Installation of Speed Humps - Prescott Avenue

from Rockwell Avenue to Rowntree Avenue (Davenport)

The Toronto Community Council recommends that:

(1)approval be given to alter sections of the roadway on Prescott Avenue, from Rowntree Avenue West to Rockwell Avenue for traffic calming purposes as described below, with implementation being 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

"The construction of speed humps on Prescott Avenue, from Rowntree Avenue to Rockwell Avenue;"

(2)the speed limit be reduced from forty kilometres per hour to thirty kilometres per hour on Prescott Avenue, from Rowntree Avenue to Rockwell Avenue, coincident with the implementation of speed humps; and

(3)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 may be required.

The Toronto Community Council submits the following communication (February 12, 1999) from Councillor Disero:

Please find attached a report from staff to permit speed humps on Prescott Avenue.

Some time ago, Toronto Community Council approved a recommendation to poll Prescott Avenue, from St. Clair Avenue West to Rockwell Avenue, on the installation of the speed humps.

Could Toronto Community Council, please request that Prescott Avenue, from Rockwell Avenue to Rowntree Avenue also be polled.

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(Communication dated December 10, 1998, addressed to Councillor Disero

from Director, Transportation Services,

District 1, Works and Emergency Services)

I refer to your December 3, 1998 letter regarding the above.

Please refer to my letter of July 13, 1998 (copy attached) which addresses this matter.

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(Communication dated July 13, 1998, addressed to Councillor Disero

from Director, Transportation Services,

District 1, Works and Emergency Services)

Further to my May 4, 1998 letter acknowledging your April 17, 1998 letter (with a petition attached) regarding the above, I comment as follows.

Prescott Avenue from St. Clair Avenue West to Rowntree Avenue has a pavement width of 7.3 metres, a maximum speed limit of 40 km/h, and operates two-way. A 24-hour speed and volume survey on June 6, 1997 (Prescott Avenue from St. Clair Avenue West Rockwell Avenue) recorded approximately 2200 vehicles during a typical weekday, and of these about 28 percent exceeded the speed limit, with about 1 percent in excess of 10 km/h over the limit. Further, a 24-hour speed and volume survey on February 11, 1997 (Prescott Avenue from Rockwell Avenue to Rowntree Avenue) recorded approximately 900 vehicles during a typical weekday, and of these about 38 percent exceeded the speed limit with about 1 percent in excess of 10 km/h over the limit.

The parking regulations are as follows:

West Side:

(i)Parking is prohibited anytime.

East Side:

(i)Parking is prohibited from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Saturday from St. Clair Avenue West to East Avenue;

(ii)Parking is permitted for a maximum period of three hours; and

(iii)Permit parking is not in effect on Prescott Avenue.

Prescott Avenue satisfies the City's primary criteria for speed humps south of Rockwell Avenue. North of Rockwell Avenue, Prescott Avenue satisfies all of the primary criteria except volumes, which is close, as measured in February which is typically a lower traffic volume month. A suitable speed hump plan for this street would consist of nine speed humps, as illustrated on the attached print of Drawing No. T555-2 dated June, 1998, entitled "Prescott Avenue - St. Clair Avenue West to Rowntree Avenue".

However, due to the high number of driveways that exist on Prescott Avenue in the Rockwell Avenue to Rowntree Avenue block, it is very difficult to find locations for speed humps while also trying to maintain optimum spacings (60-90 metres apart). As a result, two of the five speed humps on this block will be situated directly in front of driveways (Premises Nos. 133A/138 and 163).

It is recommended that the proposed speed humps on Prescott Avenue be 7.5 cm in height as opposed to 10 cm as in the Earlscourt Area. This height reduction will help access and egress for those residents where speed humps are situated directly in front of their driveways, and should result in more even speeds on the street with less braking and accelerating at each hump.

I will be pleased to receive your comments on the above before proceeding, and will be pleased to arrange for staff to meet with you or residents to discuss this proposal further if necessary.