Traffic Concerns at Scarborough Village Public School

(Ward 13 - Scarborough Bluffs)

The Scarborough Community Council recommends the adoption of the following report (December 20, 1999) from the Director of Transportation Services, District 4:

Purpose:

To report the results of parking and traffic studies on the streets in the area of Scarborough Village Public School.

Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

The $1500.00 (approximate) funds associated with the installation of parking regulations, speed limit signs and turn prohibition signs are available in the Transportation Services 2000 budget estimates, Cost Centre No. TP0226.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1) the parking/stopping regulations identified in Appendix 1 of this report be adopted;

(2) the School Bus Loading Zone identified in Appendix 2 of this report be adopted;

(3) the southbound right-turn prohibition identified in Appendix 3 of this report be rescinded;

(4) the southbound right-turn prohibition identified in Appendix 4 of this report be adopted;

(5) the 40 kilometre per hour speed limits identified in Appendix 5 of this report be adopted; and

(6) the appropriate by-laws be amended accordingly.

Background:

Transportation Services investigated a number of different traffic concerns in the vicinity of Scarborough Village Public School at the request of the area Councillors, and attended a community meeting to discuss various proposals.

Comments:

Scarborough Village Public School was relocated from a site on Centre Street, immediately north Eglinton Avenue, to the current location on Luella Street between Beachell Street and Centre Street. As a result of this relocation, there were no parking regulations or school bus loading zones to control the new school location. Appropriate School Area signs are posted in advance of the school. Right turns are prohibited from entering the community from southbound Markham Road to Luella Street between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., from Monday to Friday. The speed limit in the community is currently 50 kilometres per hour.

School Parking

What makes Scarborough Village Public School different from other schools in the Scarborough Community is that the surrounding streets in this community do not have curbs or sidewalks. The grass boulevard at the edge of the road slopes off to a ditch. Because of this condition, pedestrians must walk along the edge of the road. However, if vehicles are parked in this area, it forces pedestrians to walk on the road to the outside of parked vehicles. This can be intimidating for children considering the narrow road width. Therefore, we are not recommending our typical school side parking/opposite side no stopping.

Scarborough Village Public School was also not created with an adequate off-street looping facility to accommodate the parents driving their children to school. Fortunately, the Toronto District School Board has a written agreement with the church, immediately south of the school, to share each other's parking lot as required. These two lots accommodate 112 vehicles, including five disabled stalls, which is adequate to facilitate the existing demand, as we recorded in our Wednesday, May 26, 1999 study.

The direction that the school will give to parents will be to park in the church parking lot if they are intending to walk their children into the school or are waiting to pick up their children. The school parking lot will be utilized by school staff and by buses and vans that deliver disabled children to the school, who need the direct access to the school entrances.

A School Bus Loading Zone (SBLZ) will be established on Luella Street immediately in front of the front entrance to the school.

There is a small area on the east side of Beachell Street where receiving and discharging passengers can be safely accommodated on the street. This area is shown on the map with a No Parking, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday prohibition. Originally, we expressed concern about stopped vehicles interfering with children walking on the edge of the road in this area. However, this area has a gravel shoulder, which is more appropriate for dropping off and picking up children than other areas surrounding the school. Also children can walk on the gravel shoulder rather than on the road. They use this gravel shoulder to access the school property via a playground entrance.

Speed Studies

Twenty-four hour speed studies were conducted on Thursday, June 17, 1999 on Beachell Street, Centre Street and Luella Street. Study results are as follows:

Application of study results to the 40 km/h Speed Limit Warrant reveal that the minimum technical requirements are not achieved due to the traffic volumes being less than the required 1,000 vehicles per day and the distance between controls not exceeding the required 457 metres.

The installation of 40 km/h speed limits have not been installed in this community in the past due to the low vehicle speeds recorded. However, there are a number of factors that make the area surrounding the school unique. In the past, Scarborough Village Public School was located at the corner of Eglinton Avenue and Centre Street. The new school is more centrally located and now abuts Beachell Street, Centre Street and Luella Street. Also, as there are no sidewalks in this community, children must walk along the edge of the road. Therefore, 40 Km/h speed limits are recommended in recognition of these safety concerns.

Excluding School Buses from Turn Restriction

We received a request from the principal of Scarborough Village Public School to consider excluding school buses from the southbound to eastbound turn prohibition currently in place at the intersection of Markham Road and Luella Street. This right-turn prohibition applies from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., Monday to Friday. During our a.m. study, we recorded six buses generated by the school. Exempting school buses from this turn prohibition will have a minimal impact on the traffic volumes in this community, and will decrease the travel time for bus drivers and children.

Conclusions:

As a result of our investigations, we are recommending the following:

(1) stopping be prohibited between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, on both sides of the roads surrounding the school with a short zone that prohibits parking between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on the east side of Beachell Street;

(2) a "No Parking Anytime" prohibition will replace the old School Bus Loading Zone on Centre Street. This prohibition is currently contained in the by-law. A new School Bus Loading Zone will be established in front of the school on Luella Street;

(3) a 40 km/h speed limit is recommended on Beachell Street, Centre Street and Luella Street; and

(4) a "Buses Excepted" tab will be added to the right-turn prohibition at Markham Road and Luella Street, which will provide buses with more convenient access to the school.

Contact:

Bruce D. Clayton

Supervisor, Traffic Engineering, Works and Emergency Services

Tel: 396-7844 Fax: 396-5681 E-Mail: clayton@toronto.ca

Appendix 1

No Parking

Prohibition to be Enacted

Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4

Highway Side From To Times or Days

Beachell East 60 metres north 35 metres further 8:00 a.m. to

Street of Eglinton Avenue north 4:00 p.m.

Monday to Friday

No Stopping

Prohibition to be Enacted

Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4

Highway Side From To Times or Days

Beachell East 95 metres north Luella Street 8:00 a.m. to

Street of Eglinton Avenue 4:00 p.m.

Monday to Friday

Beachell West 60 metres north Luella Street 8:00 a.m. to

Street of Eglinton Avenue 4:00 p.m.

Monday to Friday

Centre Both 53 metres north Luella Street 8:00 a.m. to

Street of Eglinton Avenue 4:00 p.m.

Monday to Friday

Luella Both Beachell Centre Street 8:00 a.m. to

Street Street 4:00 p.m.

Monday to Friday

Appendix 2

"School Bus Loading Zone"

Prohibition to be Enacted

Column 1 Column 2 Column 3

Highway Side Name of School

or Institution

15 Luella Street South Scarborough Village

Public School

Appendix 3

"Prohibited Turns"

Prohibition to be Rescinded

Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4

Intersection or Turn Times or

Portion Of Highway Direction Prohibited Days

Markham Road and Southbound Right 7:00 a.m. to

Luella Street 9:00 a.m.

Monday to Friday

Appendix 4

"Prohibited Turns"

Prohibition to be Enacted

Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4

Intersection or Turn Times or

Portion Of Highway Direction Prohibited Days

Markham Road and Southbound Right 7:00 a.m. to

Luella Street 9:00 a.m.

Monday to Friday

(except school buses)

Appendix 5

"40 Kilometre Per Hour Speed Limit"

Regulation to be Enacted

Column 1 Column 2

Highway From To

Beachell Street Eglinton Avenue North Limit of

Beachell Street

Centre Street Eglinton Avenue North Limit of

Centre Street

Luella Street Markham Road Beachell Street