December 21, 1999
To: Toronto Community Council
From: Director, Transportation Services, District 1
Subject: Swanwick Avenue - Installation of a "Stop" sign at Enderby Road and reduction of maximum speed limit to 40
kilometres per hour.
(East Toronto)
Purpose:
To report on a request by Councillor Tom Jakobek to discourage speeding on Swanwick Avenue by reducing the speed
limit to forty kilometres per hour and installing a "Stop" sign at Enderby Road.
Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
Funds to undertake the necessary signage adjustments/installation in the estimated amount of $500.00 are contained in the
Transportation Services' Division 2000 Operating Budget request.
Recommendations:
(1) That a forty kilometres per hour maximum speed limit be introduced on Swanwick Avenue, from Main Street to
Norwood Road;
(2) That a "Stop" sign not be installed for westbound traffic on Swanwick Avenue at Enderby Road; and
(3) That the appropriate City Officials be requested to take whatever action is necessary to give effect to the foregoing,
including the introduction of any Bills that are required.
Comments:
At the request of Councillor Tom Jakobek, on behalf of several residents on Swanwick Avenue, Transportation Services
has investigated concerns about speed on Swanwick Avenue, from Main Street to Norwood Road. Residents have
suggested that a "Stop" sign be installed on Swanwick Avenue at Enderby Road, the intersecting street about midway
between Main Street and Norwood Road, to deter this activity.
Swanwick Avenue operates one-way westbound, from Main Street to Norwood Road on a pavement width of 6.7 metres
and has a maximum speed limit of 50 kilometres per hour. Swanwick Avenue and Enderby Road form a T-type
intersection with Swanwick Avenue being the through street. A "Stop" sign is posted on Enderby Road at Swanwick
Avenue regulating southbound traffic and clearly establishing right-of-way at the intersection.
We evaluated this location against the technical criteria governing the installation of all-way "Stop" sign control, which
encompass such factors as right-of-way conflicts, vehicular and pedestrian use of the intersection, environmental
configuration and safety experience. Based on our assessment, the intersection of Enderby Road and Swanwick Avenue
operates safely and the installation of a "Stop" sign for westbound traffic on Swanwick Avenue is not justified.
A speed and volume survey conducted on Swanwick Avenue over a consecutive four-day period recorded an average total
of about 370 vehicles daily travelling on the street. Although there were sporadic instances of vehicles travelling at speeds
over 55 km/h (typical of most streets), the 85th percentile speed, considered to be the operating speed of the street, was 38
km/h.
Traffic volume and incidence of speeding are low compared to many local streets in the City. Notwithstanding, Swanwick
Avenue satisfies the criteria adopted by the former City of Toronto for the introduction of a 40 kilometres per hour
maximum speed limit. Implementing this regulation would establish a speed limit that is consistent with the section of
Swanwick Avenue east of Main Street and other local streets in the neighbourhood.
Contact:
Gary O'Neil, Traffic Investigator
Telephone: 392-7771, Fax: 392-0816,
E-mail: goneil@toronto.ca
Director
Gwo/go
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