Traffic Concerns on McRae Drive
The East York Community Council recommends the adoption of the report
(May12,1999) from the Director, Transportation Services, District 1.
The East York Community Council reports having referred the following communications
with respect to a four-way stop sign, submitted by Councillor Jane Pitfield, to the
Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services, with a request that he submit a report
thereon to the East York Community Council:
-(May 25, 1999) from Mrs. Debbie Hodgson, East York; and
-(May 25, 1999) from Ms. Mary Bailey, Second Debute Shoppe, Toronto.
The East York Community Council submits the following report (May 12, 1999) from
the Director, Transportation Services, District 1:
Purpose:
To report to the East York Community Council on traffic concerns on McRae Drive, between
Airdrie Road and Laird Drive
Financial Implications:
The cost to install the necessary signs to enact the proposed parking regulations is estimated at
$600.00. These funds are contained in the Transportation Services Division 1999 Current
Budget.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1)the existing "No Parking Anytime" restriction on the north side of McRae Drive, between
Randolph Road and Laird Drive, be replaced with a "One Hour Parking, 8:00a.m. to 6:00p.m.,
Monday to Saturday" restriction;
(2)the existing "No Parking Anytime" restriction on the north side of McRae Drive, between
Sutherland Drive and Randolph Road, be replaced with a "One Hour Parking, 8:00 a.m. to
6:00 p.m., Monday to Saturday" restriction, and;
(3)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.
Comments:
The Works and Emergency Services Department received a request from an East York
resident on July 30, 1998, for the implementation of all-way stop control or a pedestrian
crossover at either McRae Drive and Randolph Road, McRae Drive and Sutherland Drive, or
McRae Drive and Airdrie Road. A subsequent request was received from Councillor Prue on
November 4, 1998, for all-way stop control at McRae Drive and Sutherland Drive.
McRae Drive, between Airdrie Road and Laird Drive, is 7.8 metres (26.0 feet) wide. The
boulevard on both sides of the street is paved and varies block-to-block from 3.3 metres wide
to 4.8 metres wide. Angled parking is permitted on the paved boulevard on the south side.
This area is regulated by a "One Hour Parking, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except Sunday"
restriction between Airdrie Road and Sutherland Drive, a "One Hour Parking, 8:00 a.m. to
8:00 p.m., except Sunday" restriction between Sutherland Drive and 47 metres east of
Randolph Road, and a "15 Minute Parking, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00p.m., Monday to Friday
inclusive" restriction between a point 47 metres east of Randolph Road and Laird Drive. There
is presently a "No Parking Anytime" restriction on the paved boulevard area on the north side
of the street from Laird Drive to Sutherland Drive. The existing conditions are illustrated in
Appendix 'A'.
The intersection of McRae Drive and Sutherland Drive has been the subject of three requests
for all-way stop control since 1996. In each case, all-way stop control has not been warranted
based on traffic volumes and reported collision data. A main concern was the speed of
vehicles on this portion of McRae Drive, thus the requests for all-way stop control. However,
excessive vehicular speeds in this area can be attributed to the perceived excess width of the
street created by the paved boulevards that were intended for parking when McRae Drive was
reconstructed in 1991. The lack of side friction on the street, specifically the north side where
the "No Parking Anytime" restriction exists, that is created by the presence of parked vehicles
creates the impression of a wide street which causes drivers to be comfortable travelling at
speeds greater than the signed 40 km/h speed limit.
There are a variety of physical measures that can be considered to reduce vehicle speeds on
streets. Staff have studied several options in an effort to reduce vehicular speeds on McRae
Drive and facilitate pedestrians crossing McRae Drive. The following options were studied:
(1)all-way stop control;
(2)pedestrian crossover, and
(3)implementing parking on the north side of McRae Drive.
(1) All-way Stop Control
Transportation Services staff conducted traffic and pedestrian counts at the intersections of
McRaeDrive at Randolph Road, McRae Drive at Sutherland Drive, and McRae Drive at
Airdrie Road on typical days to ascertain the feasibility of all-way stop control. The all-way
stop warrants are illustrated in Appendices B, C and D respectively. These studies revealed
that all-way stop control is not warranted at either Randolph Road or Airdrie Road.
At the intersection of McRae Drive and Sutherland Drive, the traffic volumes meet the
required values for all-way stop control. However, when the intersection consists of a
collector street and a local street, the traffic volume ratio between collector street and local
street should not exceed 70percent/30percent due to the resultant queuing and time delays that
would be experienced on the collector street. These delays, in turn, lead to a disregard for stop
signs by motorists travelling on the collector street who do not perceive the need for the stop
control. The split for traffic volumes on McRae Drive compared to Sutherland Drive is 85
percent/15 percent. Therefore, for the above reasons, all-way stop control is not suitable at this
location.
Following a traffic investigation conducted in June 1998 to evaluate the feasibility of all-way
stop control at McRae Drive and Sutherland Drive, staff determined that illegally parked
vehicles on the south side of McRae Drive inhibited the sightlines for northbound motorists
on Sutherland Drive. This issue was addressed through the installation of bumper blocks on
the southeast area of the angled parking zone on McRae Drive to augment the existing painted
hatch markings, thereby eliminating illegal parking in that area. Similarly, hatch markings will
be painted in the southwest area of the angled parking zone on McRae Drive in the summer of
1999 to augment the existing "NoParking Anytime" corner restriction sign.
Staff studied the reported collisions at the intersections in this area for the five-year period
from November 1, 1993 to November 30, 1998. At the intersection of McRae Drive and
Randolph Road, eight reported collisions occurred, three of which could be susceptible to
correction by all-way stop control. At the intersection of McRae Drive and Sutherland Drive,
15 reported collisions occurred during this period, eleven of which could be susceptible to
correction by all-way stop control. It should be noted that following the elimination of sight
obstructions in June 1998, there have been no reported collisions at this intersection up to
November 30, 1998.
(2) Pedestrian Crossover
Transportation Services staff conducted a pedestrian crossover study on McRae Drive at
Sutherland Drive on a typical day to ascertain if a pedestrian crossover was warranted in the
area. Pedestrian volumes crossing McRae Drive were observed in the area from Airdrie Road
to east of Randolph Road. The results of this study revealed that a pedestrian crossover is only
19 percent warranted. Furthermore, a review of reported collision records revealed no
collisions involving a pedestrian on McRae Drive, between Airdrie Road and Laird Drive, for
the five-year period from November 1, 1993 to November 30, 1998.
(3) Implement Parking on the north side of McRae Drive
When McRae Drive was reconstructed in 1991, parking lay-by's were installed on both sides
of McRae Drive from west of Airdrie Road to Laird Drive. An existing "No Parking Anytime"
restriction on the north side of the street remained in place through this section of McRae
Drive.
In 1996, we approached the condominium corporation at 352-356 McRae Drive to ascertain
their opinion in allowing parking within the lay-by adjacent to their building. Ultimately, the
condominium corporation did not want parking in the lay-by. East York Council subsequently
decided to maintain the "No Parking Anytime" restriction (Item 10 of Report No. 17 of the
Regulatory and Development Committee (1996)).
The lack of parking in this area leads to motorists perceiving a wide travelled portion of
McRae Drive. This has been identified as a cause of increased speeds. Parked vehicles can
reduce the perceived pavement width resulting in motorists slowing down. Staff recommend
that parking be implemented on the north side of McRae Drive to reduce the perception of a
wide McRae Drive and ultimately reduce vehicle speeds. Seven parallel parking spaces can be
implemented on the north boulevard area between Laird Drive and Randolph Road, and four
parallel parking spaces can be implemented on the north boulevard between Randolph Road
and Sutherland Drive.
Conclusions:
Vehicular speeding on McRae Drive, between Airdrie Road and Laird Drive, has been a
regular concern of area residents. In an effort to reduce speeding, requests for the
implementation of all-way stop control at McRae Drive and Sutherland Drive have been
received. Investigations conducted by Transportation Services staff have revealed that all-way
stop control is not suitable at this location, or other intersections in the vicinity.
This Department has investigated alternate methods to address pedestrian safety in this area,
including a pedestrian crossover and allowing parking on the paved boulevards. At this time
the most reasonable solution is to allow parking on the paved boulevards on the north side of
McRaeDrive, similar to the parking in place on the south side of the street. To address past
concerns about visibility for motorists exiting from driveways, we recommend implementing
parallel parking spaces instead of angled parking. By implementing parking, the perceived
excess width of McRae Drive in this area will be reduced, which is expected to reduce vehicle
speeds.
Contact Name and Telephone Number:
Bryan Muir, Work Zone Coordinator
397-4588
bmuir@borough.eastyork.on.ca
Appendix 'B'
All-way Stop Warrant - McRae Drive at Randolph Road
