Report to: Development Services Committee                                 Report Date:  April 22, 2008

 

 

SUBJECT:                          Proposed Adult School Crossing Guard Service at Bur Oak Avenue and Country Glen Road, and Village Gate Drive and Calvert Road

 

PREPARED BY:               Sabbir Saiyed, Manager of Transportation, ext. 8120

                                            David Porretta, Engineering Technician, ext. 2040

                                           

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

That the staff report entitled “Proposed Adult School Crossing Guard at Bur Oak Avenue and Country Glen Road, and Village Gate Drive and Calvert Road” dated March 18, 2008, be received;

 

And that the Engineering Department be authorized to establish an adult school crossing guard service at the intersections of (1) Bur Oak Avenue and Country Glen Road, and (2) Village Gate Drive and Calvert Road, at a cost of $4,628.40 per year, per location, exclusive of GST;

 

And that the adult school crossing guard services be funded through the 2008 budget, account 640-998-5642;

 

And that the Operations Department be directed to install the school crossing signs and crosswalk pavement markings to a maximum of $1,000 per location;

 

And that staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

 

1. Purpose                     2. Background                      3. Discussion                        4. Financial        

 

5. Others (Environmental, Accessibility, Engage 21st, Affected Units)             6. Attachment(s)

PURPOSE:

This report recommends that adult school crossing guard services be provided at the intersections of (1) Bur Oak Avenue and Country Glen Road, and (2) Village Gate Drive and Calvert Road.

 

BACKGROUND:

The Engineering Department has received requests for school crossing guard service from parents of Little Rouge Public School and St. Monica Catholic Elementary School.  Similar requests have also been received by the administrative staff at the respective schools.

 

To determine the need for an adult school crossing guard service at a given location, the Engineering Department conducts a gap study as per the School Crossing Warrant criteria in accordance with the Ministry of Transportation and the Ontario Traffic Conference (OTC) guidelines.

 

 

 

Warrant for School Crossing Service

The Ministry of Transportation and OTC guidelines consider the following criteria when considering the justification for Adult School Crossing Service:

 

(1) Number of Students Observed Crossing

Children must be observed crossing at, or near the subject location.  OTC recommends 5 to

10 students is typical during each of the AM or PM peak crossing periods for crossing guard service to be considered.

 

(2) Number of Safe Gaps in Traffic

A safe gap is a break in the flow of traffic that permits sufficient time for a child to safely cross a road.  These safe gaps are measured during 5-minute intervals, typically over a 30-minute period during each of the AM and PM peak periods where students are found to be crossing.  When there are an insufficient number of safe gaps during 50% of the 5-minute timed intervals, a crossing guard may be considered.

 

(3) Student/Vehicle Conflict Observations

If the observed or potential conflict is high due to poor visibility, poor road geometric design or the lack of a logical crossing point, a crossing guard may be considered.

 

DISCUSSION:

At the request of school administrative staff and parents, the Engineering Department conducted Adult School Crossing Warrants at the intersections of (1) Bur Oak Avenue & Country Glen Road, and (2) Village Gate Drive & Calvert Road.  The following is a summary of results for each location:

 

Bur Oak Avenue & Country Glen Road – Warrant Results

Between Ninth Line and 16th Avenue, Bur Oak Avenue is a four-lane major collector residential street that has a posted speed limit of 40 km/h and a traffic volume of approximately 1500 vehicles per day.  However, this is expected to increase as development of the surrounding lands continues.  Country Glen Road is a two-lane minor collector residential street with a posted speed limit of 40 km/h.  Due to construction activity to the north and south of the subject intersection, traffic volumes for this street are not yet available.  Little Rouge Public School is located on the southeast corner of the subject intersection (see Attachment A).

 

The results of the school crossing guard study during the AM and PM peak period showed 12 and 14 children crossing Bur Oak Avenue, respectively.  An insufficient number of safe gaps in traffic to allow children to cross were also recorded during the same periods.  It is expected that the number of children crossing Bur Oak Avenue will increase during the next two years, as residential development in the surrounding area continues.  There is a potential for conflict at this intersection, due to the 4-lane cross section of Bur Oak Avenue, the frequency of left-turn movements at the intersection and the increasing traffic volumes occurring on Bur Oak Avenue.

 

 

Village Gate Drive & Calvert Road – Warrant Results

Village Gate Drive is a two-lane minor collector residential street that has a posted speed limit of 40 km/h and traffic volume of approximately 2500 vehicles per day. Calvert Road is a two-lane minor collector residential street with a posted speed limit of 40 km/h and a traffic volume of approximately 1900 vehicles per day.  This intersection is all-way stop controlled.  St. Monica Catholic Elementary School is located on Calvert Road, approximately 160 metres west of the subject intersection (see Attachment B).

 

The results of the school crossing guard study showed 9 children crossing Calvert Road during the AM peak period and 29 children crossing Village Gate Drive during the PM peak period.  An insufficient number of safe gaps in traffic to allow children to cross were also recorded at the same location and time periods.  There is a potential for conflict at this intersection, due to the 26-metre crossings and the frequency of left-turn movements.

 

Based upon the results of the warrant, Adult School Crossing Guard Service is warranted at both intersections.

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

The cost of an adult school crossing guard for each location is $4,628.40 per annum (calculated at $12.18 per 30 minute shift, exclusive of GST, x 2 shifts x 190 days). This equates to $9256.80 for both locations.

 

The 2008 budget, account 640-998-5642, allows a growth of five additional crossing guards between January 2008 and December 2008.  Given that no crossing guards have been implemented during this budget year thus far, providing service at the proposed locations can be accommodated within the 2008 budget.

 

The cost of labour and materials to install the necessary signage and pavement markings will be funded through the 2008 Engineering budget, Capital Project #8402 subject to Council approval.

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

Subject to Council’s approval, of the 2008 Engineering Capital budget, the Operations Department will install the necessary signage and pavement markings for the proposed adult school crossing guard service at the intersections of Bur Oak Avenue & Country Glen Road and Village Gate Drive & Calvert Road.

 

RECOMMENDED BY:  

 

 

 

________________________                                                ________________________

Alan Brown, C.E.T.                                                                  Jim Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P.

Director of Engineering                                                 Commissioner, Development Services

 

ATTACHMENTS:

Attachment A – Bur Oak Avenue & Country Glen Road Proposed Crossing Guard Map

Attachment B – Village Gate Drive & Calvert Road Proposed Crossing Guard Map