Palmerston Area Traffic Calming - Euclid Avenue and

Palmerston Boulevard Speed Hump Proposal (Trinity-Niagara)

The Toronto Community Council recommends the adoption of the following report (December3, 1998) from the Director, Transportation Services District 1:

Purpose:

To report on a proposal to replace existing traffic calming islands on Euclid Avenue between Harbord Street and Bloor Street West with speed humps and to install speed humps on Palmerston Boulevard between College Street and Bloor Street West.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

Funds to cover the costs of replacing traffic calming islands on Euclid Avenue between Harbord Street and Bloor Street West with speed humps, and also installing speed humps on Palmerston Boulevard between College Street and Bloor Street West, in the estimated amount of $30,000 are available under Capital Fund Code No. 296702. Funds for installing traffic calming measures in the Palmerston area were initially approved by the former Toronto City Council in its 1997 Capital Budget, and sufficient funds remain in the account for this purpose.

Recommendations:

(1)That approval be given to alter sections of the pavement on Euclid Avenue and Palmerston Boulevard for traffic calming purposes as described below, with implementation subject to favourable results of the polling of 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 EUCLID AVENUE from Harbord Street to Bloor Street West, and on PALMERSTON BOULEVARD from College Street to Bloor Street West, generally as shown on the attached prints of Drawing No. 421F-5281 dated October 1998, and Drawing Nos. 421F-5259, 421F-5260 dated November 1998";

(2)That approval be given to alter sections of the pavement on Euclid Avenue and Clinton Street for traffic calming purposes as described below:

(i)"The narrowing of EUCLID AVENUE, west side, from the lane first south of Ulster Street to a point 15 metres south thereof, from a width of 7.3 metres to a width varying from 4.5 metres to 7.3 metres"; and

(ii)"The narrowing of CLINTON STREET, east side, from the lane first south of Bloor Street West to a point 15 metres south thereof, from a width of 7.3 metres to a width varying from 4.5 metres to 7.3 metres";

(3)That approval be given to reduce the speed limit from 40 km/h to 30 km/h on Palmerston Boulevard from College Street to Bloor Street West, coincident with the implementation of speed humps;

(4)That By-law No. 1996-0463 authorizing the narrowing of sections of Clinton Street, Manning Avenue, Euclid Avenue, Palmerston Boulevard, Ulster Street and Markham Street, be rescinded; and

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

Comments:

The former Toronto City Council, at its meeting of October 7 and 8, 1996, approved a traffic management plan for the Palmerston area (bounded by Grace Street, Bloor Street West, Bathurst Street and College Street). The plan involved the narrowing of sections of the pavements to create mid-block chicanes and narrowed intersections by means of modular traffic calming islands on selected streets. This approval was the culmination of several years of effort by the Palmerston Area Residents' Association (PARA) to address concerns related to vehicle speeds and pedestrian safety in the neighbourhood.

In October 1997 traffic calming islands were installed on Clinton Street and Euclid Avenue both between College Street and Bloor Street West. A similar proposal for Manning Avenue was dropped from the original plan at the request of residents, and traffic calming measures proposed for Markham Street and Palmerston Boulevard were deferred for further review. Following the installation of the traffic calming islands on Clinton Street and Euclid Avenue, area residents expressed concern regarding the impact on parking, and the impact of illegal parkers on emergency vehicle operations.

As a result of local concern, Councillors Joe Pantalone and Mario Silva polled residents of Clinton Street and Euclid Avenue between College Street and Bloor Street West. The polls were conducted in April 1998 to seek residents' views on alternative proposals.

Based on the results of the poll, City Council, at its meeting of June 3, 1998, approved the following revisions to the Palmerson Area traffic management plan:

a)removal of all of the traffic calming islands (except for one island/hump combination) on Clinton Street between College Street and Harbord Street;

b)removal of all but one of the traffic calming islands on Clinton Street between Harbord Street and Bloor Street West;

c)removal of all but one of the traffic calming islands and the existing speed hump on Euclid Avenue between College Street and Harbord Street, and installation of four new speed humps; and

d)retention of all traffic calming islands on Euclid Avenue between Harbord Street and Bloor Street West.

Based on the most recent consultations between Transportation Services staff, Councillors Joe Pantalone and Mario Silva, and discussions with PARA representatives, it is recommended that the traffic islands on Euclid Avenue between Harbord Street and Bloor Street West be replaced by three speed humps as shown on the attached print of Drawing No. 421F-5281 dated October 1998, and fourteen speed humps be installed on Palmerston Boulevard between College Street and Bloor Street West as shown on the attached prints of Drawing Nos. 421F-5259 and 421F-5260, both dated November 1998.

The proposed speed hump plan will create approximately five additional parking spaces on Euclid Avenue between Harbord Street and Bloor Street West. There will be no change to the parking supply on Palmerston Boulevard as a result of the speed hump plan. The parking regulations on Euclid Avenue will return to the previous alternate side conditions which were in effect prior to the installation of the traffic calming islands. As parking regulation amendments were not enacted for the initial changes, no amendments are necessary at this time. The current alternate side parking regulations on Palmerston Boulevard will remain unchanged.

As outlined in the former City of Toronto speed hump policy, it is recommended that residents be polled to determine whether there is community support for speed humps as outlined above. The poll should be conducted of adult residents (18 years and older) of households directly abutting the street. At least 60% of valid responses should support the plan in order to authorize the installation. The final decision rests with City Council.

The changes proposed to Euclid Avenue and Palmerston Boulevard as set out above constitute alterations to a public highway pursuant to the provisions of the Municipal Act. Accordingly, 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. It is noted that emergency services are being advised to ensure that the proposals do not unduly hamper their operations.

This project is pre-approved in accordance with Schedule A of the Class Environmental Assessment for Municipal Roads Projects.

It is proposed that three separate polls be distributed, with one for Euclid Avenue between Harbord Street and Bloor Street West, one for Palmerston Boulevard between Harbord Street and Bloor Street West and one for Palmerston Boulevard between College Street and Harbord Street. The polls will be conducted during January/February 1999, coincident with the statutory advertising for highway alterations, and the matter should be the subject of deputations at the February 17, 1999 meeting of the Toronto Community Council.

I note that minor "house-keeping" amendments to the Municipal Code to formalize earlier traffic calming work in this area are included in Recommendation No. 2 of this report.

Contact Name and Telephone Number:

Nigel Tahair, Transportation Technologist

392-7711

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Euclid Avenue

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Euclid Avenue

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Euclid Avenue