Installation of a "Stop" sign at Swanwick Avenue and
Enderby Road and Reduction of Maximum Speed Limit
(East Toronto)
The Toronto Community Council recommends that:
(1) a forty kilometres per hour maximum speed limit be introduced on Swanwick Avenue, from
Main Street to Norwood Road;
(2) a "Stop" sign be installed for westbound traffic on Swanwick Avenue at Enderby Road with
funds to be provided from Interim Appropriations Account No. TPO126; and
(3) the appropriate City Officials be requested to take whatever action is necessary to give effect
to the foregoing, including the introduction of any Bills that are required.
The Toronto Community Council submits the following report
(December 21, 1999) from the Director, Transportation Services, District
1:
Purpose:
To report on a request by Councillor Tom Jakobek to discourage speeding on
Swanwick Avenue by reducing the speed limit to forty kilometres per hour and
installing a "Stop" sign at Enderby Road.
Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
Funds to undertake the necessary signage adjustments/installation in the
estimated amount of $500.00 are contained in the Transportation Services'
Division 2000 Operating Budget request.
Recommendations:
(1) That a forty kilometres per hour maximum speed limit be introduced on Swanwick
Avenue, from Main Street to Norwood Road;
(2) That a "Stop" sign not be installed for westbound traffic on Swanwick Avenue at
Enderby Road; and
(3) That the appropriate City Officials be requested to take whatever action is necessary
to give effect to the foregoing, including the introduction of any Bills that are required.
Comments:
At the request of Councillor Tom Jakobek, on behalf of several residents
on Swanwick Avenue, Transportation Services has investigated concerns
about speed on Swanwick Avenue, from Main Street to Norwood Road.
Residents have suggested that a "Stop" sign be installed on Swanwick
Avenue at Enderby Road, the intersecting street about midway between
Main Street and Norwood Road, to deter this activity.
Swanwick Avenue operates one-way westbound, from Main Street to
Norwood Road on a pavement width of 6.7 metres and has a maximum
speed limit of 50 kilometres per hour. Swanwick Avenue and Enderby
Road form a T-type intersection with Swanwick Avenue being the through
street. A "Stop" sign is posted on Enderby Road at Swanwick Avenue
regulating southbound traffic and clearly establishing right-of-way at the
intersection.
We evaluated this location against the technical criteria governing the
installation of all-way "Stop" sign control, which encompass such factors as
right-of-way conflicts, vehicular and pedestrian use of the intersection,
environmental configuration and safety experience. Based on our
assessment, the intersection of Enderby Road and Swanwick Avenue
operates safely and the installation of a "Stop" sign for westbound traffic on
Swanwick Avenue is not justified.
A speed and volume survey conducted on Swanwick Avenue over a
consecutive four-day period recorded an average total of about 370 vehicles
daily travelling on the street. Although there were sporadic instances of
vehicles travelling at speeds over 55 km/h (typical of most streets), the 85th
percentile speed, considered to be the operating speed of the street, was 38
km/h.
Traffic volume and incidence of speeding are low compared to many local streets
in the City. Notwithstanding, Swanwick Avenue satisfies the criteria adopted by
the former City of Toronto for the introduction of a 40 kilometres per hour
maximum speed limit. Implementing this regulation would establish a speed
limit that is consistent with the section of Swanwick Avenue east of Main Street
and other local streets in the neighbourhood.
Contact:
Gary O'Neil, Traffic Investigator
Telephone: 392-7771, Fax: 392-0816,
E-mail: goneil@toronto.ca