STAFF REPORT
December 8, 1999
To: Works Committee
From: Barry H. Gutteridge, Commissioner, Works and Emergency Services
Subject: Proposed Pedestrian Refuge Island
4725/4727 Sheppard Avenue East
Scarborough Malvern
Purpose:
To construct a pedestrian refuge island on Sheppard Avenue East, in the area of addresses 4725/4727, between McCowan
Road and Markham Road.
Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
The funds associated with installation of a pedestrian refuge island are contained in the Works and Emergency Services
Department's 2000 Capital Budget estimates. The estimated cost to install this pedestrian refuge island is $27,000.00.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that construction of a pedestrian refuge island on Sheppard Avenue East approximately 34 metres east
of the driveway to 4725/4727 Sheppard Avenue East proceed in the year 2000.
Background:
This correspondence is further to a verbal request from Councillor Cho, and a petition from residents of the condominiums
at 4725/4727 Sheppard Avenue East, requesting pedestrian crossing protection on Sheppard Avenue East in the vicinity of
their homes and the adjacent Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) bus stops. As a result of this request, Transportation
Services staff examined the feasibility of installing a pedestrian crossover or a pedestrian refuge island in the vicinity of
4725/4727 Sheppard Avenue. Pedestrians have requested crossing protection in this area because of the width of Sheppard
Avenue and the operating speeds of vehicular traffic, not in response to a collision history.
Discussion:
The two condominiums at 4725/4727 Sheppard Avenue East are high density residential units that have one driveway
access on the south side of Sheppard Avenue. Two industrial businesses are located on the north side of the street, opposite
the condominium property: KOCH Engineering Company Ltd., located to the west of the condominium driveway, and WR
Key Limited, located to the east of the condominium driveway. Both businesses have objected to the installation of the
refuge island on the street in front of their businesses because of concerns regarding the island impeding truck access to
their property.
Sheppard Avenue in this area is a five lane roadway with a centre, two-way left-turn lane, and a speed limit of 60 km/h.
The justification for the installation of a pedestrian crossover (PXO) is based on a technical warrant established by the
Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO). The numerical warrant is based on data compiled from an 8-hour traffic
study. The study hours used in the warrant calculations are 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m. to
5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The results of the numerical warrant review are shown below:
| MTO - PXO Warrant |
Required Volume |
Recorded Volume |
Compliance |
| Adjusted Pedestrian Volume |
200 |
167 |
84% |
Pedestrian Delays
Greater Than 10 Seconds |
130 |
115 |
88% |
To warrant the installation of a PXO, compliance levels of 100% are required in both of the above categories.
The Pedestrian Crossover Warrant provides an adjustment factor for senior citizens, unassisted children and physically
disabled pedestrians. The actual recorded pedestrian volume was 161. This pedestrian volume consisted of the following:
Types of Pedestrians |
Number of Pedestrians |
|
Assisted Children |
1 |
| Unassisted Children |
7 |
|
Youths / Adults |
154 |
|
Senior Citizens |
6 |
|
Physically Disabled |
0 |
Of these 161 pedestrians, 133 (83%) were generated by the TTC bus stops.
In addition to the non-compliance with the numerical warrant, this area of Sheppard Avenue is not suitable for a PXO
because it is wider than four lanes wide, operating speeds generally exceed 60 km/h, there are turning movements in the
immediate area, and bus stops are in close proximity.
While the pedestrian crossing demand does not satisfy the PXO warrant, it is sufficient to justify the installation of a
pedestrian refuge island. Staff are of the opinion that it is feasible to accommodate the island in front of the condominiums,
either in front of KOCH Engineering Co. Ltd. or WR Key Ltd. However, in either location a portion of the centre two-way
left-turn lane will be occupied, which will affect the way it operates in the immediate vicinity of the island. Furthermore
both businesses have two driveways that permit full movements, and at KOCH Engineering Co. Ltd. these driveways are
connected by an internal parking lot.
Residents of the condominiums have advised Councillor Cho that they prefer the island east of their driveway, close to
existing TTC bus stops. Minor relocation of the westbound bus stop would be required and TTC staff have no objections.
By placing the refugee island to the east of the condominium driveway, left-turn lanes can be provided which exceed the
City of Toronto minimum standards and which will also allow for tractor trailer truck movements into and out of the
driveways. While staff are aware that access to the properties will be impacted, this impact will be minimal, and the
benefits of the refuge island outweigh these dis-benefits.
Conclusions:
As a result of our investigations, and discussions with the area property owners and condominium management, staff are
recommending that the pedestrian refuge island be installed within the existing centre two-way left-turn lane approximately
34 metres east of the driveway to 4725/4727 Sheppard Avenue East to improve the pedestrian crossing environment on this
wide and busy section of Sheppard Avenue East.
Contact:
Bruce D. Clayton
Supervisor, Traffic Engineering, Works and Emergency Services
Tel: 396-7844
Fax: 396-5681
E-Mail: clayton@city.scarborough.on.ca
David C. Kaufman
General Manager, Transportation Services
Barry H. Gutteridge
Commissioner, Works and Emergency Services
BDC:ca
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List of Attachments:
1. Plan 1 (Proposed Pedestrian Island Location)
2. Location Plan
