Lane Designations - Queen Street East at

Eastern Avenue/Kingston Road (East Toronto)

The Toronto Community Council recommends the adoption of the following report (December 16, 1999) from the Director, Transportation Services, District 1:

Purpose:

To designate eastbound and westbound left-turn lanes on Queen Street East at Eastern Avenue/Kingston Road.

Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

The funds associated with the installation of appropriate signs and pavement markings for the designation of eastbound and westbound left-turn lanes on Queen Street East and Eastern Avenue/Kingston Road are contained in the Works and Emergency Services 1999 Current Budget in the amount of $2,500.00.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1) the northerly eastbound lane on Queen Street East be designated for left-turning movements only from a point 60 metres west of the west curb line of Eastern Avenue to the west curb line of Eastern Avenue;

(2) the southerly westbound lane on Queen Street East be designated for left-turning movements only from the east curb line of Kingston Road to a point 150 metres east thereof; and

(3) the appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

Comments:

Construction has recently been completed at the intersection of Queen Street East and Eastern Avenue/Kingston Road to facilitate streetcar movements. Specifically, a new streetcar track was installed at this intersection to separate the Queen Street East and the Kingston Road TTC streetcar services. The Queen Street East streetcar proceeds eastbound and westbound through the intersection. The Kingston Road TTC streetcar makes an eastbound left-turn from Queen Street East and a corresponding southbound right-turn movement from Kingston Road. As part of this undertaking, Queen Street East was widened to six lanes. An exclusive left-turn median lane, an exclusive through lane and a shared through and right-turn lane for each of the eastbound and westbound approaches is now provided. This intersection was reopened on October 4, 1999.

The configuration is somewhat unique in this area of the City and since the re-opening, Transportation Services staff have monitored traffic operations at this intersection observing that some motorists continue to make eastbound and westbound left-turn movements from the adjacent through lanes.

Adjustments to the pavement markings and signal timings to better delineate movements and accommodate vehicular and pedestrian flows have been made in recent days and a further improvement to the median on the west leg of the intersection is imminent. In addition, it is necessary to designate, by by-law, the appropriate turn lanes, namely, the median (streetcar track) lane on Queen Street East at Eastern Avenue/Kingston Road for left turns. This will allow the posting of regulatory signage to further guide drivers at the intersection and facilitate enforcement of illegal turning movements.

Conclusions:

The designation of eastbound and westbound left-turn lanes on Queen Street East at Eastern Avenue/Kingston Road should result in an overall improvement to the operational safety of the Queen Street East and Eastern Avenue/Kingston Road intersection by allowing for the introduction of appropriate regulatory lane and designation signs and subsequent enforcement by

the Toronto Police Service.

Contact:

Vince Suppa, Transportation Planner

416-392-1559, 416-392-0816 (Fax), vsuppa@toronto.ca (E-mail)