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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWD-48-91 r TOWN OF NEWCASTLE REPORT File Res. # By-Law # MEETING: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE DATE: JUNE 3, 1991 REPORT #: WD-48-91 FILE #: D. 03 . 34. 01 SUBJECT: SAFETY CONCERNS FOR STUDENTS AT S. T. WORDEN PUBLIC SCHOOL, MASH ROAD, COURTICE RECOMMENDATIONS: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Report WD-48-91 be received; 2 . THAT a School Crossing Guard NOT BE PLACED at the Nash Road/Centerfield Drive intersection; 3. THAT the existing 50 km per hour speed zone on Nash Road between Townline Road North and George Reynolds Drive remain unchanged and not be decreased to 40 km per hour; and 4. THAT Mr. R T. Malowney, Director of Education and Secretary, Northumberland and Newcastle Board of Education, be advised of Council's decision. ------------------------------------------------------------------ REPORT 1.0 ATTACHMENTS No. l: Key Map . . .2 REPORT NO. : WD-48-91 PAGE 2 No.2 : Correspondence dated September 28, 1990 from Franklin Wu, Director of Planning and Development No. 3: Correspondence dated December 7, 1990, from the Northumberland and Newastle Board of Education No.4: Correspondence dated February 14, 1991 from the Durham Regional Police No.5: Report PD-47-91 dated February 18, 1991, School Crossing Guard Policies No. 6 : Signing Required for a 40 km/h Speed Zone 2.0 BACKGROUND 2 . 1 At a regular Council meeting held January 14, 1991, Council passed Resolution #C-14-91: "THAT the correspondence dated December 7, 1991, from R. T. Malowney, Director of Education and Secretary, the Northumberland and Newcastle Board of Education, requesting that the Town of Newcastle review a number of matters affecting the safety of students at S. T. Worden Public School be received; THAT the correspondence be circulated to the Durham Regional Police for comment and referred to the Director of Public Works and the Director of Planning and Development for the preparation of a joint report, including the comments from the Police Department, to be forwarded to the General Purpose and Administration Committee; and I THAT R. T. Malowney be advised of Council's decision. " i 3.0 REVIEW AND COMMENT 3 . 1 Durham Regional Police were forwarded a copy of Mr. Malowney's letter of December 7, 1990, and provided their comments in a letter dated February 14, 1991 (Attachment No-4) and are summarized as follows: REPORT NO. : WD-48-91 PAGE 3 Speeding Concerns "Results do not in our opinion reflect a major problem and certainly no more of a problem than is experienced with any other school location in the area. " Requested Speed Reduction "I see no necessity in a decrease of the posted speed limit. " All Way Stop Traffic Controls "The Stop signs appear to generally reflect an indication they are achieving their function. " Crossing Guard "Responsibility rests with the Town of Newcastle. " 3 .2 Policies Related to School Crossing Guard Need On February 25, 1991, Council approved Report PD-47-91, being a policy to provide school crossing guards upon request where the results of the Crossing Guard Need Study indicates a minimum of 50% rather than the standard 70% of the study time where school children crossing is deemed to be unsafe at any crossing location. Any crossing guard request is to be referred to the Director of Planning and Development to determine its need based on findings j from a School Crossing Guard Study (Attachment No.5) . I 3 . 3 A School Crossing Guard Need Study was completed at the Nash Road/Centerfield Drive intersection on September 26, 1990, with a result of only 35 .9% . A letter dated September 28, 1990 (Attachment No. 2) , was sent to the Principal of the S. T. Worden Public School informing her that a study had been completed and that a guard was not warranted at this time, but would be studied again in six months. 3 .4 A second Crossing Guard Study was conducted on March 26, 1991, with a result that 26% of the study time where school children crossing at the location is deemed to be unsafe. i . . .4 i REPORT NO. : WD-48-91 PAGE 4 3 .5 40 km per Hour Speed Zone (Twenty four hours per day) Council has authority under the Highway Traffic Act, Chapter 198, Section 109 (2) (a) , to prescribe a rate of speed for motor vehicles on a Highway 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 or 100 km per hour. A by-law approved under this section would be in effect twenty four hours a day including Sundays and summer months when schools are closed. 3. 6 40 km per Hour School Zone Speed Limit 18. 00 a.m.- 5:00 p m . Weekdays) Council has authority under the Highway Traffic Act, Chapter 198, Section 109 (4) (b) , to prescribe a speed of 40 km per hour in School Zones Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. A School Speed Zone is limited to a distance of 150 metres (492 feet) in either direction beyond the limits of the land used for the purpose of the school. The 40 km/hr zone would extend from #1435 to #1493 Nash Road. There are two side streets which enter the School Speed Zone, therefore, additional signs would be required. 3. 7 To be enforceable a School Speed Zone must be specially signed to warn motorists that a reduced speed zone is in effect. The Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices illustrates types of School Speed Zone signing in Attachment No.6 . The sign shall be either: A) Electrically illuminated from within the sign and legible to approaching traffic only when it is illuminated, or B) As shown, with "When Flashing" tab and the alternately flashing amber beacons. The initial installation cost of these electrically illuminated warning signs is approximately $4,200 per location. The Town of Newcastle presently has 20 schools within its boundaries . If one location receives a lower speed zone other requests will follow. No funds have been provided in the 1991 Budget for this type of expenditure. I . . .5 i REPORT NO. : WD-48-91 PAGE 5 3 . 8 The Ontario Traffic Conference has created a committee to review school crossing uniformity across the Province. The study will investigate types of signs, pavement markings, locations, procedures to determine needs and 40 km/hr school speed zones . The findings will be published later this year. 3 . 9 Nash Road between George Reynolds Drive and Townline Road North has been designed and built as an urban collector road. Nash Road is 10. 7 metres (35 feet) wide with curb and gutter, safe grades and sidewalks on both sides . On Nash Road, traffic is controlled by posted speed limit signs of 50 km per hour with All Way Stop conditions at the main intersections on either side of the school with an adult crossing guard in front of the school. This is a properly designed section of roadway which is functioning properly and requires no speed reduction or other changes . 4.0 CONCLUSIONS 4 . 1 From the above, it is concluded that the request for a crossing guard at the Nash Road/Centerfield Drive intersection has been studied on two occasions by a method approved by Council and that the Crossing Guard Need Study Analysis indicates that a crossing guard is not warranted. 4 .2 Durham Regional Police do not feel a major speeding problem exists in this area or see the necessity to decrease the speed limit from 50 km per hour to 40 km per hour. The existing speed limit of 50 km per hour is considered safe for this location. 4 . 3 The section of Nash Road from George Reynolds Drive to Townline Road North is properly designed to safely accommodate traffic and pedestrians . No changes are required to the existing traffic i control devices (All Way stops) at the Nash Road/Centerfield Drive or Nash Road/Varcoe Road intersections . . . .6 REPORT NO. : WD-48-91 PAGE 6 Respectfully submitted, Recommended for presentation to the Committee, j---- ----------------- Walter A. Evans, P.Eng. , Lawrence E. Kotseff, Director of Public Works Chief Admi istrative Officer ------------------------ Franklin Wu, M.C. I .P. Director of Planning and Development RB*WAE*FW*llv May 27, 1991 Attachments pc: R. T. Malowney Director of Education and Secretary The Northumberland and Newcastle Board of Education 834 D'Arcy Street North P. 0. Box 470 Cobourg, Ontario K9A 4L2 I I REG. RD TOWNLINE ROAD WEST TOWNUNE ROAp 3. " � Ep(�NINuGSNWE%O OVD N T.fE W� EE A IRU T-�'RQ A hM •� s g AROOE ®RO6 A D I rn m [:::--7 ROAD cnr p NEN'N K "in y C6T / T v 'w O r cl)- c� G) ;a cn v c V' o r r D O 3„ 0 co W -” OK =Y _ c z Z CHERRY o— o rn cn o F OW N x Nt 15 ® cn D Z S 0 m r— BLOSSOM DR.'C Z Q �ORC n �''/ '.° Z m CENTERFIELD DRIVE O [T:OOLEY:1>CC- �m 'QEST ROAD '4 � � D m O L ------- LT CARRIAGE LANE E GEORGE REYNOLDS DRIVE THE TOV44 Of ONTARIC ( I September 28,.1990. Ms.. Sherry Summersides Principal S.T. Worden Public School, 1462 Nash Road, Bowmanville, Ontario. • UE 1S7 Dear Ms. Sommersides: . Re: Request for School Grossing Guard Nash and Centrefield, Courtice Your request for school crossing guard at the corner of Nash and Centrefield Roads in Courtice was - ! considered by Council and the matter was, subsequently, referred to the undersigned to take appropriate action. I wish to advise that a Crossing Guard Need Study was subsequently carried out at the said intersection. Based on our findings and analysis in accordance to the methodology set out by the Institute of Transportation Engineer, it is our conclusion that a crossing guard is not warranted at this intersection. However, we will review the situation in another six months to determine whether or not there are any significant changes in pedestrian and vehicular movement. If you have any questions in this regard, please do not hesitate to call ether Mr. larry Taylor or myself. Yours very truly, 'Franklin Wu, M.C.LP. Director, Plate and Development. -FW*df cc: Mayor Hubbard I Coun. D. Hamre Coun. L. Hannah Coun. A- Wotten ATTACHMENT No,l Mrs. Livingstone WD-48-91 Brace, Bd. of Education i CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF NEWCASTLE 40 TEMPERANCE STREET • BOWMANVILLE - ONTARIO - L'.C3A6 - (416;f23-3379 - FAX 623.4169 ,*cram?.PEA �IJw' COUNCIL DIRECTION � D-10 The Northumberland and Newcastle Board of Education FROM THE OFFICE OF 834 O'ARCY STREET NORTH THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION C O B O U R G O N T A R 1 0 P.O.BOX 470 K9A 4L2 416-372-6871 7 December 1990 Marie Hubbard R�ouwd a Tow Mayor DEC Town of Newcastle i i 1990 40 Temperance Street TOWN OF NEWCASTLE Bowmanville, Ontario MAYOR'S OFFICE L1C 3A6 3 Dear Marie Hubbard The Northumberland and Newcastle Board of Education at its Regular Meeting of 22 November 1990 passed a motion directing me to contact you asking the Town of Newcastle to review a number of matters affecting .the safety of students at S.T. Worden Public School. All students located on and near Nash Road, walk to S.T. Worden Public School. A parent delegation recently approached the Board and brought several safety considerations to the Board' s attention. The speed limit on Nash Road in this area is currently 50 kph. We are concerned with the speed of the traffic and the Board requests that the speed limit be decreased to 40 kph, between George Reynolds Drive and the Townline. Further, we are concerned with the effectiveness of the four- way stops at the following two intersections; Nash Road and Centrefield Drive, and Nash and Varcoe Roads . It has been noted that vehicles are prone to roll through these stops. Our students are expecting the cars to stop and when they do not, it causes an extreme safety hazard. Therefore, the Board requests that the Town of Newcastle review the method of traffic control at these two intersections. i We are also concerned about the Town ' s decision not to place a crossing guard at the Nash Road and Centrefield Drive intersection. The safety of our students is paramount and the placement of a crossing guard at this location would enhance the safety of the young students who cross here. The Board requests that the Town reconsider their decision regarding the placement of a crossing guard at this intersection. ATTACHMENT CVO, . tr�pb�t2II.lb WD-43-91 Page 2 Please carefully consider these three requests. If you have any comments or require clarification, please contact_ Paul Brace, Manager of Transportation and Planning for the Board. Sincerely �4J'7 R.T. Malowney Director of Education and Secretary p.c. Paul Brace, Manager of Transportation and Planning R.C. Sudds, Superintendent of Business and Treasurer I I tr\pb\t28.1b T D.J.EDWARDS �\ CHIEF OF POLICE _ 77 CENTRE ST.NORTH OSHAWA,ONTARIO T. McCAGHERTY •� `.� 18 12 10 PM '91 UG 4B7 DEPUTY CHIEF i Oshawa(416)579-1520 OPERATIONS BRANCH Toronto (416)683-9100 C.D.BULLOCH Fax (416)433-5053 DEPUTY CHIEF Durham Regional Police Service ADMINISTRATION BRANCH Your File:- Our File:- February 14, 1991 Patti L. Barrie, A M C.T Town Clerk Town of Newcastle �� ..nd� 'V Temperance Street ." "• f" R''� r.: ! Bowmanville' i o Ontar L 1 C 3A6 ,,�..s F3 `i s�r �U S k Dear Ms Barrie; Re : Safety of Students at S .T. Worden Public School Our Department has received your correspondence regarding the Northumberland and Newcastle Board of Education ' s request to decrease the speed limit on Nash Road between the Townline and George Reynolds Dr . Your concerns were directly related to the "Stop sign" violations and the "Speeding" in this area . The concern for a crossing guard and that decision to place one there, rests with the Town of Newcastle . In responding to these aspects of police enforcement, we have had officers from the Bowmanville Division conduct enforcement in the specific area of concern for 3 days. Their results were as follows : Total of 3 Stop Sign violations at either Nash & Varcoe Rd. or Nash & Centrefield. Total of 4 cautions of speeding (in other words, not in excess of 10 kms over the limit--between Townline and George Reynolds) Total of 0 speeding_ charaes between Townline and Centrefield. Total of 7 speeding charges between Centre- field and George Reynolds Dr. as a result of radar enforcement. 2 ATTACHMUIT NO,4 . . . . . . . . . WD-43=91 DRP 326 REV 01/91 ADDRESS ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO THE CHIEF OF POLICE - - 2 For a 3 day period these results do not in our opinion reflect a major problem and certainly no more of a problem then is experienced with any other school location in the area. A further check of our speeding and traffic complaints book at the Division indicates that since April of 1988 to date (almost a 3 year period) we have 5 complaints of either stop sign violations or speeding violations for this area, 3 of which were from either the crossing guards or the Board of Education. In checking our computer regarding reported accidents for all times of the day and night, all seasons, we found the inter- section of Nash and Varcoe Rd. had 4 accidents since November 1989, and Nash and Centrefield had 2 accidents since Auqust 1988 . Again this would not reflect excessive problems. Although I believe the safety of our children is of the utmost importance to all of us, I see no necessity in a decrease of the posted speed limit. The stop signs appear to generally reflect an indication they are achieving their function. I appreciate ANY stop sign does not have a 100% success rate and drivers on occasion will roll throuqh these signs . It would certainly be ideal if citizens would obey all stop signs and speed limits, but that ' s not the case . I hope the information supplied has been of assistance to you and if you have any further requests please don 't hesitate to contact us. Sincerely, r Sgt. C. Leaitch 16 Division CL: sk ,_ C .C . Supt. Westbrook � �; THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF NEWCASTLE DN:CROSS-GU.GPA REPORT Meeting: General Purpose and Administration Committee File # Date: February 18, 1991 Res. # Report #: nn-47-91 Fite #: E�8 �� . 15 By-Law# Subject: POLICIES RELATED TO SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD NEED Recommendations: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1 . THAT Report PD-47-91 be received; r- 2 . THAT Council approve the policies for determining the need for School Crossing Guard as contained in Report PD-47-91. 3 . THAT Report PD-47-91 be forwarded to the Northumberland and Newcastle Public School Board and the Peterborough, Victoria, Northumberland and Newcastle Separate School Board for their information. y 1. BACKGROUND 1 . 1 The Town of Newcastle has been responsible for the provision y of School Crossing Guards including personnel recruitment, providing remuneration and equipment. The cost of this service comes from general tax revenue and the 1990 total operating budget for operating the crossing guard program is $95, 000 . 1 . 2 The Town currently has a total of 17 crossing guards on payroll and their patrol locations are distributed as follows : no Bowmanville 9 Courtice 3 Newcastle Vlg. 2 ATTACHMENT NO,5 WD-48-91 rE �aE...LE n+s s rm.++roa+eccvctro r.rcn REPORT NO. : PD-47-91 PAGE 2 Newtonville 1 Rovers 2 1 . 3 From time to time, Council and staff receive requests from the School Board or from local residents for crossing guard services . In the past, these requests were sometimes addressed by Council and sometimes addressed by staff. 1. 4 Issues related to request for school crossing guards is often sensitive and rightfully so as it pertains to the safety of the school children. It should be noted that every time a crossing guard is introduced, it places financial burden on the tax base for such service. Given the hundreds of intersections in the municipality that involve some degrees of school children crossing activities it is- prudent that crossing guard service be provided where there is a need of it. As a result, policies must be developed to ensure the Town is consistent in its approach and more importantly, the tax dollar is spent in a responsible manner. 2. DETERMINATION OF THE NEED OF CROSSING GUARD 2 . 1 The Transportation Engineers Association has developed a methodology to determine the need for crossing guard service by carrying out a crossing guard need study. This need study approach is used in many municipalities including the City of Oshawa. Staff have now acquired the training and are capable to carry out this type of study. 2 . 2 Briefly, the Crossing Guard Need Study requires field survey to collect key data. These include, at any particular crossing and at a specific time span (eg. 8: 15 a.m. - 9 :00 a.m. ) information on the number of school children crossing the roadway, the size of the grouping of children, the width () 7 REPORT NO. : PD-47-91 PAGE 3 of the roadway, volume of vehicles, as well as various time gaps between vehicles passing through. This data is fed into prescribed formula to arrive at the percentage of time y within the study period where crossing by school children is deemed to be undesirable. 2 . 3 The Crossing Guard Need Study recommends that a crossing guard be placed where the percentage to time for unsafe crossing reaches approximately 70% . It is noted that the 70% is a suggested guideline and the municipality can set its own standard. 3 . RECOMMENDED POLICIES 3 . 1 That it is the policy of the Town to provide school crossing guard upon request where the result of the crossing guard need study indicates a minimum 50% of the study time where school children crossing is deemed to be unsafe at any crossing location. 3 . 2 That any crossing guard request be .referred to the Director of Planning and Development to determine its need based on findings from a school crossing guard need study. .J 4 . CONCLUSION It is the role of the staff to administer the school crossing guard program and in so doing, the staff must be guided by Council 's direction or policies and it is prudent that Council approve the policies contained herein. Respectfully submitted, Recommended for presentation to the Committee Franklin Wu, M.C. I .P. La r nce Kotseff Director of Planning Chief A �nis trat ive ! and Development Office ! FW*df *Attach 7 February 1991 JI _ i� Part A Division 2 - Regulatory Section A 2.27 SCHOOL ZONE SPEED LIMIT Sign (Rb-6, Rb-6A) The School Zone Speed Limit sign shall be used to The sign shall be either, a) electrically illuminated from prescribe lower rates of speed for any portion of a high- within the sign and legible to approaching traffic only way that adjoins the entrance to or the exit from a school when it is illuminated or b) as shown, with "When Flash- and is within a distance of 150 m along the highway in Ing"tab and alternately flashing amber beacons. either direction beyond the limits of the land used for purposes of the school. It shall be erected at the commencement of the portion of the highway so designated, on the right side of the high- The sign shall be used only by municipalities and re- way facing approaching traffic, not more than 4.5 m from quires approval of a bylaw designating a portion of a the roadway with the bottom edge of the sign not less highway under its jurisdiction as a school speed zone, than 1.5 m nor more than 2.5 m above the level of the and prescribing the time or times between the hours of roadway. 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. during which the prescribed rate of speed of 40 km/h is effective. For authority and further Information, refer to Section 109(4) and Regulation 486, Section 5 of the Highway Traffic Act. RhC3% UO Rb-6A(60 x 140)cm Rb-6 (60 x 90)cm 30 W . 30fir a r'z by , 30 8 3 PEED a..y A 3 MAX.. MAX. 8 .��ji 20 cm Amber SPEED 3 12.5 Lense 4' _ 12.5 3.5 x.��,:. . a 4W 20 Rb-7(20 x 60)cm Optional 5 8 WHEN a Blank No. Special 8 FLASHING Support-Wood (10 x 10)cm 5 Blank No. Special ATTACHMENT No , 6 Support Special q WD_48� 91 I Il.........1.... 4 nnc