Traffic Calming Project (Phase I) - Status Report

South Eglinton Area (East) (North Toronto)

 The Toronto Community Council recommends the adoption of the following report (April 22, 1998) from the Director, Infrastructure Planning and Transportation Division, City Works Services:

 Purpose:

 To update Toronto Community Council on the results of two public meetings convened by Councillors Anne Johnston and Michael Walker to review initial monitoring of the South Eglinton Area East Traffic Calming Project Phase I as set out in the report (February 10, 1998) of Works and Emergency Services, and seek authority to conduct a poll of residents of the area bounded by Eglinton Avenue East, Bayview Avenue, Merton Street and Mount Pleasant Road regarding retention of the plan, removal, or whether there is a desire to pursue other forms of traffic control in this area.

 Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

 The costs of this proposed poll can be accommodated within departmental accounts.

 Recommendation:

 That City staff be authorized to conduct a poll of residents in the area bounded by Eglinton Avenue East, Bayview Avenue, Merton Street and Mount Pleasant Road to determine whether it is the desire of the community to retain the current traffic calming measures, remove them or pursue other forms of traffic control.

 Background:

 Toronto Community Council, at its meeting of February 18, 1998 in considering the Works and Emergency Services report (February 10, 1998) outlining the results of initial monitoring of the first phase of the South Eglinton Area (East) Traffic Calming Project, referred the matter to the North Toronto Ward Councillors to enable them to obtain public input and feedback on the plan. This report provides an update on the activities that have since taken place.

 Comments:

 Councillors Anne Johnston and Michael Walker convened two public meetings in the community, on March 25, 1998 at Hodgson Public School, 282 Davisville Avenue and on April 7, 1998 at Maurice Cody Public School, 181 Cleveland Street, to present the results of the initial monitoring of the plan carried out by City Works and obtain input from residents. About 300 people attended in total. The views expressed at the meetings were very strong and for the most part quite negative regarding the plan.

 The course of action that emerged from these meetings was a recommendation that a poll be conducted of residents in the community as soon as possible to establish the level of support for removing the modular traffic islands or retaining them. It was suggested that City staff should convene a small committee of residents representing both viewpoints on the issue to develop the wording.

 As noted in the February 10, 1998 initial monitoring report, the first phase of the South Eglinton traffic calming initiative is the first large-scale area-wide installation of physical traffic calming measures in Toronto. Now that the plan has been in place for about a year and given the level of community concerns, it would be advisable to undertake such a poll. As with traffic calming designs, the process for developing and implementing area traffic plans has evolved. With the adoption of a policy for installing speed humps on public streets by the former City Council in August, 1997, a formal mechanism for polling residents on the affected streets was also established. This polling approach was not in place at the time the South Eglinton project was approved.

 The cost to carry out the poll is estimated to be in the order of $7,500.00, mainly for postage and materials, and could be accommodated within departmental accounts related to traffic management. The poll would be undertaken as soon as agreement can be reached amongst staff, residents= representatives and the ward councillors.

 Contact Name and Telephone Number:

 Andrew Koropeski, Director

Infrastructure Planning and Transportation Division

392-7711