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October 19, 1999

To: Works Committee

From: City Clerk

Subject: Proposed Road Classification System

Recommendation:

The Toronto Pedestrian Committee submits the following Resolution and recommendations for the consideration of the Works Committee:

WHEREAS the consolidated road classification system continues the traditional traffic engineering practice of classifying streets on the basis of the volume and speed of motor vehicle traffic;

WHEREAS the proposed hierarchical approach to road classification will protect residents on and users of local streets from the adverse impacts of automobile traffic, it will compound the adverse impacts of motor vehicle traffic on residents and users of collector and arterial roads;

WHEREAS collector and arterial roads are an integral part of the fabric of the City and must not be treated simply as conduits for motor vehicles disconnected from the communities through which they pass;

WHEREAS the road classification systems and their companion approaches to road design inherited from the seven former municipalities in Toronto have contributed to high levels of non-compliance with legal speeds and significant numbers of traffic fatalities and personal injuries;

WHEREAS the estimated annual direct and indirect costs of the $0.6 billion and $2.5 human consequences of collisions in Toronto is $0.5 $2.9 billion respectively;

WHEREAS the majority of the 38 pedestrian traffic fatalities so far this year have been on suburban arterial and collector roads;

WHEREAS children, seniors, and people who are physically frail are often discouraged from travelling by foot because they do not receive parity of treatment with other road-users in terms of provision for their needs and regard for their safety on the roads;

WHEREAS the historical practice of designing the city's road network to meet projected demands for private automobile travel has contributed to the poor quality of air in the city that has resulted in increasing numbers of people suffering from respiratory health problems;

WHEREAS the City of Toronto has adopted policies to reduce car use through travel demand management in order to fulfill its obligations as a partner in international agreements to improve air quality by reducing carbon dioxide emissions;

WHEREAS the City of Toronto is a partner in international agreements to improve air quality by reducing carbon dioxide emissions and has adopted policies to reduce car use through travel demand management and other measures that directly help to improve air quality;

WHEREAS other countries in the world are concerned that the impacts of decisions about transport have on health and the environment have been recognized too slowly;

AND FURTHER, WHEREAS the street right-of-way is one of the most valuable resources controlled by the City and that, as such, it must have the twin goals of providing efficient and safe movement for people and goods and, at the same time, ensuring the liveability of the city;

AND FURTHER, WHEREAS road classification systems have historically defined the fundamental criteria for allocating space within the public right-of-way primarily on the basis of moving ever-increasing volumes of motor vehicle traffic;

AND FURTHER, WHEREAS it is the City of Toronto's policy to protect and enhance the quality and safety of the pedestrian environment by improving the public realm, including operational modifications and streetscaping; and

AND FURTHER, WHEREAS City staff indicated in a special meeting with The Toronto Pedestrian Committee on October 7, 1999 that there is no requirement on the part of staff to have a new road classification system adopted at the December, 1999 Council meeting;

THEREFORE, The Toronto Pedestrian Committee respectfully recommends that the Works Committee:

(1) consider the June 24, 1999 proposed road classification system report a preliminary document to be evaluated in the broader context of goals for public health, sustainable transportation, environmental protection, and the Official Plan;

(2) recognize that this report provides a significant opportunity to improve the Torontos pedestrian environment and eliminate the negative effects on the City of ever-increasing car traffic;

(3) delay referral of any proposed road classification system to City Council for adoption until the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services and the Acting Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services have had sufficient time to report back to the Works Committee on the inclusion of the issues raised by the Toronto Pedestrian Committee with regard to this critical document which outlines how 40% or more of the Citys urban space is to be used and classified and that such report be considered a priority item; and

(4) request the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services to prepare a policy to reduce speed limits on minor and major arterial roads in close proximity of schools.

The Toronto Pedestrian Committee reports having requested that the aforementioned recommendations be forwarded to the Medical Officer of Health, the Environmental Task Force, the Health City Office and the Older Womens Network for their consideration and appropriate action.

Background:

The Toronto Pedestrian Committee, at its special meeting held on October 7, 1999, had before it a communication (July 14, 1999) from the City Clerk, advising that the Works Committee, on July 14, 1999, referred the report, dated June 29, 1999, from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services respecting the consolidation of the various road classification systems inherited from the amalgamated municipalities into a single, consistent system, and the clarification of the respective roles and responsibilities of Community Councils and various Standing Committees with respect to traffic operations policies in the context of the new classification system, to the Community Councils for consideration and requested that their comments be submitted to the Works Committee for consideration at its meeting on November 3, 1999.

The Toronto Pedestrian Committee also had before it the following communications:

(October 7, 1999) from Ms. Joan Doiron, Co-Chair, Toronto Pedestrian Committee, entitled Placing City Health, Wealth and Urban Quality of Life at the Centre of Transportation Policy;

(September 20, 1999) from Ms. Rhona Swarbrick, Co-Chair, Toronto Pedestrian Committee, forwarding comments made at various Community Council meetings.

Mr. Andrew MacBeth, Manager, Operational Planning and Policy, Transportation Services, appeared before The Toronto Pedestrian Committee in connection with the foregoing and delivered a presentation with respect thereto.

for City Clerk

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