SAFETY AUDIT REPORT CARD SUMMARY AUDIT DATE: October 10, 2013 AUDIT GROUP: Community members living in Dorset Park AUDIT AREA: Dorset Park, Kennedy Rd. and Ellesmere Rd. Ward 40 – Scarborough - Agincourt Neighbourhood 119 – Wexford/Maryvale EXECUTIVE SUMMARY METRAC’s Safety Audit looks at how social and physical environments can make an area safe or unsafe. METRAC defines safety as ‘freedom from the threat, fear, and experience of all forms of violence, oppression, and discrimination.’ The Community Safety Audit was organized by the Dorset Park Community Hub, Tenants Involved Educated and Ready to Respond (TIERR) program. Two audits were conducted on October 10, 2013 at 1:30pm in the afternoon. One audit was carried out on Kennedy Rd. north of Ellesmere Rd. and the other audit was conducted in the area south-west of Kennedy Rd and Ellesmere Rd. The audit aimed to particularly address some of the traffic concerns raised by residents in the neighbourhood. Thirteen individuals participated in the two audits. Ward 40 has a higher population of people whose ages are: less than 5 (5.7%), 5-9 (5.1%), 15-19 (5.9%), 45-49 (8.2%), 65-69 (4.3%), 70-74 (4.1%), 75-79 (3.8%), 80-84 (3.1%), and 85+ (2.8%) compared to the City’s averages of 5.4%, 4.9%, 5.7%, 7.9%, 3.9%, 3.3%, 2.8%, 2.3%, and 2.1%, respectively.1 The Ward has a higher population of visible minorities (69.3%) compared with the City at 46.9%.2 The Ward has a higher population of people living in apartment buildings of 5 or more storeys (48.7%) compared to the City at 41%.3 The top safety priorities identified by participants were as follows: Street lighting on Delbert Dr. Right turn and pedestrian crossing at Dundalk Dr. and Ellesmere Rd. Electrical wires on Ellesmere Rd. Jay walking along Kennedy Rd. No signage near construction areas along Kennedy Rd. Lack of visibility between buildings due to lack of lighting 1 http://www1.toronto.ca/city_of_toronto/city_planning/wards/files/pdf/profile-ward40-2011.pdf 2 http://www1.toronto.ca/city_of_toronto/city_planning/wards/files/pdf/ward40_2006profiles.pdf 3 http://www1.toronto.ca/city_of_toronto/city_planning/wards/files/pdf/profile-ward40-2011.pdf Safety Audit Report Card – Kennedy Rd. and Ellesmere Rd. 1 Audit conducted on 10th of October 2013 SAFETY PRIORITIES AREA PRIORITIES RECOMMENDATIONS Kennedy Rd 1. Street lighting on Delbert Dr. Contact City Councillor and Ellesmere There is not enough street about adding additional Rd. lighting on Delbert Dr. lighting on Delbert Dr. 2. Right turn and pedestrian Contact City Councillor and crossing at Dundalk Dr. and the City transportation Ellesmere Rd. department about adding Drivers do not see an additional stop or yield pedestrians while turning sign for drivers so they are right at Dundalk Dr. and aware of pedestrians. Ellesmere Rd. 3. Electrical wires on Ellesmere Contact 311 and City Rd. Councillor to clean up Electrical wires were on electrical wires. the ground on the south west side of Ellesmere between Kennedy Rd. and Wye Valley Rd. 4. Jay walking on Kennedy Rd. Contact City Councillor and Many people jay walk the City transportation across Kennedy Rd. department about possibility of adding crosswalks where most people are jay walking. 5. No signs near construction Contact construction areas along Kennedy Rd. company and City Construction areas along Councillor about the need Kennedy Rd do not have for more signage near enough signs for drivers construction sites. and pedestrians. 6. Lack of visibility between the Contact City Councillor and buildings due to lack of property managers of lighting buildings about installing Need more lighting between more consistent lighting buildings to increase between buildings. visibility. Safety Audit Report Card – Kennedy Rd. and Ellesmere Rd. 2 Audit conducted on 10th of October 2013 WALKABOUT PHOTO SUMMARY Safety Audit Report Card – Kennedy Rd. and Ellesmere Rd. 3 Audit conducted on 10th of October 2013 OVERVIEW OF SAFETY AUDIT RESULTS The information below is based on the results of the survey and comments made during the safety audit walkabout. Recommendations for action were both stated by participants and based on their concerns. A - Very Good B - Good C - Ok D - Substandard F– Poor GENERAL B- More than half of the participants (66.7%) stated they feel safe in the area, while 33.3% stated they IMPRESSIONS sometimes feel safe in the area. Half of the participants (50%) stated they felt safe in the area alone, while the other half (50%) stated they sometimes feel safe alone in the area. Many participants stated they feel safe leaving their home after dark, while some stated they do not feel safe. More than half of participants (55.6%) stated they sometimes avoid doing activities in the community because they feel unsafe. While 44.4% stated they do not avoid doing activities. Some participants stated they generally feel safe in the area, while one person stated they feel unsafe due to their “colour/race” and another person stated they do not feel safe because they usually go out with their children and they are the only adult. Some participants (44.4%) stated there are specific areas where they feel unsafe, while 11.1% stated there are areas where they sometimes feel unsafe. These areas included: Dim spaces on the road and sidewalk Areas where signs are not visible Glamorgan 6 parking lot, as there is a lot of people who smoke and gather in that area Bus stops on street and subway stops Antrim Crescent Safety Audit Report Card – Kennedy Rd. and Ellesmere Rd. 4 Audit conducted on 10th of October 2013 A - Very Good B - Good C - Ok D - Substandard F– Poor SAFETY GRADE SAFETY CONCERNS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTION CONTACT FEATURES LIGHTING C+ Some participants (37.5%) stated that Ensure lighting is consistent , and that all Contact property the lighting in the area is good, while lights are working and bright throughout manager to ensure all another 37.5% stated lighting is not the area including in the following areas: lights on property are good and 25% of participants were - Kennedy Rd between Ellesmere working, including unsure if the lighting is good. Rd and Brigstock Rd near buildings and - On Kennedy Rd the space plazas. A majority of participants (87.5%) between 2 buildings stated that there are broken lights or - On Dundalk, pathway between Ensure paths, signs areas that need more lighting. the back of the townhouses and entrances are - Areas between strip mall plazas well lit. More than half of the participants - Increased lighting on Delbert Dr. (62.5%) stated they know who to call as there are only 2 street lights Report lights that when lights are out/broken, while for the entire road need to be replaced 37.5% stated they did not. - Dundalk Dr. on public property at - In the walkway this website: More than half of participants (62.5%) - On the streets https://www.toronto stated they were unsure if lights are - More lighting in between traffic hydro.com/sites/elect blocked by trees and/or bushes, while light signs ricsystem/residential/ 25% stated they are blocked and customercare/pages/ 12.5% stated that lights are not Ensure that trees and bushes are not reportastreetlightout. blocked by trees and/or bushes. blocking lights, particularly on Wye aspx Valley Rd. and along walkways. Half of the participants (50%) stated Contact Councillor to that paths and sidewalks are well lit, Ensure all paths and sidewalks are well request more lighting while 37.5% stated they are not and lit. on Kennedy Rd., Safety Audit Report Card – Kennedy Rd. and Ellesmere Rd. 5 Audit conducted on 10th of October 2013 12.5% were unsure. Ensure all signs are well lit in the area. Delbert Dr., walkways and near signs in Some participants (37.5%) stated signs area. and maps are not well lit, while another 37.5% stated they are, and 25% were unsure. SIGNS and B- Many participants stated there are Ensure that all signs are easy to see, read Contact Councillor MAPS enough signs identifying the area. and understand, written in clear and regarding the need large enough font, and in locations that for additional signs as More than half of participants (62.5%) are easy to see. noted. stated signs and maps are easy to see and find, while 25% stated they are not Ensure there are emergency signs easy to see and find. throughout buildings and parks in area. Many participants stated signs and Add the following signs: maps are easy to read and understand. - Signs to caution against jaywalking near heavy traffic More than half of participants (62.5%) areas stated there are no signs showing - More signs in construction zones where to go for help in emergencies, - Yield to pedestrians while some participants (25%) were - Exit door signs with brighter unsure if there are signs. lighting - Bigger signs for elderly Half of participants (50%) were unsure if emergency exits were easy to find in buildings, while 37.5% stated they are easy to find. Safety Audit Report Card – Kennedy Rd. and Ellesmere Rd. 6 Audit conducted on 10th of October 2013 TRAFFIC C+ More than half of participants (62.5%) Assess the need for more crosswalks and Contact stated area needs more crosswalks/ traffic lights in the following areas: transportation traffic lights, while 37.5% were unsure. - Along Kennedy Rd between services at the City to Many participants (62.5%) stated Progress Ave. and Ellesmere Rd. assess for more traffic in the area is not too fast, while - A flashing light between crosswalks, traffic 25% were unsure.