Hearing - Installation of Speed Humps- Roxborough Drive

from Mt. Pleasant Road to Highland Avenue (Midtown)

The Toronto Community Council recommends that a by-law in the form of the draft by-law be enacted, and that the necessary Bills be introduced in Council to give effect thereto.

The Toronto Community Council reports, for the information of Council, having requested the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services to respond to the following communications:

-(November 10, 1998) from Ms. Kristen and Mr. Christopher Dingle;

-(undated) from Mr. and Mrs David Bermann;

-(October 20, 1998) from George Tiviluk, Q.C., addressed to Councillor Adams; and

-(November 27, 1998) from Ms. Jane and Stephen Smith.

The Toronto Community Council further reports that pursuant to Clause 30, contained inReportNo.11 of The Toronto Community Council headed "Proposed Installation of Speed Humps - Roxborough Drive from Mt. Pleasant Road to Highland Avenue (Midtown)", which was adopted without amendment by City Council at its Regular Meeting held on October 1 and 2, 1998, notice with respect to the proposed enactment of the draft by-law was advertised in a daily newspaper on October 23, October 28, November 4 and November 11, 1998, and no one addressed the Toronto Community Council on November 12, 1998.

The following addressed the Toronto Community Council on December 9, 1998:

-Ms. Catherine Orion-Leon, Whitehall Ad-Hoc Committee;

-Mr. Bill Deacon, North Rosedale Ratepayers' Association;

-Ms. Pat Faircloth, Toronto, Ontario;

-Ms. Heather Conkie,Toronto, Ontario;

-Ms. Susan McArthur, Toronto, Ontario;

-Ms. Erin O'Connor, Toronto, Ontario; and

-Mr. Lawrence Zucker, Kagan Zucker Feldbloom, Shastri, Barristers & Solicitors.

The Toronto Community Council submits the following draft by-law:

Authority:Toronto Community Council Report No. 11, Clause No. 30, as adopted by Council on October 1, 1998

Enacted by Council:

CITY OF TORONTO

Bill No.

BY-LAW No.

To further amend former City of Toronto By-law No. 602-89, being "A By-law To authorize the construction, widening, narrowing, alteration and repair of sidewalks, pavements and curbs at various locations", respecting the alteration of Roxborough Drive by the installation of speed humps from Mount Pleasant Road to Highland Avenue.

WHEREAS notice of a proposed By-law regarding the proposed alteration was published in a daily newspaper on , , and , 1998 and interested persons were given an opportunity to be heard at a public meeting held on , 1998 and it is appropriate to amend the by-law to permit the alteration.

The Council of the City of Toronto HEREBY ENACTS as follows:

1.Former City of Toronto By-law No. 602-89, being "A By-law To authorize the construction, widening, narrowing, alteration and repair of sidewalks, pavements and curbs at various locations", is amended:

(1)by inserting in Columns 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, respectively, of Schedule "B-4" (Pavement Alteration/Repair) the following:

ENACTED AND PASSED this day of , A.D. 1998.

MayorCity Clerk

--------

The Toronto Community Council also submits Clause 30 of Report No. 11 of the Toronto Community Council, titled "Proposed Installation of Speed Humps - Roxborough Drive from Mount Pleasant Road to Highland Avenue (Midtown):

(City Council on October 1 and 2, 1998, adopted this Clause, without amendment.)

The Toronto Community Council recommends the adoption of the following report (September 2, 1998) from the Director, Infrastructure Planning and Transportation Division, City Works Services:

Purpose:

To reduce the speed of traffic on Roxborough Drive from Mt. Pleasant Road to Highland Avenue by the introduction of speed humps.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

Funds to cover the cost of this work in the estimated amount of $8,000 are available under Capital Fund Code No. 296702.

Recommendations:

(1)That approval be given to alter sections of the roadway on Roxborough Drive, from Mt. Pleasant Road to Highland Avenue for traffic calming purposes as described below, with implementation subject to favourable results of the polling of residents pursuant to the policy related to speed hump installation as adopted by the former City of Toronto Council:

"The construction of speed humps on Roxborough Drive, from Mt. Pleasant Road to Highland Avenue, generally as shown on the attached print of Drawing No. 421F-5242, dated August 1998";

(2)That the speed limit be reduced from forty kilometres per hour to thirty kilometres per hour on Roxborough Drive from Mt. Pleasant Road to Highland Avenue coincident with the implementation of speed humps; and

(3)That the appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to implement the foregoing, including the introduction in Council of any Bills that might be required.

Comments:

At the request of the Midtown Ward Councillors and area residents, a staff investigation was conducted to determine the feasibility of installing speed humps on Roxborough Drive from Mt. Pleasant Road to Highland Avenue to reduce the speed of motor vehicles on this street.

Roxborough Drive is a local residential street, winding and hilly in nature, which operates two-way between Mt. Pleasant Road and Highland Avenue. The easterly portion of the street has a gradient of between 6% and 8% with a sharp curve while the westerly portion has more moderate gradients and a much gentler curve. Concerns about the speed of vehicles and loss of control have historically been focused at the sharp curve at the end of the steepest portion of the road. A flashing yellow light, with an advisory 20 kilometres per hour speed and sharp curve symbol signs have been installed to clearly indicate to motorists the need for extra caution at this location.

Roxborough Drive between Mt. Pleasant Road and Highland Avenue has a pavement width of 7.3 metres, a speed limit of 40 kilometres per hour and carries about 1,200 vehicles per day. Parking is permitted on the south side only, from a point 73 m east of Mt. Pleasant Road to a point 160 m further east for a maximum period of three hours. The permit parking system is not in place on this street.

Speed surveys have revealed that at least 59% of the vehicles are travelling in excess of the 40 kilometre per hour speed limit and at least 12 % are traveling more than 10 kilometres per hour over the limit. I also note that this survey was taken towards the Mt. Pleasant Road end of Roxborough Drive where the roadway is more level and speeds, particularly westbound, may not be at their maximum.

As the gradient from the sharp curve to the Highland Avenue end of the street is in excess of 5% speed humps cannot be safely installed on this section of Roxborough Drive. However, four speed humps could be installed on the remaining portion of the roadway as shown on the attached Drawing No. 421F-5242, dated August 1998. I note that the first hump west of the curve is placed approximately 70 metres from the curve and as a further precaution signs informing westbound motorists that speed humps are ahead would be posted in advance of the curve. With speed humps on the western portion and the recently installed traffic circle at the Highland Avenue end, the speed limit on this portion of Roxborough Drive should be reduced to 30 kilometres per hour.

In light of the historical speed related problems on this street and the current amount of speeding it is recommended that residents be polled to determine whether there is community support for speed humps as outlined above. The poll should be conducted of adults (18 years and older) of households directly abutting the affected street, and households on Old George Place whose only access is from Roxborough Drive. At least 60% of valid responses should support the plan in order to authorize the installation. The final decision rests with City Council.

The changes proposed to Roxborough Drive as set out above constitute alterations to a public highway pursuant to the provisions of the Municipal Act.

Accordingly, the intent of Council to enact a by-law to authorize any physical changes resulting in the alteration of the pavement configuration must be advertised and subsequently be subject to a public hearing. It is noted that emergency services will be advised of the proposal to ensure that the detailed design does not unduly hamper their operations.

This project is pre-approved in accordance with Schedule A of the Class Environmental Assessment for Municipal Roads Projects.

Contact Name and Telephone Number

Mike Harris

Transportation Planner, 392-7711

Insert Table/Map No. 1

Roxborough Drive

--------

The Toronto Community Council also submits the following report (December 8, 1998) from the Director, Transportation Services District 1, Works and Emergency Services:

Purpose:

To report the results of a speed hump poll of residents and to advise that all conditions for the installation of speed humps on Roxborough Drive from Mt. Pleasant Road to Highland Avenue have been satisfied.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

N/A

Recommendations:

That this report be received for information

Background

City Council at its regular meeting of October 1 and 2, 1998, in adopting Clause 30 in Toronto Community Council Report No. 11, entitled "Proposed Installation of Speed Humps -Roxborough Drive from Mt. Pleasant Road to Highland Avenue", approved the alteration of sections of the pavement of Roxborough Drive, subject to favourable results of polling of the affected residents pursuant to the former City of Toronto policy relating to speed hump installation. The proposed enactment of the draft by-law to give effect to the above was advertised in a daily newspaper on October 23, October 28, November 4 and November 11, and deputations were scheduled to be heard at the Toronto Community Council meeting of November 12, 1998. No-one addressed the Committee on this matter and further consideration was deferred to the December 9, 1998 meeting of the Community Council.

Comments:

The former City of Toronto's Speed Hump Policy (adopted by Council at its meeting of August 21, 1997) requires that a poll of adult residents (18 years of age or older) be conducted on streets being considered for speed hump installations, and that at least 60% of the valid responses to the poll endorse the speed hump proposal. A poll of adult residents of Roxborough Drive from Mt. Pleasant Road to Highland Avenue and Old George Place ( a cul-de-sac off Roxborough Drive) was conducted by Works and Emergency Services staff between November 6, 1998 and December 4, 1998. Some 49 or 77% of eligible voters responded to the poll. The plan was supported by 35 (71%) and opposed by 14 (29%) of respondents.

Accordingly, the criteria for the installation of speed humps on Roxborough Drive from Mt. Pleasant Road to Highland Avenue as set out in the policy have been satisfied.

Contact Name and Telephone Number

Michael J. Harris, Transportation Planner, 392-7711

--------

The Toronto Community Council reports, for the information of Council, having also had before it during consideration of the foregoing matter, the following communications, and a copy thereof is on file in the office of the City Clerk:

-(undated) from Ms. Pat Faircloth;

-(November 10, 1998) from Ms. Kristen and Mr. Christopher Dingle;

-(undated) from Mr. and Mrs David Bermann;

-(October 20, 1998) from George Tiviluk, Q.C., addressed to Councillor Adams; and

-(November 27, 1998) from Ms. Jane and Stephen Smith.