November 10, 1998
To:The Urban Environment and Development Committee
From:General Manager, Transportation Services
Subject:Proposed Installation of Traffic Control Signals
Bloor Street West and Forestview Road/Mapledawn Road
Markland - Centennial; Councillors Dick O'Brien, Doug Holyday
Purpose:
To propose the installation of traffic control signals at the intersection of Bloor Street West and Forestview
Road/Mapledawn Road, coincident with the removal of the existing pedestrian crossover (PXO) located on the west side
of the intersection.
Funding Sources:
The funds associated with new traffic signal installations are contained in the Transportation Departments's Capital
Budget Projections under Project No. C-TR031. In 1998, $1.6 million has been allocated for new traffic control signal
installations. These funds have been fully committed already through approvals of 21 new signal installations. Therefore,
unless additional funding is identified in 1998, new signal approvals for the balance of 1998 will be placed on a priority
list for 1999 and await approval of the appropriate budget item in the 1999 Capital Budget.
The estimated cost of the installation of traffic control signals on Bloor Street West and Forestview Road/Mapledawn
Road is $82,000.00 including the removal of the existing PXO.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1)traffic control signals be installed at the intersection of Bloor Street West and Forestview Road/Mapledawn Road;
(2)coincident with the traffic control signal installation, the existing pedestrian crossover be removed; and
(3)the appropriate by-law(s) be amended accordingly.
Background:
At the request of St. Clement Catholic School, our Department investigated the feasibility of replacing the existing
pedestrian crossover with traffic control signals because of concerns that some motorists do not react appropriately to
pedestrians at the PXO.
Discussion:
Bloor Street West in the vicinity of Forestview Road/Mapledawn Road is a four-lane arterial road. The posted speed limit
is 50 kilometres per hour. A PXO is presently located on the west side of the intersection. The Toronto Transit
Commission (T.T.C.) has an eastbound far side and a westbound near side bus stop at this location. The area is residential
with single family homes backing onto Bloor Street West. St. Clement Catholic School is located on the southwest corner
of the intersection. Adjacent traffic control signals on Bloor Street West are located approximately 226 metres to the east
of the PXO, at Markland Drive East, and 166 metres to the west at Mill Street. Bloor Street West curves vertically and
horizontally between Mill Road and Markland Drive East. This roadway alignment can restrict motorists view of
pedestrians on the southwest corner of the existing PXO.
There are approximately 156 pedestrians crossing Bloor Street West at the subject PXO during an eight-hour period of a
typical weekday.
We have evaluated the operational characteristics of this PXO location according to the guidelines that were developed for
the "Audit of Operational and Physical Suitability at Pedestrian Crossovers in the City of Toronto". The results are as
follows:
| Standards or Criteria to be met
for Physical Suitability of a PXO |
Met/Not Met |
Comment |
| Vehicle operating speed less than 60 km/h |
Not met |
85th percentile speed is greater than
60 km/h |
| Traffic volume less than 35,000 vehicles per day |
Met |
24,477 vehicles per day |
| No driveways or entrances nearby |
Met |
No driveways in the immediate
vicinity |
| No significant volume of turning movements which
interfere with the PXO |
Met |
low volume of turns in the
immediate area |
| No visibility problems exist for either pedestrians or
vehicles |
Not Met |
Moderate curve and downgrade
create limited visibility especially
for pedestrians on the south side of
Bloor Street West |
| No loading zones (including TTC) in the immediate
vicinity |
Not met |
eastbound and westbound TTC
stops |
| Not less than 215 metres to another PXO or traffic
control device |
Not Met |
Traffic control signals are located
166 metres to the west at Mill Street
and 226 metres to the east at
Markland Drive East |
This location does not meet four of the criteria listed above, specifically the operating speed, visibility, loading zone
locations and spacing between devices.
Transportation Division staff reviewed the collision records provided by the Toronto Police Service for the three-year
period ending December 31, 1997. During this period no collisions have occurred involving pedestrians crossing Bloor
Street West in the PXO.
Both Councillors agree with the recommendations of this report.
Conclusion:
The existing PXO on Bloor Street at Forestview Road/Mapledawn Road is no longer operating in a satisfactory manner.
Traffic control signals should be installed at the intersection to improve pedestrian safety at this location.
Contact Name and Telephone Number:
Bruce Zvaniga, Manager
North & West Traffic Regions
(416) 392-8826
David C. Kaufman
General Manager, Transportation Services
Barry H. Gutteridge
Commissioner, Works and Emergency Services
TD:dm
