RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the staff report entitled “14^th Avenue Sidewalk – 2004 Capital Budget Allocation” dated June 21, 2004, be received;

AND THAT a sidewalk on 14^th Avenue, between Boxwood Crescent (east intersection) and Legacy Drive not be constructed in 2004;

AND THAT the Engineering Department report back this Fall with a 10-year sidewalk implementation plan for the Town of Markham;

AND THAT the $140,000 allocation in the 2004 Capital Budget be assigned to the highest priority location as determined by the implementation plan for sidewalk construction to be considered in Fall 2004.

PURPOSE:

To report on the need for a sidewalk on 14^th Avenue, from Boxwood Crescent (east intersection) to 9^thLine to accommodate pedestrian traffic, in response to the Council initiated 2004 budget allocation for this project.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Council’s funding for the extension of a sidewalk on 14^th Avenue was on the basis of a signalized pedestrian crossing on 14^th Avenue west of Legacy Drive and a sidewalk on the south side of 14^th Avenue. Based on pedestrian counts and discussions with the Region of York a signalized pedestrian crossing will not be approved. In order to safely permit pedestrians to cross 14^th Avenue the sidewalk would have to be extended to 9^th Line at considerable cost to install retaining walls. Staff recommend the funds approved by Council be utilized for other sidewalk projects which have greater pedestrian volumes and staff pursue with the Region advancing improvements to 14^th Avenue west of 9^th Line to accommodate sidewalk and future road widening.

BACKGROUND:

14^th Avenue, between Boxwood Crescent (east intersection) and 9^th Line, is a two-lane Regional arterial road of rural characteristics (gravel shoulders, ditches, no sidewalk). Existing sidewalks and footpaths located in this area are shown in Attachment 1, and include a footpath on the north side of 14^th Avenue west of the Rouge River and a section of sidewalk on the south side of the existing bridge crossing of the Rouge River. The existing pedestrian system is discontinuous and requires improvement. This is intended to occur as 14^th Avenue is widened and urbanized by the Region of York.

The Region has not included this portion of 14^th Avenue in their 10-year Capital Roads Program and therefore there are no scheduled plans for any road or bridge improvements. Because of the pedestrian safety concerns on 14^th Avenue, Town Council has earmarked $140,000 in the 2004 Capital Budget for the installation of a sidewalk.

DISCUSSION:

2004 Capital Budget Discussion

In the course of the recent Budget discussions, members of Council raised safety concerns for pedestrians along 14^th Avenue at the Rouge River. Town Staff were asked to provide a verbal cost estimate to install a sidewalk along this section of 14^th Avenue and a $140,000 estimate was provided on the basis of a sidewalk on the south side of 14^th Avenue from Boxwood Cr. (East intersection) and Legacy Drive and a pedestrian signal at the intersection of Legacy Drive. This amount was allocated in the approved 2004 Capital Budget. Staff indicated that they would report back to Council with a review of options including an assessment of actual pedestrian counts along this section of roadway.

Pedestrian Count

In response to the concern about pedestrian safety, staff recorded the number of pedestrians walking along the north and south sides of the 14^th Avenue at the Rouge River between Boxwood Crescent (east intersection) and Legacy Drive. This study was conducted on May 11, 2004 during the peak morning, lunch and afternoon school times. The south side of 14th Avenue does not have any pedestrian facilities, with the exception of a short section across the bridge, while the north side has an existing footpath through the valley lands. Results of the pedestrian study showed that there were no children observed walking to school via 14^th Avenue or the adjacent footpath. In addition, only three adults were observed walking along the footpath on the north side of 14^th Avenue during the same time periods.

The lack of children walking along 14^th Avenue to and from school between the Legacy and Boxwood communities can be attributed to two key factors. First, the distance between the two communities is such that walking is not convenient. Second, the school bus service transports the children as per the school board bus policy.

Both Boxwood Public School and Sir Richard W. Scott Catholic Elementary School provide school bus service to the Legacy community, as they are outside the minimum walking distances to the Legacy community. A public school is proposed for the Legacy community and is tentatively scheduled to be open in 2006. This will likely accommodate most of the children from the Legacy community that are currently being bused to Boxwood Public School. Students attending Sir Richard W. Scott Catholic Elementary School will continue to be bused.

Design Challenges for a sidewalk

There are significant physical challenges to provide a sidewalk between Boxwood Crescent (east intersection) and Legacy Drive. The following two options outline several factors that would need to be addressed to build a sidewalk in this area:

Option 1 – Sidewalk on north side of 14^th Avenue

Constructing a sidewalk on the north side of 14^th Avenue involves linking the existing footpath west of the Rouge River to Legacy Drive. The river, valley and limited property on the north side results in a number of challenges as noted below which do not make it feasible to build a sidewalk on the north side at this time:

A separate pedestrian bridge to cross the Rouge River is needed.

Significant grading of the slopes of the Rouge River valley
Property acquisition on the golf course (Town owned) and Church lands

Option 2 – South side of 14^th Avenue

Constructing a sidewalk on the south side of 14^th Avenue is feasible to a point just east of the bridge. Beyond this location, the property to the south rises significantly and introduces the following issues:

A pedestrian crossing would be necessary on 14^th Avenue near Legacy Drive. However, the Region does not support a pedestrian crossing since minimum pedestrian volumes to meet the warrants are not satisfied. Furthermore, a pedestrian crossing at this location without a pedestrian crossing is not recommended given the sightlines, vehicular speeds and road curvature of 14^th Avenue.
Grading the slopes of the Rouge River valley
Property acquisition of adjacent properties
Tree removal/impact
In order to extend the sidewalk east of Legacy Drive it would entail a retaining wall at significant cost along the south limit of the right-of-way

10 Year Sidewalk Program

As part of the development charges study update to be presented to Council in July 2004, staff have prepared a detailed list of outstanding sidewalks on arterial roads and in new development. There is ± $15 million of sidewalk installation to be undertaken over the next 20 years.

Staff will submit a 10 year Capital Program to Transportation Committee this Fall so the projects can be prioritized. Staff recommends the $140,000 funds allocated by Council for 14^th Avenue sidewalk be allocated to the highest ranked projects for implementation this Fall.

CONCLUSION:

There are very low pedestrian demands that do not justify a need for a sidewalk between Boxwood Crescent (east intersection) and Legacy Drive at this time. There are substantial physical challenges to cross the valley and the Rouge River. Given these issues, it is recommended that the $140,000 funding allocated by Council for this project be added to the overall sidewalk programme and be used for other locations as recommended by staff in the Fall.

ATTACHMENTS:

Attachment 1 – Sidewalk Feasibility Location Map

Attachment 2 – 14^th Avenue Footpath – Looking West From Rouge River

Attachment 3 – 14^th Avenue Footpath at the Rouge River – Looking East

Attachment 4 – 14^th Avenue Bridge Over the Rouge River – Looking East

Attachment 5 – 14^th Avenue Bridge Over the Rouge River – Eastbound

Attachment 6 – 14^th Avenue Bridge Over the Rouge River – Westbound

Attachment 7 – 14^th Avenue East of the Rouge River – Looking East

Attachment 8 – South Side of 14^th Avenue East of the Rouge River – Looking East

Attachment 9 – 14^th Avenue at Legacy Drive – Looking East

Attachment 10 – 14^th Avenue at Legacy Drive – Looking West

Attachment 11 – South Side of 14^th Avenue Eastbound – Approaching 9^th Line

Attachment 12 – North Side of 14^th Avenue Eastbound – Approaching 9^th Line

Alan Brown, C.E.T.

Director of Engineering

Jim Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P.

Commissioner of Development Services

		Transportation Committee


	TO:	Mayor and Members of Council

	FROM:	Alan Brown, Director of Engineering

	PREPARED BY:	Arup Mukherjee, Manager of Transportation David Porretta, Engineering Technician

	DATE OF MEETING:	2004-Jun-21

	SUBJECT:	14^th Avenue Sidewalk- 2004 Capital Budget Allocation