Pedestrian Crossing Protection and Parking Concerns at

Cedarbrook Public School on Nelson Street

Ward 15 - Scarborough City Centre

 The Scarborough Community Council recommends the adoption of the following report (January 26, 1998) from the Director of Road and Traffic Services, Scarborough, subject to amending Appendix 2 by striking out the No Stopping prohibition on Farmbrook Road, east side, and requesting that the matter be further reviewed in the fall of 1998:

 Purpose:

 To address the need for parking/stopping restrictions on Nelson Street and Farmbrook Road adjacent to Cedarbrook Junior Public School.

 Funding Sources:

 The $1,600.00 (approximate) funds associated with the installation of the parking prohibition signs are available in the Road and Traffic Services 1998 Budget, Account No. 20000-70200-72260.

 Recommendations:

 It is recommended that:

 (1)the stopping regulations identified in Appendix 1 of this report be rescinded;

 (2)the parking and stopping regulations identified in Appendix 2 of this report be adopted; and

 (3)the appropriate by-laws be amended accordingly.

 Background:

 At the request of the former Scarborough Board of Education, Road and Traffic Services has conducted traffic studies by Cedarbrook Junior Public School (Jr. P.S.) on Nelson Street. The issue of compromised pedestrian safety as parents dropped-off and picked-up their children in front of this school was subsequently examined.

 Discussion:

 Cedarbrook Junior Public School is located on Nelson Street to the northeast of Bellamy Road North and Eglinton Avenue. Nelson Street is a residential roadway with appropriate signs in place to warn approaching motorists of the school area ahead. Currently, along the north/school side of Nelson Street, there are both "No Stopping, 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Monday - Friday" and "No Parking, 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Monday - Friday" restrictions posted. An examination of the related by-laws on this street shows that the signed "No Parking, 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Monday - Friday" restrictions were deleted in a report in 1971; however, the signs were never removed. On the south/opposite side of Nelson Street, there are no posted parking restrictions (see Attachment No.1).

 Similar parking restrictions are also posted along Farmbrook Road. For example, along the school/west side of Farmbrook Road there are "No Stopping, 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday" and "No Parking, 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday" restrictions (these signs were also sited for removal in the 1971 report). Along the opposite/east side of this road, there are no posted parking restrictions.

 Traffic Operations - On-Street Parking Observations:

 Our observations have shown that most motorists choose to ignore the existing parking and stopping restrictions and the school bus loading zone along the front of the school on the north side of Nelson Street and along the west side of Farmbrook Road. The following table shows the results of these observations:

 (the staff lot has 28 reg. vehicle stalls, 1 handicapped stall)

 KEY: * indicates a private vehicle - these vehicles have been included as being parked on the north side of Nelson Street.

 This table shows that most parents/guardians prefer to park directly abutting the school grounds, despite the existing "No Stopping, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday" restrictions. Also, as shown by this table, some motorists choose to park on the opposite side of Nelson Street and Farmbrook Road. This practice of parking on both sides of the street congested the roadway and severely restricted regular through traffic.

 In addition, this table shows that some motorists choose to use the school parking lot to pick-up/drop off their children.

 Mid-block Pedestrian Crossing Observations - Nelson Street and Farmbrook Road:

 Road and Traffic Services staff also recorded the volume and location of pedestrian crossings by the school on both Nelson Street and Farmbrook Road. The following tables show these observations:

 Nelson Street

  Farmbrook Road

 P.X.O. Pedestrian Crossing Observations - Nelson Street:

 In addition to the mid-block movements outlined above, we also recorded pedestrian activity at the adult crossing guard monitored Pedestrian Crossover (P.X.O.), these observations are as follows:

 It is encouraging that the majority of pedestrian crossings associated with Cedarbrook Jr. P.S. are taking place at the highly visible P.X.O. It should also be noted that, throughout our observations, no conflicts were recorded between any pedestrian and motorists.

 Collision History:

 In addition to the studies outlined above, we conducted a four-year collision review of the this area (from January 1, 1993 to December 31, 1996) that revealed four collisions have been reported during this time period.

 Three of these collisions involved drivers failing to yield the right-of-way to other motorists. Fortunately, nothing more serious than minor injuries and limited property damage came about as the result of these collisions. The remaining collision involved minor property damage to a parked vehicle. The driver in this incident failed to remain at the scene. Given the nature of these collisions, further analysis is not warranted at this time.

 Conclusions:

 Some alterations to existing on-street parking restrictions along Nelson Street and Farmbrook Road can make them more consistent with recent changes at other schools. Specifically, these alterations involve encouraging 'school side' parking and prohibiting stopping on the opposite sides of these roads. This will be accomplished by installing a 30 minute parking limit along side the school while installing a no stopping restriction during the weekdays on the opposite side of the school.

 The proposed restrictions on both Nelson Street and Farmbrook Road, will create sufficient room for approximately 34 vehicles to park temporarily. This should allow for a less congested roadway before and after school. The result would be a safer environment for children crossing these roads or being dropped off and picked up from private vehicles.

 Contact Name:

 Gary H. Welsh, P.Eng.,

Director, Road and Traffic Services, Works & Environment Department,

Telephone: 396-5061, Fax: 396-5681,

E-mail: welsh@city.scarborough.on.ca

   The following persons appeared before the Community Council in connection with the foregoing matter:

-Mr. George Duguay, representing the residents at 61-81 Farmbrook Road; and

-Mr. Jack Turner, Farmbrook Road resident.

   Appendix 1

 "No Stopping"

 Prohibition to be Rescinded

 Column 1Column 2Column 3Column 4

 HighwaySideFromToTimes or Days

 NelsonNorthBellamy RoadFarmbrook7:00 a.m. to

StreetNorthRoad6:00 p.m.

Monday to

Friday

 FarmbrookWestNelson167.76 metres7:00 a.m. to

RoadStreetNorth of Nelson Street6:00 p.m.

Monday to

Friday

 Appendix 2

 "No Stopping"

 Prohibition to be Enacted

 Column 1Column 2Column 3Column 4

 HighwaySideFromToTimes or Days

 NelsonSouthBellamy RoadFarmbrook8:00 a.m. to

StreetNorthRoad4:00 p.m.

Monday to

Friday

 FarmbrookEastNelson170 metres north8:00 a.m. to

RoadStreetof Nelson Street4:00 p.m.

Monday to

Friday

 "Parking for Restricted Periods"

 Prohibition to be Enacted

 Column 1Column 2Column 3Column 4Column 5

Maximum

TimesPeriod

HighwaySideFromToor DaysPermitted

 NelsonNorthBellamy Farmbrook8:00 a.m. to30 minutes

StreetRoad NorthRoad4:00 p.m.

Monday to Friday

 FarmbrookWestNelson170 metres8:00 a.m. to30 Minutes

RoadStreetnorth of4:00 p.m.

Nelson StreetMonday to Friday