Traffic Speed Control on Dundas Street East, from Greenwood Avenue to Kingston Road (Toronto-Danforth, Ward 30; Beaches-East York, Ward 32)
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CITY CLERK Clause embodied in Report No. 6 of the Toronto East York Community Council, which was before the Council of the City of Toronto at its meeting held on July 24, 25 and 26, 2001. 16 Traffic Speed Control on Dundas Street East, from Greenwood Avenue to Kingston Road (Toronto-Danforth, Ward 30; Beaches-East York, Ward 32) (City Council on July 24, 25 and 26, 2001, struck out and referred this Clause back to the Toronto East York Community Council for further consideration for its meeting scheduled to be held on October 23, 2001; and the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services was requested to assist the Ward Councillors with the co-ordination of a public meeting in this regard.) The Toronto East York Community Council submits this matter to Council without recommendation. The Toronto East York Community Council reports, for the information of Council, having requested the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services to report directly to Council on the proposal to reduce the speed limit on Dundas Street East from Broadview Avenue to Kingston Road. The Toronto East York Community Council submits the following communication (June 15, 2001) from Councillor Layton: Recommendation: That the speed limit on Dundas Street East between Greenwood and Don River be reduced to 40 km/hour. Background: When a young girl was involved in a collision with a speeding car recently, leaving another casualty of the east end's dangerous Dundas Street expressway, the police officer at the scene said 'when is the city going to do something about this street?' It had been the second collision of the day. Over the past several years, residents have worked with me and with the community workers at the South Riverdale Community Health Centre in an attempt to find traffic calming solutions such as bicycle lanes, but without success. To make matters worse, as the Gardiner Expressway removal and Lakeshore Blvd reconstruction continues, the diverted traffic on Eastern and Dundas has become more aggressive. Toronto City Council 2 Toronto East York Community Council July 24, 25 and 26, 2001 Report No. 6, Clause No. 16 Let's begin by lowering the speed limit from the current 50km / hour to 40 km/hour. Afterall, this is largely a residential area and school zone (there are 7 schools in this section of Dundas East). Many homes are inches from the travelled portion of the roadway because it was built in the '50s right in people's front yards. As well, more properties are being converted to residential in the old industrial stretch near Carlaw and Logan. The Toronto East York Community Council also submits the following motion from Councillor Bussin and Councillor Layton: “WHEREAS Dundas Street East from Kingston Road to Greenwood Avenue, in Ward 32, and from Greenwood Avenue to Broadview Avenue in Ward 30, is currently signed at 50 km/per hour, and WHEREAS the street traverses predominantly residential neighbourhoods and 7 school zones, and WHEREAS several recent accidents, including the near fatality of a child prompted the police officer at the scene to ask “when is the city going to do something about this street”, and WHEREAS both Councillor Layton and I have received many calls from, and worked closely with, residents living on Dundas Street East to reduce speeding through traffic calming solutions such as bicycle lanes, but without success, and WHEREAS the volume of cars and aggressiveness of drivers has significantly increased on Dundas Street East as the removal of the Gardiner Expressway and the reconstruction of the Lakeshore Blvd. East continues, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Community Council consider the serious nature of this request and choose to reduce the speed limit to 40 kilometers per hour for the safety of the residents on this portion of Dundas Street East.” __________ The Toronto East York Community Council reports, for the information of Council, having also had before it during consideration of the foregoing matter, the following communications, and a copy thereof is on file in the office of the City Clerk. - (July 9, 2001) from Leslie Barchou; - (July 9, 2001) from Paula Fletcher, Toronto District School Board; - (July 8, 2001) from Leslie Rose; and - (July 10, 2001) from William Brown submitting a petition with 234 signatures in support. The following persons appeared before the Toronto East York Community Council in connection with the foregoing matter: - Councillor Layton (by telephone); - Ms. Peg Lush, Representative of “Feet on the Street” on Toronto Pedestrian Committee; Toronto City Council 3 Toronto East York Community Council July 24, 25 and 26, 2001 Report No. 6, Clause No. 16 - Mr. William Brown, Toronto; - Mr. Mike Novic, Toronto; - Ms. Norah Dillon-Cheetham, Toronto; and - Ms. Suzanne Simard, Toronto. (City Council on July 24, 25 and 26, 2001, had before it, during consideration of the foregoing Clause, the following report (July 19, 2001) from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services: Purpose: To respond to a request from the Toronto East York Community Council for staff to report directly to City Council at its meeting of July 24, 2001 on a proposal to reduce the speed limit on Dundas Street East, between Broadview Avenue and Kingston Road, from 50 km/h to 40 km/h. Financial Implications and Impact Statement: The costs associated with the installation of appropriate traffic and parking signage to implement the Recommendations set out in this report are $10,000.00. Funds to cover these costs can be accommodated in the Transportation Services Division 2001 Operating Budget. Recommendations: It is recommended that: (1) the regulation which prohibits parking on the south side of Dundas Street East, between Broadview Avenue and Kingston Road, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., Monday to Friday, be rescinded; (2) the regulation which prohibits parking on the north side of Dundas Street East, between Broadview Avenue and Kingston Road, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, be rescinded; (3) staff complete a detailed technical assessment and report as expeditiously as possible on the feasibility and implications of installing bicycle lanes on Dundas Street East, between Broadview Avenue and Kingston Road, as identified in the City of Toronto Cycling Master Plan study considered by Planning and Transportation Committee at its July 2001 meeting; (4) this report be forwarded to the Toronto Police Service for information and consideration of any vehicle speed enforcement measures deemed necessary for this section of Dundas Street East; and (5) the appropriate City officials be requested to take whatever action is necessary to give effect thereto, including the introduction in Council of any Bills that are required. Toronto City Council 4 Toronto East York Community Council July 24, 25 and 26, 2001 Report No. 6, Clause No. 16 Background: Toronto East York Community Council, at its meeting of July 10, 2001, had before it a Motion (July 5, 2001) from Councillors Sandra Bussin and Jack Layton, recommending a reduction of the speed limit on Dundas Street East, between Broadview Avenue and Kingston Road, from 50 km/h to 40 km/h. Community Council has forwarded the matter to City Council without recommendation and requested the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services to report directly to City Council, at its scheduled meeting of July 24, 2001. (Clause No. 16 of Report No. 6) Comments: Dundas Street East, between Broadview Avenue and Kingston Road, is a four-lane minor arterial roadway. This section of roadway is approximately three kilometres in length and has a speed limit of 50 km/h. Daily traffic volumes are generally in the 20,000-vehicle range. Traffic control signals on Dundas Street East are located at Carlaw Avenue, Pape Avenue, Jones Avenue, Leslie Street, Greenwood Avenue, and Woodfield Avenue. Greenwood Park fronts the north side of Dundas Street East, between Greenwood Avenue and Alton Avenue. Pedestrian Crossovers (PXO) exist on Dundas Street East at Alton Avenue, Kerr Road and Maughan Crescent. A “school speed zone” (implemented in 1997) is located in front of Queen Alexandra Public/Dundas Street Junior Public School, between Broadview Avenue and Boulton Avenue. From 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on days when school is regularly held, flashing beacons advise motorists of the 40 km/h reduced speed limit. There are no other schools fronting Dundas Street East in the subject section. However, Leslieville and St. Joseph Catholic Schools are located north and south of Dundas Street East, between Curzon Street and Leslie Street; Duke of Connaught School is located south of Dundas Street East, near Woodfield Avenue; and Corpus Christi Catholic School is located east of Coxwell Avenue. Stopping is prohibited in the peak direction and parking is prohibited in the off-peak direction during weekday morning and afternoon peak periods along this entire section of Dundas Street East. At other times, on-street parking is allowed for a three-hour maximum period. Transit service is not provided on the subject section of Dundas Street East. According to the City of Toronto “Road Classification System – A Consolidated Report” minor arterial roadways typically carry traffic volumes in the range of 8,000-20,000 vehicles daily. The legal speed limits associated with minor arterial roadways typically range from 40 km/h to 60 km/h, depending on the design of the road. A listing of other roadways in this vicinity classified as minor arterials is provided below. Generally, these roadways have a 50 km/h speed limit unless otherwise