Implementation of Speed Limit, Installation of Median Island
and Provision of Designated Left-turn Lane -
The Esplanade, from Lower Jarvis Street to Yonge Street
and the Intersection of The Esplanade and Market Street
(Downtown)
The Toronto Community Council recommends the adoption of the following
report (January 4, 2000) from the Director, Transportation Services, District 1:
Purpose:
The combined proposals are intended to provide enhanced pedestrian
safety and to add a measure of traffic calming on the eastbound and
westbound approaches to the intersection of The Esplanade and Market
Street, while maintaining the safe and efficient flow of traffic.
Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
The implementation cost of this proposal is approximately $5000.00,
funds for which will have to be made available in the Transportation
Services 2000 Budget requests.
Recommendations:
(1) That the maximum speed limit on The Esplanade, from Lower
Jarvis Street to Yonge Street, be reduced from 50 kilometres per
hour to 40 kilometres per;
(2) That approval be given to narrow the pavement on the eastbound
approach of The Esplanade, west of Market Street as described as
follows:
"The narrowing of the pavement from a width of 9.75 metres
to a width ranging from 7.75 metres to 9.75 metres on The
Esplanade, between a point 5.0 metres west of Market Street
and a point 24.0 metres further west, by the installation of a
median island generally as indicated on the attached print of
Drawing No. 421F-5496 dated October 1999";
(3) That an exclusive left-turn lane for westbound traffic be designated
on The Esplanade, from Market Street to a point 39.0 metres east
of Market Street, as indicated on attached print of Drawing No.
421F-5496 dated October 1999; and
(4) That the appropriate City Officials be requested to take whatever
action is necessary to give effect to the foregoing, including the
introduction in Council of any Bills that are required.
Comments:
At the request of Downtown Councillor Kyle Rae, staff of Transportation
Services have investigated the feasibility of providing enhanced pedestrian safety
and adding a measure of traffic calming on the subject portion of The
Esplanade.
The Esplanade and Market Street form a 4-way intersection, with Market
Street operating one-way southbound, north of The Esplanade and two-way to the south. The Esplanade currently is a through street and
operates two-way with a maximum speed limit of fifty kilometres per
hour.
TTC bus service operates on The Esplanade.
A review of the collision records at this intersection for the three year
period from August 31, 1996 to August 31, 1999, has revealed that 7
collisions occurred, of which none involved pedestrians.
Having evaluated this intersection against the technical criteria
governing the installation of "Stop" signs and/or a pedestrian crossover
which encompasses such factors as right-of-way conflicts, vehicular
and pedestrian usage of the intersection, physical and geometric
configuration, surrounding area traffic control, safety experience and
warrants established by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation for the
installation of traffic control devices, this intersection does not satisfy
the operational elements for the installation of all-way "Stop" sign
control nor a pedestrian crossover.
Additionally, I note the following:
(a) The intersection of Market Street and The Esplanade is located
only 58.0 metres west of the traffic control signals at Jarvis Street
and The Esplanade. In accordance with the traffic control signal
warrants, established by the Ministry of Transportation, the
minimum recommended spacing between adjacent traffic control
devices is 215 metres. This is the minimum distance at which
drivers can detect a control device or a hazard in a cluttered
environment, recognize it, and perform the required action safely.
The subject intersection is too close to the adjacent traffic control
signals to ensure operational safety and compliance with the
"Stop" signs or pedestrian crossover, particularly by eastbound
motorists who might be preoccupied with the traffic control
signals they are approaching; and
(b) Given the current volume of traffic on The Esplanade (about 6,000
vehicles daily) and the proximity of Market Street to the traffic
control signals at Jarvis Street, the queuing of vehicles can be
expected in the block between Market Street and Jarvis Street. At
times, queued vehicles might encroach into each intersection
which could present a safety hazard.
With this in mind, staff looked at an option which might enhance
crossing safety, specifically, installing a median island on The
Esplanade, immediately west of Market Street, to provide a pedestrian
refuge area at the intersection.
The median island would provide a measure of safety which might
increase the number of pedestrians crossing at this location. However,
aside from the general provision that motorists yield to pedestrians in
the roadway, there would be no legal requirement for motorists to stop.
Pedestrians would still have to wait for a gap in on-coming traffic and
cross at their discretion to get from the curb to the island and then from
the island to the opposite curb.
The installation of a median island on the west leg of the intersection
should be matched by designating an exclusive left-turn lane for
westbound traffic on the east leg of the intersection (as shown on
Drawing No. 421F-5496, attached). This should enhance west-left
turning movements with the added benefit of a pedestrian refuge area
at the mid-point of the roadway. As The Esplanade has a relatively wide
two lane cross-section varying between 10.0 metres to the west and 11.0
metres to the east of Market Street, and a moderately high traffic volume
in the order of 6,000 vehicles daily for a collector street, these combined
measures would enhance pedestrian safety and add a measure of traffic
calming on the eastbound and westbound approaches to Market Street
by slightly reducing the widths of the traffic lanes.
The pavement realignment on The Esplanade at Market Street described
above, constitutes an alteration to a public highway pursuant to the
provisions of the Municipal Act. This will require a public advertising
campaign as well as the hearing of deputations from the public at a
future meeting of Toronto Community Council. This aspect of the
project is pre-approved in accordance with Schedule A of the Class
Environment Assessment for Municipal Roads Projects.
Although traffic volume and incidence of speeding on the subject
section of The Esplanade is consistent with many collector streets in the
City, I suggest the implementation of a forty kilometres per hour
maximum speed limit on this street, between Lower Jarvis Street and
Yonge
Street, is an appropriate means of addressing residents'concerns
respecting safety, and would create conformity with the forty kilometre
maximum speed regulation that exists on the rest of The Esplanade,
from Lower Jarvis Street to Berkeley Street.
Contact:
Curt Russell, Traffic Investigator
Telephone: 392-7771 Fax: 392-0816 E-mail: crussell@toronto.ca
Map 1