REQUEST FOR ALL-WAY STOP CONTROL AT CLOUSTON AVENUE

AND CENTRE ROAD

Ward 27, York Humber

Director of Transportation Services, District 1

(November 30, 1999)

Purpose:

To respond to a request from York Community Council to evaluate the need for all-way stop control at the intersection of Clouston Avenue and Centre Road.

Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

There are no financial implications resulting from the adoption of this report.

Recommendation:

It is recommended that this report be received for information.

Background:

York Community Council, at its meeting of September 14, 1999, in considering a communication (August 10, 1999) from Councillor Frances Nunziata requested a report on the feasibility of installing an all-way stop control at the intersection of Clouston Avenue and Centre Road (Clause No. 14(n) of Report No. 9).

Comments:

Clouston Avenue is classified as a local roadway, operating two-way in an east-west direction between Weston Road and Denison Road. Centre Road is classified as a local roadway, operating two-way in a north-south direction from Edmund Avenue to Clouston Avenue. The streets form a "T" intersection with stop sign control for northbound vehicular traffic on Centre Road.

In order for all-way stop control to be justified at an intersection, established warrant criteria must be fulfilled. The criteria include such factors as right-of-way conflicts, vehicular and pedestrian usage of the intersection, physical and geometric configuration, and surrounding area traffic control. This intersection does not satisfy the operational elements for the installation of an all-way stop sign control.

Specifically, the highest recorded vehicular volume in a one-hour period, from all approaches, throughout a day was only 35 vehicles during the morning peak hour. These are extremely low peak period volumes at an intersection where all-way stop control is being considered. Also, Toronto Police Service collision records for this intersection for the past five-year period from January 1, 1994 to December 31, 1998 revealed that there were no reported collisions at this intersection.

Conclusions:

Due to the extremely low traffic volumes, no reported collision experience, and no unusual physical characteristics, an all-way stop control is not warranted at the intersection of Clouston Avenue and Centre Road. It should also be mentioned that the installation of a particular control, in a situation where it is not warranted, would not necessarily guarantee safer conditions. Such measures tend to erode driver respect and obedience of these controls, leading to a degree of non-compliance. As critical, it creates a false sense of security for pedestrians, especially school children, where safety is a primary concern.

Contact:

Jacqueline White

Manager, Traffic Operations, District 1

Telephone: 397-5021

Fax: 392-8504

e-mail: jwhite@toronto.ca

Director

SCB/cg