Installation of Speed Humps - St. Germain Avenue, from Avenue Road to (North )

(City Council on August 1, 2, 3 and 4, 2000, adopted this Clause, without amendment.)

The Toronto Community Council recommends that:

(1) approval be given to alter sections of the roadway on St. Germain Avenue, from a point 112.4 metres west of Elm Road to Yonge Street, for traffic calming purposes as described below, with implementation subject to the favourable results of polling of the affected residents pursuant to the policy related to speed hump installation as adopted by the former City of Toronto Council:

“The construction of speed humps on ST. GERMAIN AVENUE, from a point 112.4 metres west of Elm Road to Yonge Street, generally as shown on the attached print of Drawing No. 421F-5749 dated June 30, 2000”:

(2) a speed limit of thirty kilometres per hour be introduced on St. Germain Avenue, from 112.4 metres west of Elm Road to Yonge Street, coincident with the implementation of speed humps and as legislation permits: and

(3) the appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take whatever action is necessary to implement the foregoing, including the introduction in Council of any Bills that might be required, subject to review in the 2001 budget process.

The Toronto Community Council reports, for the information of Council, having requested the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services to report to the Budget Advisory Committee at its quarterly capital variance meeting, on any additional funds available to address traffic safety measures being undertaken by any and all Community Councils.

The Toronto Community Council submits the following report (June 29, 2000) from the Director, Transportation Services, District 1:

Purpose:

To respond to a request from Councillors Anne Johnston and Michael Walker, on behalf of area residents, to report on the feasibility of installing speed humps on St. Germain Avenue from a point 112.4 metres west of Elm Road (the boundary between the Toronto Community Council Area and the Community Council Area) to Yonge Street.

Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

There are no financial implications resulting from the receipt of this report. Recommendation:

It is recommended that this report be received for information.

Comments:

District 1 staff of Transportation Services have investigated the feasibility of installing speed humps on St. Germain Avenue from a point approximately 112.4 metres west of Elm Road (the boundary between the Toronto Community Council Area and the North York Community Council Area) to Yonge Street.

Concurrent with this request, North York Centre South Councillors Milton Berger and Joanne Flint have requested District 3 Transportation Services staff to investigate and report to North York Community Council on the feasibility of installing speed humps on the section of St. Germain Avenue, between Avenue Road and a point 112.4 metres west of Elm Road (the section of street within the North York Community Council Area). It is my understanding that a report will be submitted to the July 18, 2000 meeting of North York Community Council dealing with this matter.

St. Germain Avenue operates two-way on a pavement width of 8.5 metres with a maximum speed limit of 40 kilometres per hour.

A 24-hour speed and volume survey was conducted on St. Germain Avenue over a two-day period ending April 27, 2000. The results of the survey revealed a daily average combined total of 1,620 vehicles in both directions, of which 2.6 percent travelled at a rate of speed in excess of 55 kilometres per hour. The combined average operating speed (the speed at or below which 85 percent of the vehicles travelled) for the period was in the range between 45 and 49 kilometres per hour with an average speed of 35 kilometres per hour.

St. Germain Avenue was further reviewed in accordance with the secondary criteria as set out in the policy established by the former City of Toronto Council in August, 1997 i.e., using a technical screening mechanism to evaluate the need for speed humps based on prevailing traffic conditions, vehicle speed percentages and pertinent collision data (according to Police Service accident records, there were no reported accidents on St. Germain Avenue for the three year period ending December 1999, which could be attributed to speeding). During the course of this evaluation, St. Germain Avenue received 29 points out of a possible 100. Based upon the relatively low score and taking into consideration the speeding profile noted above, no further action is recommended at this time.

Further, in response to complaints from St. Germain Avenue residents about the use of their street by transient traffic, District 3 Transportation Services’ staff have advised that, in addition to reporting to North York Community Council on the request for speed humps on their section of St. Germain Avenue, their report will also recommend that northbound to eastbound right turns be prohibited at anytime onto St. Germain Avenue from the driveway to the small shopping plaza, located on the southeast corner of St. Germain Avenue and Avenue Road, which contains, amongst other businesses, a L.C.B.O. outlet and a major video retail store. This measure should deter non-resident motorists from using St. Germain Avenue as an eastbound route and should significantly reduce traffic volumes.

Notwithstanding the above and bearing in mind that the primary criteria for the installation of speed humps have been technically satisfied, should Toronto Community Council wish to proceed with the installation of speed humps on the subject section of St. Germain Avenue, then the following recommendations would be adopted:

(1) That approval be given to alter sections of the roadway on St. Germain Avenue, from a point 112.4 metres west of Elm Road to Yonge Street, for traffic calming purposes as described below, with implementation subject to the favourable results of polling of the affected residents pursuant to the policy related to speed hump installation as adopted by the former City of Toronto Council:

“The construction of speed humps on St. Germain Avenue, from a point 112.4 metres west of Elm Road to Yonge Street, generally as shown on the attached print of Drawing No. 421F-5749 dated June 30, 2000”:

(2) That a speed limit of thirty kilometres per hour be introduced on St. Germain Avenue, from 112.4 metres west of Elm Road to Yonge Street, coincident with the implementation of speed humps and as legislation permits: and

(3) That the appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take whatever action is necessary to implement the foregoing, including the introduction in Council of any Bills that might be required.

The traffic calming plan, as illustrated on the attached print of Drawing No.421F-5749, dated June 30, 2000, consists of 13 speed humps. A speed limit reduction to 30 kilometres per hour would be appropriate. No impacts on parking are anticipated, no changes to parking regulations are required, and the effects on snow removal, street cleaning and garbage collection should be minimal.

The recommended speed hump design is approximately 7.5 centimetres in height and four metres in length in the direction of travel. This design encourages vehicular crossing speeds of 20 to 30 kilometres per hour and there are no significant impacts to the number of parking spaces.

In the event that Council deems it appropriate to consider a speed hump plan, a formal poll should be conducted of adults (18 years and older) of households directly abutting the affected section of the street, and also of households on side streets whose only access is from the street under consideration for speed hump installations. Under this policy at least 60 percent of those responding should be in favour of the proposal to authorize implementation.

Accordingly, subject to approval by Council, Transportation Services’ staff will conduct a poll of residents and report on the results at the deputation meeting for the project. Because speed humps are being considered over the entire length of St. Germain Avenue, between Avenue Road and Yonge Street, it would be prudent to also poll those residents of St. Germain Avenue whose residences are located within the North York Community Council Area and to include the results of same in our report.

The changes to St. Germain Avenue, as described above, would constitute an alteration to a public highway pursuant to the provisions of the Municipal Act. The intent of Council to enact a by-law to authorize any physical changes resulting in the alteration of the pavement configuration must be advertised and subsequently be subject to a public hearing.

Should Council approve the above speed hump plan, consultations with the emergency services would be undertaken to ensure that the detailed design does not unduly hamper their respective operations. However, the introduction of speed humps would result in slower operating speeds for all vehicles, including emergency vehicles, resulting in increased response times.

This project would be pre-approved in accordance with Schedule A of the Class Environmental Assessment for the Municipal Roads Project.

It is estimated that the cost to implement this proposal is $19,500.00. The 2000 Transportation Services Capital Works Programme included funding of $750,000.00, on a City-wide basis, for traffic calming. These funds are now entirely committed. Accordingly, should Council determine that speed humps be installed on St. Germain Avenue, the necessary funds would be included in the Transportation Services 2001 Capital Budget request.

Contact:

Bob Bonner, Traffic Investigator, District 1 - Central Telephone: (416) 392-7711 Fax: (416) 392-0816 E-mail: [email protected] Drawing No. 421F-5749, dated June 30, 2000