December 16, 1999

To: Toronto Community Council

From: Director, Transportation Services District 1

Subject: Margueretta Street, between College Street and Bloor Street West - Proposed installation of speed humps.

(Trinity-Niagara)

Purpose:

To report on a request from Trinity-Niagara Councillors Joe Pantalone and Mario Silva for speed hump installation on Margueretta Street, between College Street and Bloor Street West.

Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

Should installation of speed humps on Margueretta Street, between College Street and Bloor Street West, be approved, funds to implement the work in the estimated amount of $15,000.00 would have to be provided within the Transportation Services Division 2000 Capital Budget.

Recommendations:

(1) That approval be given to alter sections of the roadway on Margueretta Street, from College Street to Bloor Street West, for traffic calming purposes as described below, with implementation subject to favourable results of the 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 MARGUERETTA STREET, from College Street to Bloor Street West, generally as shown on the attached print of Drawing Nos. 421F-5165, 421F-5166, 421F-5167 and 421F-5168, dated March 1998";

(2) That a speed limit of 30 kilometres per hour be introduced on Margueretta Street, from College Street to Bloor Street West, coinciding 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 give effect thereto, including the introduction in Council of any Bills that are required.

Comments:

Trinity-Niagara Councillors Joe Pantalone and Mario Silva have requested that Transportation Services' staff report to the Toronto Community Council to obtain the authority to conduct a poll of residents of Margueretta Street, between College Street and Bloor Street West, to determine their support for the installation of speed humps.

Margueretta Street, between College Street and Bloor Street West, operates one-way southbound on a pavement width of 7.3 metres with a maximum speed limit of 40 kilometres per hour. Parking is prohibited at anytime on the east side. The permit parking system is in effect on the west side, from 12:01 to 7:00 a.m., daily. Parking is otherwise restricted to a maximum period of one hour at other times on the west side of Margueretta Street, between Bloor Street West and a point 157 metres further south and between College Street and a point 150 metres further north. Along the central section of Margueretta Street, parking is restricted to a maximum period of three hours on the west side (between a point 150 metres north of College Street and a point 157 metres south of Bloor Street West. There are no intersecting streets on this section of Margueretta Street, resulting in a block length of about 830 metres.

Transportation Services' staff conducted twenty-four hour automatic speed and volume surveys at three different points on Margueretta Street, between College Street and Bloor Street West, and it was found that this street carries approximately 1,400 vehicles per day with an average operating speed (speed at which 85 percent or less of the traffic travels) of 49 km/h. The average speed of vehicles on the street is 42 km/h and about 6 percent of the vehicles travel in excess of 55 km/h.

A review of the Toronto Police Service's collision data records for Margueretta Street, between College Street and Bloor Street West, for the three year period beginning August 31, 1996 and ending August 31, 1999, revealed nine collisions were reported of which two involved pedestrians.

In light of the speed profile and accident history noted above, this street is an appropriate candidate for the installation of speed humps. Transportation Services' staff have developed a traffic calming plan with the view of reducing operating speeds to approximately 30 kilometres per hour.

The traffic calming proposal, as illustrated on the attached prints of Drawing Nos. 421F-5165, 421F-5166, 421F-5167 and 421F-5168, dated March 1998, consists of ten speed humps with spacings between the speed humps of approximately 60 to 90 metres. A reduction of the speed limit to 30 kilometres per hour would also be appropriate. No impacts on parking are anticipated and the effects on snow removal, street cleaning and garbage collection should be minimal.

As stipulated in the Speed Hump Policy, once it has been determined that the request for speed hump installation meets the initial criteria, a formal poll should be conducted of adults (18 years of age and older) of households directly abutting the affected section of street, and also 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.

The changes proposed to Margueretta Street, 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. In the interim, consultations with the emergency services agencies have been 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.

Contact:

Bob Runnings, Traffic Investigator

Telephone: (416) 392-7771

Fax: (416) 392-0816

E-mail: rrunning@toronto.ca

__________________

Director.

RJR/br

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List of Attachments

Speed hump proposal Drawing Nos.

421F-5165

421F-5166

421F-5167

421F-5168