic calming measures.

Conclusions:

Based upon the survey results, the responses to the questionnaire and discussions at the most recent community meeting, the speed humps on Armour Boulevard and Bombay Avenue should remain permanent.

Contact:

Allen Pinkerton

Manager, Traffic Operations, District 3

Telephone: 395-7463

Facsimile: 395-7482

E-mail: ajpinker@toronto.ca

Roberto Stopnicki

Director

AJP

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List of Attachments:

Attachment 1: Map - Armour Boulevard/Bombay Avenue Neighbourhood Traffic Management Plan

Attachment 2: Traffic Calming Project Summary of Questionnaire for Armour Heights Community Residents