Public Report

To: Community Services Committee

From: Ron Diskey, Commissioner, Community Services Department

Report Number: CS-19-75

Date of Report: May 27, 2019

Date of Meeting: June 3, 2019

Subject: Traffic Concerns on Drew Street between 401 and McNaughton Avenue

File: E-1400

1.0 Purpose

The purpose of this report is to respond CS-19-18, February 11, 2019: “That the delegation of Grant Karcich concerning traffic issues on Drew Street between Highway 401 and McNaughton Avenue be referred to staff for investigation and possible remedies” and report back to the Community Services Committee. During Mr. Karcich’s delegation, he indicated he was aware of the future Go Train plans and he is aware of the removal of the Ritson and he is looking for a short term solution.

Attachment 1 is aerial photograph of the location of the proposed all-way stop at Drew Street and Avenue and Highway 401 Ramp.

2.0 Recommendation

That the Community Services Committee recommend to City Council:

• That the staff report CS-19-75 Traffic Concerns on Drew Street, from the Community Services Department dated May 27, 2019, be received for information. • That the Region of Durham be sent a copy of this report. • That the Ministry of Transportation be sent a copy of this report.

3.0 Executive Summary

N/A

11 Report to Community Services Committee Item: CS-19-75 Meeting Date: June 3, 2019 Page 2

4.0 Input From Other Sources

• Development Services • Region of Durham • Ontario Ministry of Transportation

5.0 Analysis

5.1 Road Characteristics

5.1.1 Drew Street

Drew Street from McNaughton Avenue to Toronto Avenue is a two collector roadway with a pavement width of 9.8 metres and a speed limit of 50 km/h. Sidewalks are in place on the east and west side of Drew Street. At the southern limit of Drew Street is an intersection with Toronto Avenue and a Highway 401 westbound off-ramp and westbound on-ramp. McNaughton and First Avenue are collector and a traffic light signal is located at the intersection of Drew Street and McNaughton Avenue.

5.1.2 Toronto Avenue

Toronto Avenue from Ritson Road South to Drew Street is a two lane local roadway with a pavement width of 8.5 metres and a speed limit of 50 km/h. A sidewalk is in place on the north side of Toronto Avenue. At the western limit of Toronto Avenue is an intersection with Drew Street and a Highway 401 westbound off-ramp and westbound on-ramp.

5.2 Traffic Speed Study of Drew Street

Grant Karcich of Drew Street has expressed concerns about the traffic speeds in their neighbourhood. Automatic Traffic Recorder (A.T.R.) counts were completed on June 21, 2018 on Drew Street between Toronto Avenue and Etna Avenue to assess the speed of traffic. The average northbound speed over a 24-hour period in this area was measured at 43 km/h with an 85th percentile speed of 55 km/h. The average southbound speed over a 24-hour period in this area was measured at 50 km/h with an 85th percentile speed of 60 km/h.

Given the operating speed for southbound traffic was 10 km/h over the speed limit of 50km/h, a request was made to Durham Regional Police for speeding enforcement.

In addition, a Radar Message Board that provides feedback to drivers indicating their speed and flashes if they exceed the speed limit was installed on Drew Street for a period of two weeks starting July 27, 2018.

5.3 All-Way Stop – Highway 401 and Toronto Avenue and Drew Street

Grant Karcich of Drew Street has requested an all-way stop at the intersection of the Highway 401 ramp with Toronto Avenue and Drew Street. Given the presence of the Highway 401 ramp, this intersection is under the jurisdiction of the Province of Ontario.

12 Report to Community Services Committee Item: CS-19-75 Meeting Date: June 3, 2019 Page 3

Oshawa staff requested that the Ministry of Transportation Ontario (M.T.O.) review and comment on the potential for an all-way stop at this intersection. The M.T.O. conducted an all-way stop study and concluded that an all-way stop is warranted at this location. The M.T.O. anticipates that the all-way stop will be installed before the end of August 2019. Temporary signs advising of this change will be posted 30 days prior to conversion.

The location of the future all-way stop has been appended as Attachment # 1.

Stop signs are not intended to be used as speed control devices. Their usage should be limited to the control of right-of-way conflicts. However, in this unique case staff anticipate that the future all-way stop at this intersection will have the positive impact of lowering traffic speeds on Drew Street. Southbound traffic between Etna Avenue and First/McNaughton Avenue will now need to come to a complete stop before entering Highway 401, and traffic exiting Highway 401 will now need to come to a complete stop before proceeding to Drew Street or Toronto Avenue.

City of staff will be collecting before-and-after traffic data on Drew Street to confirm the effect this all-way stop has on speeding in this area.

5.4 Heavy Vehicles on Drew Street

Grant Karcich of Drew Street has requested a Heavy Truck Restriction on Drew Street, and that Toronto Avenue become the designated route for heavy traffic going to and from the Highway 401 on/off ramp at Drew Street and Toronto Avenue. Given Drew Street is designated as a collector roadway with a surface width of 9.8 metres, and Toronto Avenue is as a local roadway with a surface width of 8.5 metres, and both streets contain residential houses, staff do not recommend diverting traffic currently using Drew Street to Toronto Avenue.

Therefore, staff investigated the potential for a Heavy Truck Restriction that would apply to both Toronto Avenue and Drew Street, which consequently would restrict heavy truck traffic from accessing the Highway 401 on/off ramp at this location. This restriction would require approval and some portion of the work to be completed by the M.T.O.

The M.T.O. completed a heavy truck volume study and concluded truck traffic using the ramp at Drew Street and Toronto Avenue is very low, representing 1-2% of total traffic. The M.T.O. staff have indicated they do not support a Heavy Truck Restriction at this location at this time.

Although a Heavy Truck Restriction was not supported, the M.T.O. did review options for using positive guidance to redirect truck traffic away from Drew Street and Toronto Avenue. Instead of restricting travel on specific routes, positive guidance provides a recommended route for heavy vehicles. The M.T.O. will be installing a sign on the Highway 401 westbound in advance of East and Harmony Road South exit, that will recommend that heavy trucks bound for Ritson Road South or Simcoe Street South use Bloor Street East. However, given Bloor Street East will be closed from Wilson Road South to Ritson Road South due a regional water main project in 2019, installation of this signage may not take place until after construction is complete and Bloor Street East is re-opened.

13 Report to Community Services Committee Item: CS-19-75 Meeting Date: June 3, 2019 Page 4

Grant Karcich has suggested that a new traffic signal at Ritson Road South and Toronto Avenue would provide better access for heavy vehicles using Toronto Avenue. Ritson Road South is under the jurisdiction of the Region of Durham; therefore, this request was forwarded to Region of Durham staff on May 13, 2019 for review.

6.0 Financial Implications

There are no financial implications with respect to this report.

7.0 Relationship to the Oshawa Strategic Plan

This report responds to the Oshawa Strategic Plan goal of Social Equity under the theme of An Active, Healthy and Safe Community by providing a safe, reliable and connected active transportation network.

Beth Mullen, Director, Strategic & Business Services

Ron Diskey, Commissioner, Community Services Department

14 Item CS-19-75 Attachment 1

MCNAUGHTON AVE ¯

FIRST AVE

ETNA AVE

HOWARD ST

DREWST RITSON RD S

& TORONTO AVE

ONTARIO HIGHWAY 401

LEGEND CITY OF OSHAWA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SERVICES Proposed All-Way Stop ATTACHMENT # 1 - PROPOSED ALL-WAY STOP AT & DREW ST & TORONTO AVE & HIGHWAY 401 RAMP

15 DATE: 05/28/2019 SCALE: NTS