STAFF REPORT

March 6, 2000

To: Chairman and Members of the Scarborough Community Council

From: Gary H. Welsh, Director, Transportation Services, Works and Emergency

Services, District 4

Subject: Proposed Speed Limit Reduction on Guildwood Parkway in the vicinity of Jack Miner Senior Public School

Scarborough Bluffs

Purpose:

To report the results of speed studies conducted on Guildwood Parkway.

Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

The $500.00 (approximate) funds associated with the installation of speed limit signs is available in the Transportation Services 2000 budget estimates, Cost Centre No. TP0226.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1) the 40 kilometre per hour speed limit identified in Appendix 1 of this report be adopted; and

(2) the appropriate by-law be amended accordingly.

Background:

As a result of a request from a resident of Guildwood Parkway to investigate speeding on this street, Transportation Services is reporting the results of our investigations.

Comments:

Guildwood Parkway is primarily a residential road which performs the function of a minor arterial street, forming a connection between the southerly end of Morningside Avenue and Kingston Road.

The majority of Guildwood Parkway is two lanes wide, except near Kingston Road and along the commercial frontage west of Livingston Road where it is two lanes wide in each direction, separated by a wide landscaped median.

Two schools are located on Guildwood Parkway, both on the south side. Sir Wilfred Laurier Collegiate Institute is just east of Livingston Road, and Jack Miner Senior Public School is located between Galloway Road and Poplar Road. An all-way stop control exist on Guildwood Parkway at Galloway Road. This control was recommended by Scarborough Council in 1991, but has not had an impact on motorists' speeds near Jack Miner Senior Public School.

Guildwood Parkway carries approximately 6,000 vehicles per day in the vicinity of the schools, and has a signed 50 Km/h speed limit. There are two pedestrian crossovers on Guildwood Parkway, one in front of each school.

Twenty-four hour speed studies were conducted on Tuesday, November 23, 1999 on Guildwood Parkway. Study results are as follows:

The justification for the introduction of a 40 kilometre per hour speed limit on a road in the Scarborough Community Area is based on a technical warrant adopted by the former Scarborough Council. Application of the required data to this warrant revealed that the key criteria are satisfied in close proximity to Jack Miner Senior Public School except the 85^th percentile is in excess of 50 km/h in the 60 km/h range.

Although all of the required criteria for installation of a 40 kilometre per hour speed limit are not achieved, a 40 kilometre per hour speed limit is recommended on Guildwood Parkway in front of Jack Miner Senior Public School and 150 metres in advance, approximately between Galloway Road and Poplar Road. This reduced speed limit will emphasize the public school environment and should improve traffic safety. It is important not to extend this speed limit the entire length of Guildwood Parkway as it would detract from our intention, to emphasize the presence of children near the public school.

A three-year collision review for Guildwood Parkway, for the years 1996 to 1998 inclusive, revealed that two collisions occurred on the road which were probably directly related to speeding. Both occurred on the section of Guildwood Parkway where we are recommending the speed limit reduction.

Conclusions:

In summary, a 40 kilometre per hour speed limit is recommended on Guildwood Parkway in the vicinity of Jack Miner Senior Public School in order to emphasize to drivers the need to drive cautiously near the school.

Contact:

Bruce D. Clayton

Supervisor, Traffic Engineering, Works and Emergency Services

Tel: 396-7844

Fax: 396-5681

E-Mail: clayton@toronto.ca

Gary H. Welsh

Director

Transportation Services

Works and Emergency Services

District 4

PKH:ca

c:\work\reports\scc\guildpkwy2

D99-256

List of Attachments:

1. Appendix 1

2. Plan (Proposed 40 Km/h - Guildwood Parkway)