December 14, 1999

To: Toronto Community Council

From: Director, Transportation Services District 1

Subject: (1) Golden Avenue and Silver Avenue.

Morrow Avenue and Silver Avenue.

Installation of "Stop" sign control; and

(2) Golden Avenue, from Dundas Street West to its terminus;

Morrow Avenue, between Dundas Street West and its terminus; and

Silver Avenue, between Golden Avenue and Morrow Avenue.

Reduction of the maximum speed limit from 50 km/h to 40 km/h.

(High Park)

Purpose:

To establish the right-of-way at these intersections, and bring the speed limit on Golden Avenue, Morrow Avenue and Silver Avenue into conformity with other local streets in the neighbourhood.

Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

Funds to cover the cost of this work and associated signage in the estimated amount of $1,400.00 are available under the Transportation Services Division 2000 Current Estimates.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1) a "Stop" sign be installed for westbound traffic on Silver Avenue at its intersection with Golden Avenue;

(2) a "Stop" sign be installed for eastbound traffic on Silver Avenue at its intersection with Morrow Avenue;

(3) the speed limit on Golden Avenue, between Dundas Street West and its terminus, on Morrow Avenue, between Dundas Street West and its terminus and on Silver Avenue between Golden Avenue and Morrow Avenue be reduced from 50 km/h to 40 km/h; and

(4) the appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take whatever action is necessary to implement the foregoing, including the introduction in Council of any Bills that are required.

Comments:

At the request of High Park Ward Councillors Chris Korwin-Kuczynski and David Miller and residents of Golden Avenue, Transportation Services' staff investigated the feasibility of installing "Stop" sign control at the intersection of Golden Avenue and Silver Avenue and at the intersection of Morrow Avenue and Silver Avenue. In addition, we reviewed the speed and volume on Golden Avenue.

Silver Avenue is a two-way, east-west roadway forming "T" type intersections with Golden Avenue and Morrow Avenue. Both Golden Avenue and Morrow Avenue are north-south roadways operating as two-way streets from Dundas Street West to their terminus. Currently, there is no "Stop" sign control posted in any direction of travel at either of these intersections. Under the provisions of the Highway Traffic Act, when two vehicles enter an uncontrolled intersection at approximately the same time, the driver on the left shall yield the right-of-way to the vehicle on the right.

During the busiest eight-hour period of a typical weekday, approximately 190 vehicles were recorded travelling on Golden Avenue (98 northbound, 92 southbound) and approximately 181 vehicles on Morrow Avenue (100 northbound and 81 southbound). During this same time period, we recorded 91 westbound vehicles approaching Golden Avenue and 83 eastbound vehicles approaching Morrow Avenue on Silver Avenue.

A review of the Toronto Police Service collision records over a three-year period ending June 30, 1999, disclosed a total of two collisions reported at the subject intersections. There were no collisions reported involving a pedestrian or a cyclist.

We evaluated both intersections against the technical criteria governing the installation of northbound and southbound "Stop" control which includes such factors as the right-of-way conflicts, vehicular and pedestrian usage of the intersection, physical geometric configuration, and adjacent traffic controls. In this regard the subject intersections do not satisfy the operational elements for northbound and southbound "Stop" sign control. However, we have concluded that the warrants for westbound and eastbound "Stop" sign control at the subject intersections are satisfied. Specifically, the installation of "Stop" signs for eastbound traffic on Silver Avenue at Morrow Avenue and for westbound traffic on Silver Avenue at Golden Avenue would clearly establish right-of-way for vehicular traffic and would enhance pedestrian safety.

Transportation Services' staff reviewed the speed of vehicles on Golden Avenue. Currently, Golden Avenue operates with a speed limit of 50 km/h. Daily speed and volume surveys conducted on Golden Avenue over six consecutive days revealed an average daily volume of 320 vehicles per day between Dundas Street West and its terminus. The speed survey revealed that speeding was relatively low (1.6 percent of all traffic). In fact, almost 98 percent of all vehicles travelled at or below the posted speed limit. However, in order to be consistent with other local streets in the neighbourhood, the maximum speed limit should be reduced from 50 km/h to 40 km/h on Golden Avenue, Silver Avenue and Morrow Avenue.

Although the traffic volume and incidence of speeding is low compared to most residential streets in the City, Golden Avenue, Morrow Avenue and Silver Avenue satisfy the former City of Toronto criteria for introduction of a 40 km/h speed limit. In order to provide a safeguard for pedestrians and to bring these streets into line with other local streets in the neighbourhood, the maximum speed limit should be reduced from 50 km/h to 40 km/h.

Contact:

Spiros Stamopoulos

Traffic Investigator, Traffic Operations, District 1 - West

telephone: 392-7771

fax: 392-0816

e-mail: sstampolo@toronto.ca

Director

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