September 27, 1999
To:Chairman and Members of the Scarborough Community Council
From:Gary H. Welsh, Director, Transportation Services,
Works and Emergency Services, District 4
Subject:Traffic Concerns at Regent Heights Junior Public School on Nancy Avenue, Scarborough Bluffs
Purpose:
To address the need to amend the parking/stopping regulations on Nancy Avenue and Vernadale Crescent at Regent
Heights Junior Public School.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
The $1200.00 (approximate) funds associated with the installation of the parking/stopping regulation signs are available in
the Transportation Services 1999 budget, Cost Centre No.TP0226.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1)the stopping regulations identified in Appendix 1 of this report be rescinded;
(2)the parking/stopping regulations identified in Appendix 2 of this report be adopted;
(3)the school bus loading zone identified in Appendix 3 of this report be adopted; and
(4)the appropriate by-laws be amended accordingly.
Council Reference/Background/History:
At the request of staff from the Toronto District School Board, Transportation Services staff investigated school related
traffic/parking conditions at Regent Heights Junior Public School, as well as the need for a school bus loading zone on
Nancy Avenue. Subsequent to this request, we received a copy of a 36-signature petition, forwarded by Councillor
Altobello, objecting to a school bus loading zone on Nancy Avenue.
Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:
Regent Heights Junior Public School is located on the corner of Pharmacy Avenue and Nancy Avenue. On the north side of
Nancy Avenue, in front of the school, no signed parking regulations exist. On the opposite side of the road, stopping is
restricted between the times of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, and parking is prohibited at all other times. On
Pharmacy Avenue, parking is restricted on both sides of the road between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., 4:00 p.m. and
6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. A pedestrian crossover exists on Pharmacy Avenue at Nancy Avenue.
Pedestrian Crossing Observations:
Transportation Services staff recorded the volume and location of pedestrian crossings on Nancy Avenue. These
observations revealed a total of 367 pedestrians crossed Nancy Avenue during the 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to
4:00 p.m. study periods. The majority of these crossings took place west of Bertha Avenue. While no conflicts between
pedestrians and motorists were noted during our study, we have requested that the school consider co-ordinating with the
Toronto Police Service, Community Policing Support Unit, the establishment of a school safety patrol program at the
school.
Vehicle Observations:
Along with the pedestrian study, vehicular traffic observations were taken simultaneously. A total of 63 vehicles (35 in the
morning, 28 in the afternoon) parked along Nancy Avenue in front of the school. Most of these parked along the
north/school side of Nancy Avenue. During the morning, two large school buses and in the afternoon two large and one
small school bus stopped on the north side of Nancy Avenue. The school parking lot was well used by 71 motorists (50 in
the morning and 20 in the afternoon) including eight small school buses. Full size school buses are too large to be
accommodated in the school's turning loop.
Collision History:
In addition to the studies outlined above, we conducted a three-year collision review for the years in which we have the
most current data (from January 1, 1995 to December 31, 1997). Ten collisions have been reported during this time period
on Pharmacy Avenue in the area of Regent Heights Junior Public School. These collisions were evenly divided between
five southbound and five northbound by the intersection of Pharmacy Avenue and Nancy Avenue. None of the other streets
surrounding the perimeter of Regent Heights Junior Public School (Nancy Avenue, Presley Avenue or Vernadale Crescent)
had any reported collisions during this time.
Four of these Pharmacy Avenue collisions occurred in 1995, two occurred in 1996 and four in 1997. No pedestrians were
injured in any of these incidents. In two cases were the drivers reported to be exceeding the speed limit (with the maximum
speed of motorists noted as 60 km/h).
Modifications to Parking Regulations:
Based on the results of our investigations, we are recommending changes at Regent Heights Junior Public School to
enhance the existing school side parking/opposite side no stopping and provide a school bus loading zone on Nancy
Avenue. The specifics are as follows:
(1)Installing "30 Minute Parking, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Monday - Friday" signs along the school/north side of Nancy
Avenue. These permissive parking restrictions would allow children direct access to the school grounds from waiting
vehicles. With vehicles encouraged to temporarily park next to the school, passengers could avoid passing in front of
through-traffic. This restriction will also limit long duration parking.
(2)Installing a 34 metre school bus loading zone on Nancy Avenue. This school bus loading zone will be centred by the
south door/walkway and will be large enough for two large buses. School bus loading zones are for the exclusive use of
school buses. This exclusive zone means school buses may avoid using their alternating flashing lights to stop all
approaching traffic. Any other vehicle, at any time, may receive a stopping violation for using this zone.
(3)Installing a corner parking prohibition on Nancy Avenue between the proposed school bus loading zone and Pharmacy
Avenue. This prohibition, if properly obeyed, will help to maintain clear sightlines of the stop sign at Pharmacy Avenue
and enhance pedestrian safety at this intersection.
(4)Altering the "No Stopping, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday" regulations along the south/opposite school side
of Nancy Avenue to the new times of "No Stopping, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Monday - Friday". Although the dimensions of
the stopping prohibitions will remain the same, the new hours are recommended so they are consistent with standardized
school area restrictions throughout the Scarborough District.
(5)Installing "No Stopping, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Monday - Friday" regulations along the inside corner of Vernadale
Crescent. This small area regulation (37 metres) is intended to maintain clear sightlines along this portion of Vernadale
Crescent which has been identified as a location with parked vehicle obstructions on both sides of the road at
admission/dismissal time. Staff have observed this parking while visiting the area following our investigations.
These altered and new regulations are recommended because they do not allow even temporary stopping during weekdays,
and they maintain the effective road width for two-way traffic movement. The recommended signs should prevent the
school generated traffic from obstructing private driveways opposite the school.
School Bus Loading Zone Objection:
In the aforementioned petition, the following was requested:
(1)the use of smaller buses at Regent Heights Junior Public School;
(2)the use of appropriate/existing bus loops; and
(3)denying any requests for a bus-loading zone on Nancy Avenue.
To the first of these petition requests, that smaller school bus be used at Regent Heights Junior Public School,
Transportation Services notes that, in recent months, there seems to have been an increased need for large buses at this
school. During our initial study conducted on November 23, 1998, 11 bus trips were made to this school, only 4 of which
were made by large buses. This information shows that most busing (8 of the 11 trips) is being handled by the small buses
in the turning loop. In addition, during our field studies on November 23, 1998, ridership on the large buses appeared lower
than during a site visit on Friday, April 16, 1999. During this more recent afternoon check, the two buses that parked on
Nancy Avenue at the south end of the school appeared to be near capacity. It appears that the use of two large buses verses
numerous smaller buses is more efficient.
To the second request of the petition, that school buses use the existing bus loops, a turning radius analysis has revealed
that a large school bus is too big to effectively fit into the parking lot/turning loops. Therefore, under the existing
conditions, large buses serving this school must park on the roadway.
In response to the last point on the petition, that a school bus loading zone on Nancy Avenue be denied, it seems that the
objections of those parents who signed the petition are not related to safety, but more to competition for prime curb side
access to the school. While there is a substantial amount of school side parking at Regent Heights Junior Public School,
(currently enough space for 19 private vehicles along the north side of Nancy Avenue alone), many motorists want to park
as close as possible to the south door of the school. This same location is being used by the two large school buses, which
appears to be the most appropriate location for them.
Large buses in this location do not pose a safety hazard, and provide the shortest walking distance for the students being
bused. Private motorists can still access curb side parking by simply shifting further east of the south door or using the
turning loop. As Regent Heights Junior Public School is a French Immersion School, school busing will continue to have
an ongoing impact.
Conclusion:
The modifications to the parking regulations on Nancy Avenue and Vernadale Crescent, as recommended within this
report, will improve the safety of pedestrians and the management of traffic near Regent Heights Junior Public School.
Contact Name:
Bruce Clayton
Supervisor, Traffic Engineering, Works and Emergency Services
Telephone: 396-7844
Fax: 396-5681
E-mail: clayton@city.scarborough.on.ca
Gary H. Welsh
Director
Transportation Services
Works and Environment
District 4
BDC:ca
c:\work\reports\scc\nancy.wpd
D98-231
Appendix 1
"No Stopping"
Prohibition to be Rescinded
Column 1Column 2Column 3Column 4
HighwaySideFromToTimes or Days
Nancy SouthPharmacy Presley8:30 a.m. to
AvenueAvenueAvenue4:30 p.m.
Monday to Friday
Appendix 2
"No Stopping"
Prohibition to be Enacted
Column 1Column 2Column 3Column 4
HighwaySideFromToTimes or Days
Nancy SouthPharmacy Presley8:00 a.m. to
AvenueAvenueAvenue4:00 p.m.
Monday to Friday
Vernadale North and60 metres west of37 metres further8:00 a.m. to
CrescentEastPresley Avenuenorthwest4:00 p.m.
Monday to Friday
"Parking for Restricted Periods"
Restriction to be Enacted
Column 1Column 2Column 3Column 4Column 5
Maximum
Period
HighwaySideFromToTimes or DaysPermitted
Nancy North Pharmacy Presley8:00 a.m. to30 minutes
AvenueAvenueAvenue4:00 p.m.
Monday to
Friday
Appendix 3
"School Bus Loading Zone"
Prohibition to be Enacted
Column 1Column 2Column 3
Name of School
HighwaySideor Institution
555 Pharmacy NorthRegent Heights
AvenueJunior Public School
