Pedestrian Refuge Island on Dawes Road

(Ward One, East York)

The East York Community Council recommends the adoption of the following report (February 3, 1999) from the Director, Transportation Services, District One:

Purpose:

To report to the East York Community Council on the feasibility and cost implications of installing pedestrian refuge islands on Dawes Road at Goodwood Park Court and at Beth Street.

Financial Implications:

The estimated cost to construct pedestrian refuge islands on Dawes Road at Goodwood Park Court and at Beth Street are $7,500.00 and $4,500.00 respectively. Funds in those amounts can be accommodated in the Transportation Services 1999 Capital Budget request.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)approval be given to narrow and alter specified sections of the pavement on Dawes Road, through the installation of centre median pedestrian refuge islands as follows:

(a) the narrowing of Dawes Road from approximately 28.0 metres north of Goodwood Park Court to a point 38.0 metres north thereof, from a current width of 12.5 metres to a width of 11.0 metres, generally as shown in the attached Drawing No.1, dated February 3, 1999;

(b) the narrowing of Dawes Road from approximately 6.4 metres south of Beth Street to a point 11.4 metres south thereof, from a current width of 11.6 metres to a width of 10.1 metres, generally as shown in the attached Drawing No. 2, dated February 3, 1999; and

(2)the appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto, including the introduction of the necessary Bill in Council.

Background:

The former Borough of East York Council, at its meeting on October 6 and 7, 1997, requested that the Commissioner of Development Services report to the Council for the new City of Toronto on the installation of a pedestrian refuge to be located between the two bus stops on either side of Dawes Road between the driveway at 200 Dawes Road and Goodwood Park Crescent, and to consider the report of the Commissioner of Development Services dated September 16, 1997, in connection with the foregoing matter; and to also consider a letter from Ms. Sylvia Moreland, dated September 22, 1997, advocating some type of safety crossing system at the aforementioned location (Item No. 24 in Report No. 20 of the Regulatory and Development Committee).

Subsequent to this, the Transportation Services Division received a request from a resident of East York to install a pedestrian crossover at the intersection of Dawes Road and Beth Street. Since these issues are similar in nature, they are both discussed in this report.

Comments:

(1)Dawes Road at Goodwood Park Crescent

Pedestrian crossing concerns in the vicinity of Dawes Road and Goodwood Park Crescent have been the subject of in-depth study since 1994. Staff have evaluated a variety of options at the request of East York Council, including the implementation of traffic control signals and a pedestrian crossover. These options have not been viable due to the vertical alignment of Dawes Road, the proximity of other traffic control measures and the technical traffic warrants not being met.

Staff have evaluated the feasibility of constructing a pedestrian refuge island in this area, which would provide a safe zone for pedestrians crossing Dawes Road. The proposed location is approximately 28 metres north of Goodwood Park Court, immediately north of the driveway access to True Davidson Acres and adjacent to the southbound T.T.C. bus stop. The cost to construct this refuge island is estimated at $7,500.00. Drawing No. 1, attached, illustrates the proposed location of the pedestrian refuge island.

(2)Dawes Road at Beth Street

The Transportation Services Division received a request from an East York resident to install a pedestrian crossover on Dawes Road in the vicinity of Beth Street. There are T.T.C. bus stops on opposite sides of Dawes Road at Beth Street.

Staff conducted a pedestrian crossover study at this location on a typical day to evaluate the volumes of pedestrians crossing the street during peak and off-peak times. The results of our investigation revealed that a pedestrian crossover is only 11 percent warranted. However, our study also revealed that pedestrians wishing to cross Dawes Road consistently crossed one half of the street and waited in the centre of the street until the other direction of traffic was clear before completing their crossing. Staff studied the reported collisions in the vicinity of the intersection of Dawes Road and Beth Street for the period January 1, 1993, to December 31, 1997. There were no reported collisions involving a pedestrian.

Although a pedestrian crossover is not warranted at this location, staff recommend the implementation of a pedestrian refuge island to provide a safe refuge for pedestrians who regularly wait in the centre of Dawes Road for traffic to clear, as was observed in a study conducted by staff. The proposed location is approximately 6.4 metres south of Beth Street and is illustrated in Drawing No. 2, attached.

The installation of the proposed pedestrian refuge islands on Dawes Road constitute alterations to a public highway pursuant to the provisions of the Municipal Act. 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. The work is pre-approved in accordance with Schedule A of the Class Environmental Assessment for Municipal Road Projects.

Conclusions:

Studies conducted by Works and Emergency Services staff into pedestrian crossing concerns on Dawes Road at Goodwood Park Court have revealed that neither traffic signals nor a pedestrian crossover are warranted at this location. Similarly, a pedestrian crossover is not warranted on Dawes Road at Beth Street. However, in order to provide a degree of safety for pedestrians crossing Dawes Road in the vicinity of Goodwood Park Court and in the vicinity of Beth Street, it is recommended that pedestrian refuge islands be constructed at these locations. The refuge islands will provide a safe place for pedestrians to wait for traffic to clear as they cross Dawes Road.

Contact Name and Telephone Number:

Bryan Muir, Transportation Technologist

397-4588

bmuir@borough.eastyork.on.ca