STAFF REPORT
December 20, 1999
To: Chairman and Members of the Scarborough Community Council
From: Gary H. Welsh, Director, Transportation Services, Works and Emergency
Services, District 4
Subject: Traffic Concerns at Scarborough Village Public School
Scarborough Bluffs
Purpose:
To report the results of parking and traffic studies on the streets in the area of Scarborough Village Public School.
Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
The $1500.00 (approximate) funds associated with the installation of parking regulations, speed limit signs and turn
prohibition signs are available in the Transportation Services 2000 budget estimates, Cost Centre No. TP0226.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1) the parking/stopping regulations identified in Appendix 1 of this report be adopted;
(2) the School Bus Loading Zone identified in Appendix 2 of this report be adopted;
(3) the southbound right-turn prohibition identified in Appendix 3 of this report be rescinded;
(4) the southbound right-turn prohibition identified in Appendix 4 of this report be adopted;
(5) the 40 kilometre per hour speed limits identified in Appendix 5 of this report be adopted; and
(6) the appropriate by-laws be amended accordingly.
Background:
Transportation Services investigated a number of different traffic concerns in the vicinity of Scarborough Village Public
School at the request of the area Councillors, and attended a community meeting to discuss various proposals.
Comments:
Scarborough Village Public School was relocated from a site on Centre Street, immediately north Eglinton Avenue, to the
current location on Luella Street between Beachell Street and Centre Street. As a result of this relocation, there were no
parking regulations or school bus loading zones to control the new school location. Appropriate School Area signs are
posted in advance of the school. Right turns are prohibited from entering the community from southbound Markham Road
to Luella Street between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., from Monday to Friday. The speed limit in the community is currently 50
kilometres per hour.
School Parking
What makes Scarborough Village Public School different from other schools in the Scarborough Community is that the
surrounding streets in this community do not have curbs or sidewalks. The grass boulevard at the edge of the road slopes
off to a ditch. Because of this condition, pedestrians must walk along the edge of the road. However, if vehicles are parked
in this area, it forces pedestrians to walk on the road to the outside of parked vehicles. This can be intimidating for children
considering the narrow road width. Therefore, we are not recommending our typical school side parking/opposite side no
stopping.
Scarborough Village Public School was also not created with an adequate off-street looping facility to accommodate the
parents driving their children to school. Fortunately, the Toronto District School Board has a written agreement with the
church, immediately south of the school, to share each other's parking lot as required. These two lots accommodate 112
vehicles, including five disabled stalls, which is adequate to facilitate the existing demand, as we recorded in our
Wednesday, May 26, 1999 study.
The direction that the school will give to parents will be to park in the church parking lot if they are intending to walk their
children into the school or are waiting to pick up their children. The school parking lot will be utilized by school staff and
by buses and vans that deliver disabled children to the school, who need the direct access to the school entrances.
A School Bus Loading Zone (SBLZ) will be established on Luella Street immediately in front of the front entrance to the
school.
There is a small area on the east side of Beachell Street where receiving and discharging passengers can be safely
accommodated on the street. This area is shown on the map with a No Parking, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday
prohibition. Originally, we expressed concern about stopped vehicles interfering with children walking on the edge of the
road in this area. However, this area has a gravel shoulder, which is more appropriate for dropping off and picking up
children than other areas surrounding the school. Also children can walk on the gravel shoulder rather than on the road.
They use this gravel shoulder to access the school property via a playground entrance.
Speed Studies
Twenty-four hour speed studies were conducted on Thursday, June 17, 1999 on Beachell Street, Centre Street and Luella
Street. Study results are as follows:
Location |
1-40 |
41-50 |
51-60 |
61-64 |
>64 |
Total |
Beachell Street,
south of |
370 |
144 |
33 |
1 |
9 |
557 |
Centre Street,
south of |
385 |
127 |
36 |
0 |
7 |
555 |
Luella Street,
west of |
466 |
86 |
9 |
3 |
5 |
569 |
Application of study results to the 40 km/h Speed Limit Warrant reveal that the minimum technical requirements are not
achieved due to the traffic volumes being less than the required 1,000 vehicles per day and the distance between controls
not exceeding the required 457 metres.
The installation of 40 km/h speed limits have not been installed in this community in the past due to the low vehicle speeds
recorded. However, there are a number of factors that make the area surrounding the school unique. In the past,
Scarborough Village Public School was located at the corner of Eglinton Avenue and Centre Street. The new school is
more centrally located and now abuts Beachell Street, Centre Street and Luella Street. Also, as there are no sidewalks in
this community, children must walk along the edge of the road. Therefore, 40 Km/h speed limits are recommended in
recognition of these safety concerns.
Excluding School Buses from Turn Restriction
We received a request from the principal of Scarborough Village Public School to consider excluding school buses from
the southbound to eastbound turn prohibition currently in place at the intersection of Markham Road and Luella Street.
This right-turn prohibition applies from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., Monday to Friday. During our a.m. study, we recorded six
buses generated by the school. Exempting school buses from this turn prohibition will have a minimal impact on the traffic
volumes in this community, and will decrease the travel time for bus drivers and children.
Conclusions:
As a result of our investigations, we are recommending the following:
(1) stopping be prohibited between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, on both sides of the roads surrounding the
school with a short zone that prohibits parking between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on the east side of Beachell Street;
(2) a "No Parking Anytime" prohibition will replace the old School Bus Loading Zone on Centre Street. This prohibition is
currently contained in the by-law. A new School Bus Loading Zone will be established in front of the school on Luella
Street;
(3) a 40 km/h speed limit is recommended on Beachell Street, Centre Street and Luella Street; and
(4) a "Buses Excepted" tab will be added to the right-turn prohibition at Markham Road and Luella Street, which will
provide buses with more convenient access to the school.
Contact:
Bruce D. Clayton
Supervisor, Traffic Engineering, Works and Emergency Services
Tel: 396-7844
Fax: 396-5681
E-Mail: clayton@toronto.ca
Gary H. Welsh
Director
Transportation Services
Works and Emergency Services
District 4
BDC:ca
c:\work\reports\scc\scarvillage
D98-266
List of Attachments:
1. Appendix 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
2. Plan (Existing/Proposed Parking Regulations At Scarborough Village Public School)
Appendix 1
No Parking
Prohibition to be Enacted
Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4
Highway Side From To Times or Days
Beachell East 60 metres north 35 metres further 8:00 a.m. to
Street of Eglinton Avenue north 4:00 p.m.
Monday to
Friday
No Stopping
Prohibition to be Enacted
Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4
Highway Side From To Times or Days
Beachell East 95 metres north Luella 8:00 a.m. to
Street of Eglinton Avenue Street 4:00 p.m.
Monday to
Friday
Beachell West 60 metres north Luella 8:00 a.m. to
Street of Eglinton Avenue Street 4:00 p.m.
Monday to
Friday
Centre Both 53 metres north Luella 8:00 a.m. to
Street of Eglinton Avenue Street 4:00 p.m.
Monday to
Friday
Luella Both Beachell Centre 8:00 a.m. to
Street Street Street 4:00 p.m.
Monday to
Friday
Appendix 2
"School Bus Loading Zone"
Prohibition to be Enacted
Column 1 Column 2 Column 3
Highway Side Name of School
or Institution
15 Luella South Scarborough Village
Street Public School
Appendix 3
"Prohibited Turns"
Prohibition to be Rescinded
Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4
Intersection or Turn Times or
Portion Of Highway Direction Prohibited Days
Markham Road and Southbound Right 7:00 a.m. to
Luella Street 9:00 a.m.
Monday to
Friday
Appendix 4
"Prohibited Turns"
Prohibition to be Enacted
Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4
Intersection or Turn Times or
Portion Of Highway Direction Prohibited Days
Markham Road and Southbound Right 7:00 a.m. to
Luella Street 9:00 a.m.
Monday to
Friday
(except school buses)
Appendix 5
"40 Kilometre Per Hour Speed Limit"
Regulation to be Enacted
Column 1 Column 2
Highway From To
Beachell Eglinton North Limit of
Street Avenue Beachell Street
Centre Eglinton North Limit of
Street Avenue Centre Street
Luella Markham Beachell
Street Road Street