All-Way Stop - Eastpark Boulevard and Daphne Road

Ward 15 - Scarborough City Centre

The Scarborough Community Council recommends the adoption of the following report (November 25, 1998) from the Director of Transportation Services, District 4:

Purpose:

To investigate the need for all-way stop controls on Eastpark Boulevard.

Funding Sources:

The ($500.00 approximate) funds associated with the installation of the all-way stop signs is available in the Transportation Services 1998 Budget, Account No. 20000-70200-72240.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)the all-way stop control identified in Appendix 1 of this report be adopted; and

(2)the appropriate by-law be amended accordingly.

Background:

At the request of Councillor Duguid, on behalf of a resident living in the vicinity of EastparkBoulevard, Transportation Services investigated concerns of speeding and traffic volumes on Eastpark Boulevard. Also requested was the installation of all-way stop controls on the roads that intersect Eastpark Boulevard. Of specific concern was a perceived increase in traffic due to the increased popularity of the redeveloped Cedarbrae Mall.

Discussion:

Eastpark Boulevard is a residential collector road located south of Lawrence Avenue and runs between Bellamy Road North and Markham Road. A 40 kilometre per hour speed limit is posted on this road. Cedarbrae Collegiate Institute is located at the intersection of Markham Road and Eastpark Boulevard and Cedarbrook Community Centre is located to the southwest of the school. Cedarbrae Mall, located to the north of Eastpark Boulevard, is currently being reconstructed and from what we understand will be completed in May 1999.

Speed Studies:

An automatic 24-hour speed study conducted on Wednesday, September 23, 1998 on Eastpark Boulevard east of Felicity Drive, east intersection, revealed that most motorists, 82 percent, travelled within a "tolerable speed range", 1 kilometre per hour to 50 kilometres per hour. However, cases of excessive speeding were recorded.

A brief summary of our study results is as follows:

We must highlight that this recorded 24-hour vehicle volume of 1,779 substantiates that Eastpark Boulevard, even with some short cut traffic, is still functioning well within the traffic parameters of a residential collector road, i.e., 1,500 to 3,500 vehicles per day.

All-Way Stop Control:

The justification for the installation of an all-way stop control is based on a technical warrant established by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO), and adopted as the City Policy by the former Scarborough Council.

Traffic studies conducted on Thursday, October 22, 1998 on Eastpark Boulevard at Felicity Drive, at Felicity Drive/Orville Road and at Daphne Road produced the following results which illustrate that the Warrant's vehicle volume requirements are only satisfied for the intersection of Eastpark Boulevard and Daphne Road:

Note:Although the intersection of Eastpark Boulevard and Daphne Road is a four-way location, for the technical requirements of the Warrant, it is being considered as a three-way intersection since the south leg is a driveway (not a public roadway).

Besides the vehicle volume requirements, the AWSC Warrant stipulates twelve conditions where this type of control should not be used. Two of these conditions relate to this request. These two conditions are as follows:

(1)"Where any other traffic device controlling right-of-way is permanently in place within 250metres". This distance requirement specifically relates to the west intersection of Eastpark Boulevard and Felicity Drive. The stop sign on Eastpark Boulevard at Bellamy Road North is located only 45 metres west of this intersection.

(2)"As a means of deterring the movement of through traffic in a residential area". This condition relates to the resident's request for the installation of all-way stop controls on Eastpark Boulevard, i.e., to maintain Eastpark Boulevard as a residential street and not a short cut to the new mall.

In addition, for the two intersections of Eastpark Boulevard and Felicity Drive, the following outlines the main reasons why the installation of unwarranted all-way stop controls are not recommended:

(i)The stop sign is one of the most valuable and effective control devices available to the Traffic Engineering Profession, when used at the right location and under the right conditions.

(ii)Most motorists are reasonable and prudent with no intention of maliciously violating traffic regulations; however, when an unreasonable restriction is imposed, it does result in flagrant violations. In such cases, the stop sign can create a false sense of security in a pedestrian and an attitude of contempt in a motorist. These two attitudes can and often do conflict, ultimately making the intersection less safe for both pedestrians and motorists.

With recorded vehicle volume splits for the highest hour recorded of 90/10 and 91/9 for the west and east intersections of Eastpark Boulevard and Felicity Drive respectively, we would anticipate a high level of stop sign disobedience if stop signs were installed on Eastpark Boulevard at these locations as motorists would rarely encounter traffic on Felicity Drive or Orville Road.

In addition, unwarranted stop signs often result in an increase in speeds by motorists to make up time for what they perceive as unnecessary delays.

(iii)The City has an obligation to provide services in an environmentally conscious manner. The installation of unwarranted stop controls not only undermines the Warrant but contributes to unnecessary fuel consumption and higher levels of noise and air pollution. These pollutants most specifically impact those residents in the immediate vicinity of the intersection.

(iv)The Warrant is incorporated in the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices. As the installation of all traffic controls is governed by this Manual, the installation of an unwarranted control could potentially place the City in a position of liability if it was determined to be a factor in a collision.

The collision history at these three intersections reveals one reported collision over the past five years for which we have complete data, January 1, 1992 to December 31, 1996. This collision occurred in 1996 at the intersection of Eastpark Boulevard and Felicity Drive/Orville Road. Fortunately, in this incident, there were no injuries.

Individually each of the reasons for which we oppose unwarranted all-way stop controls is important. In combination, they should not be ignored.

Intersection Characteristics:

We should also mention that the surrounding layout of the two intersections of Eastpark Boulevard and Felicity Drive reveal that if all-way stop controls were installed at these locations, motorists would now be required to stop in the front of homes in the area of the intersections. We have, in the past, received requests from residents for the removal of stop signs in front of their homes. Some residents feel that these controls will not only spoil the appearance of their homes but they will also lose some privacy due to vehicles continually stopping in this area.

Conclusions:

In summary, our traffic studies reveal that an all-way stop is warranted at the intersection of EastparkBoulevard and Daphne Road. In addition, our speed study also reveals that some excessive speeding is occurring on Eastpark Boulevard. Therefore, we have requested selective police enforcement of the 40 kilometre per hour speed limit.

Contact Name:

Bruce Clayton

Supervisor, Traffic Investigations, Works and Emergency Services

Telephone: 396-7844

Fax: 396-5681

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

Appendix 1

"Compulsory Stops"

Regulation to Be Enacted

Column 1Column 2

IntersectionStop Street

Eastpark BoulevardEastpark Boulevard

and Daphne Road