Rees To Walker, D'Aoust, Benjamin, Clement (Neighbour)

From: Mark Rees
To: Michael Walker, Pierre D'Aoust, Dan Clement, Stephen Benjamin

Subject: Residents Perspective on recent SUV accident at corner of Oxton & Oriole...and constant honking

Dear Mr. Walker:

As you know I am looking forward to presenting to the representative from Transportation Services', Pierre and yourself the successful results of the Oxton Safety Petition which I believe reflects the "true impacts and outcomes" for local residents of the decisions taken to create a free flowing traffic pattern on along the Avenue-Oxton-Oriole Corridor (or a section of Highway 11A).

As I eagerly await news of the meeting date (which I hope this will be very soon), I intent to share with the City officials and yourself selected letters from residents who have emailed me and who clearly do not subscript to the belief that the recent Oxton Avenue reconfigurations represent a success story.

When a local resident directly impacted, by these road reconfiguration changes tells you they cannot wait to get out of their home, can we honestly say these changes have been a success? I hope you will agree we cannot.

This particular email deals with the accident I relayed to you some weeks ago regarding an accident between an SUV and a transport truck at the corner of Oxton and Oriole. Although some details appear to contradict my understanding of events (the Police report will help us here), the salient points can not be easily overlooked.

You will find this email and many similar emails on my soon to be published internet web blog/site which I am hope will fast become the voice of the Oxton-Oriole residents.

I invite you to read the email below for which I have received the kind permission of its authors to share with you (in confidence). While I cannot speak for [the authors], I suspect that they would very much like to hear your thoughts on the serious points raised in their email.

Sincerely, mark

Rees To D'Aoust(Speed Signs)

From: Mark Rees
To: Pierre D'Aoust

Subject: Posting of Additional Speed Limit Signs On Oxton Avenue

Hi Pierre:

Thank you for forwarding Dan's note. Your note is timely because I was just about to check the official meaning of yellow speed signs verse black/white speed signs.

A couple of points and questions...

1. If the Oxton speed limit is 50kms this then supports the neighbourhood view that vehicle speeds on Oxton are higher. This contention is based on human nature and supported by the Police that if it’s a 50kms driver limit, drivers will go 60kms and perhaps beyond as we also contend.

2. At these speeds it seems obvious to me that without logical, pedestrian crossing points pedestrians are forced to cross Oxton without the benefit of even the most rudimentary crossing protection as they head on the "natural" path to the subway (the crosswalk being poorly located).

3. The request was to add additional speed signage so as to provide more guidance to drivers as to the speed limit. Is it correct to assume that Transportation Services really are unwilling even to agree to this one particular minimal neighbourhood request?

4. 20kms signs. I'm sorry Pierre, but the reality is that Transportation Services might as well take them down and put "GO FOR IT" up on the pole. This would make as much sense as continuing to post "Pedestrians Wait For Gap" signs as both are totally ineffectual (I know they have to put up such speed signs).

5. Are drivers really going to slow down from 50km-60km and go 20km-30kms. The resident of 130 Oriole wouldn't get any sleep with all the honking. This is a speed sign that is blatantly ignored to the detriment of pedestrians! This goes back to point 1 & 2. Pedestrians need protection from cars travelling in excesses of the speed limit.

6. I have no doubt that the 2okm and 30km speed limit signs are within specifications. I now even understand the reason for their location. Again I refer back to the above points.

7. Is a highway (11A) really a good idea through a residential neighbourhood? Traffic has increased such that we content this needs to be questioned. Few things are carved in stone, why should this decision be so? Is Dan inferring here that we need to take the issue to the province as well?

8. Is the goal to keep cars on Highway 11A safe from pedestrians? One wonders (I'll have to read the City's own Pedestrian Charter again)?

We haven't seen Transportation Services report so I don't wish to pre-judge their final conclusions, but, I look forward to raising these and other issues with Mr. Walker, Transportation Services and yourself when I present the final petition results.

Thank you again for keeping me in the loop. Until our meeting I will in the interim continue to work on advancing the issue of pedestrian safety on Oxton at behest of my petition signitors.

Regards, mark

(Pierre D'Aoust is the Consituency Assistant to Councilman Michael Walker)

D'Aoust To Rees (Speed Signs)

Email From Dan Clement, Forwarded By Pierre D'Aoust To Mark Rees

From: Pierre D'Aoust
To: Mark Rees

Subject: Posting of Additional Speed Limit Signs On Oxton Avenue

Dan Clement 7/18/2005 12:24:09 PM

Pierre,

In response to Mr. Rees comments regarding the speed limit signage on Oxton Avenue, I note the following.

The speed limit on Oxton Avenue, between Avenue Road and Oriole Parkway, is 50 km/h. As per the Highway Traffic Act, this is the statutory speed limit for a roadway in an urban, built-up area in the province of Ontario. As such, it does not require the installation of speed limit signage.

Based on our studies, we determined that 20 km/h was a safe speed for motorists to undertake the horizontal curves on Oxton Avenue at Avenue Road (westbound) and at Oriole Parkway (eastbound). These speed signs are advisory (yellow/black) tab signs that accompany the curve warning signs. These signs are meant to provide additional guidance to motorists, and are not regulatory (white/black).

The advisory speed tab signs that are posted on Oxton Avenue are a standard size/shape/colour in accordance with the Ontario Traffic Manual. However, I note that our Signs and Pavement Markings section is in the process of investigating the feasibility of installing over-sized speed tab signs. We will include this item in our response to Councillor Walker.

Dan Clement
Transportation Technologist
City of Toronto
Toronto and East York District, West Area
Works and Emergency Services - Transportation Services

(Pierre D'Aoust is the Consituency Assistant to Councilman Michael Walker)

Rees To D'Aoust (Speed Signs)

From: Mark Rees
To: Pierre D'Aoust

Subject: Posting of Additional Speed Limit Signs On Oxton Avenue

Pierre,

Transportations Services inability to set a date is unfortunate (I had asked for a report delivery date - Mark), but hopefully not a sign of a lack of interest in this issue (which may have been a boit unfair - Mark). I would be appreciative if Mr. Walker could keep tabs on the reports progress to ensure a timely completion.

In the interim do you agree that a report should not needed to get addition speed limits posted on Oxton. I find it strange that between Chaplan and Oxton on Oriole Parkway there are two 40km speed limit signs posted (northbound) over this very short distance; yet only one small speed sign on Oxton three times maybe the distance between Chaplan and Oxton, and at the mid point. Small in size too! What can Mr. Walker do to advance this request over the next month?

The petition represents the views of property owners and renters and I think you will be surprised by the number of property owners (and voters) that signed the petition. Therefore, I am naturally eager to have the opportunity to present the views of these constituents to Mr. Walker, his team and Transportation Services at the earliest possible date.

Please let me know how we can in the interim at least get additional, prominent speed limit signs posted on as a first step towards making Oxton safer for local pedestrians.

Thank you, Mark

(Pierre D'Aoust is the Consituency Assistant to Councilman Michael Walker)

Rees to Walker, Benjamin, Daoust (SUV Accident)

From: Mark Rees
To:
Councillor, Michael Walker
Stephen Benjamin
P. Daoust

Subject: Oriole Parkway & Oxton Avenue Pedestrian Safety

Dear Gentlemen:

I would like to bring to your attention an accident that occurred yesterday at the intersection of Oriole Parkway and Oxton Avenue between an 18 wheeled truck and an SUV.

Of particular interest is where the SUV came to rest following the accident - on the sidewalk in the exact spot a pedestrian would have be standing had they been waiting for (as we know) the non existent "pedestrian gap" (see attached accident).

One could only image what would have happened had a pedestrian been standing at the corner.

In talking with both drivers it was the opinion of the truck driver that this accident would not have occurred had the SUV been brought to a halt by a stop sign and therefore would not have tried to turn inside the arc of the truck's turn.

The police report will of course confirm the official cause of the accident. Regardless though, I believe this accident is a direct result of :

1. An intersection which is very challenging for a great many drivers (i.e. proven by the many drivers who stop at the corner's invisible "stop" sign)

2. The "freeway" nature of this corner and corridor (i.e. a "got to keep going at all costs" driver attitude or else I'll "let go" on the horn!)

3. The absence of a stop sign, or even a yield sign, to contradict the "freeway" attitude on the part of many drivers (which I and others believe has made the corner even more lethal to pedestrians).

Can we blame the drivers entirely? Clearly, no.

The 20/30km speed limit signs are minuscule in size (both directions on Oxton), obscured by trees and at the mid point (not each end) of Oxton Avenue.

So how are drivers to know the Oxton speed limit as they enter the avenue (the island speed limit sign at the western approach to Oxton is poorly located)?

As a pedestrian and a driver on Oxton, each day I seem to find something new that suggests to me that the City needs to send someone down to Oxton road now to see for themselves what is most definitely wrong on Oxton Avenue (see attached speed limit sign images).

The signatures on the neighbourhood petition (copies to follow soon) attest to the fact that action clearly needs to be taken to address the concerns of pedestrians at this corner.

The lack of effective, visible residential neighbourhood traffic signs needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.

Although Michael Walker has requested several Oxton traffic studies (which we appreciate) we need to ensure that positive action is the outcome of these studies.

What is stopping us moving on the issues raised?

Please let me know.

Sincerely,

Mark Rees

(Michael Walker is our local Councilman)