Proposed Installation of Traffic Control Signals:

Brimley Road and Golden Gate Court/Omni Drive.

The Urban Environment and Development Committee recommends the adoption of the following report (November 4, 1998) from the General Manager, Transportation Services:

Purpose:

To obtain approval for the installation of traffic control signals at the intersection of Brimley Road and Golden Gate Court/Omni Drive.

Funding Sources:

The funds associated with new traffic signal installations are contained in the Works and Emergency Services Capital Program 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 the 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 at this location is $67,500.00.

Recommendation:

It is recommended that traffic control signals be approved on Brimley Road at Golden Gate Court/Omni Drive.

Background:

This location was investigated to determine the need for a more positive form of traffic control.

Discussion:

Brimley Road in this vicinity is a four-lane arterial roadway with a posted speed limit of 60 kilometres per hour and a two-way 24 hour volume of approximately 37,700 vehicles. Golden Gate Court and Omni Drive are both local roads that intersect with Brimley Road to form a full intersection with four approaches. Golden Gate Court is on the west side of Brimley Road and provides access to several industrial buildings. Omni Drive is directly opposite on the east side and serves as one of three access points from Brimley Road to the Scarborough Town Centre/Scarborough Civic Centre complex. At Golden Gate Court/Omni Drive, there is a southbound left-turn lane and near-side bus bay, and a northbound left-turn lane and far-side bus stop. Adjacent traffic control signals are located approximately 170 metres to the north at Triton Gate and 210 metres to the south at Ellesmere Road.

An eight-hour traffic control signal warrant study was conducted and revealed that traffic control signals are technically warranted. The results are listed below:

For the traffic control signal warrants to be satisfied, one of the "Minimum Vehicular Volume" or "Delay to Cross Traffic" warrants must be 100 per cent. satisfied or any two of the three warrants must be at least 80 per cent. satisfied. The "Collision Hazard" warrant is based on the number of collisions that occurred at the intersection in a three-year period which were potentially preventable by the installation of traffic control signals. Collision statistics provided by the Toronto Police Service indicate five collisions occurred over a three-year period from January 1, 1995 to December31, 1997 which were potentially preventable by the installation of traffic control signals. Based on the above information, the technical warrants for the installation of traffic control signals are met.

Network performance analysis has confirmed that the installation of traffic control signals would not have a significant impact on the effectiveness of this arterial road within the network of arterial roads. Furthermore, the traffic control signals would provide benefits to all road users in the immediate area.

Staff have contacted the ward Councillors and they have both indicated support for the proposed installation of traffic control signals at this location.

Conclusions:

The installation of traffic control signals on Brimley Road at Golden Gate Court/Omni Drive is technically warranted and would provide benefits to all road users in the immediate area. In 1998, $1.6 million has been allocated for new traffic control signal installation. Twenty-one traffic control signals have been approved so far in 1998, which fully commits all these funds. Therefore, the installation of traffic control signals will have to await approval of the appropriate budget item in the 1999 Capital Budget.

Contact Name and Telephone Number:

Mr. Martin D. Maguire, Acting Manager, East Traffic Region, 392-5243.

(A copy of the location map, which was appended to the foregoing report, has been forwarded to all Members of Council with the agenda of the November 30, 1998 and December 1, 1998 meeting of the Urban Environment and Development Committee, and a copy thereof is also on file in the office of the City Clerk.)