Report to: Development Services Committee                                  Report Date: June 17, 2008

 

 

SUBJECT:                          Highway 48 Speed Limit Reduction between Major Mackenzie Drive and Edward Jeffreys Avenue

PREPARED BY:               Parveen Kalia, Engineering Technologist, Ext. 6200

                                            Domenic Smarrelli, Supervisor Traffic Operations, Ext. 4055

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the report entitled “Highway 48 Speed Limit Reduction between Major Mackenzie Drive and Edward Jeffreys Avenue” dated June 17, 2008, be received;

 

AND THAT Schedule F (50 km/h) of Speed Limit By-law 105-71 be amended to include Highway 48 between Major Mackenzie Drive and 16th Avenue and that the attached By-law be approved;

 

AND THAT the Operations Department be directed to remove the existing 80 km/h speed limit signs upon approval of the attached by-law;

 

AND THAT the Operations Department be directed to install the appropriate signs, funded through the 2008 Engineering budget, account #8402;

 

AND THAT the York Regional Police Department be requested to enforce the reduced speed limit upon installation of the signs;

 

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 (HR, Strategic, Affected Units)                                   6. Attachment(s)

 

PURPOSE:

This report recommends a speed limit reduction from 80 km/h to 50 km/h on Highway 48, between Major Mackenzie Drive and Edward Jefferys Avenue.

 

BACKGROUND:

Road Characteristics

Highway 48, between Major Mackenzie Drive and 16th Avenue, was originally under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transportation. The jurisdiction of this roadway has now been transferred to the Town of Markham. The Ministry of Transportation still has jurisdiction over Highway 48, north of Major Mackenzie Drive.

 

Highway 48, between Edward Jefferys Avenue and Major Mackenzie Drive, is an 8.0 meter road with a rural cross section, i.e. gravel shoulders and ditches. The operating speed and vehicular volume on this section of road is approximately 80 km/h and 15,000 vehicles per day, respectively. 

 

The existing posted speed limit on Highway 48, between Major Mackenzie Drive and Edward Jefferys Avenue is 80 km/h. The posted speed limit changes from 80 km/h to 50 km/h between Edward Jefferys Avenue and 16th Avenue. See Attachment ‘A’ for details.

 

Because the Operations Department is now required to maintain Highway 48, south of Major Mackenzie Drive, there are road crew safety concerns in relation to the existing posted speed limit of 80 km/h. Consequently, the Operations Department has requested a posted speed limit reduction.

 

DISCUSSION:

In response to the Operations Department request for a speed limit reduction on Highway 48, south Major Mackenzie Drive, the Engineering Department undertook a site assessment to identify the appropriate posted speed limit on the subject street. There are various considerations when addressing the appropriate posted speed limit as mentioned below.

 

General Public Safety

Public safety is of paramount interest when identifying the appropriate speed limit. As mention below, Highway 48 is transitioning from a rural to an urban roadway.  Currently, there are no sidewalks, which require pedestrians to walk on the shoulder. Sidewalks will be installed when the road is urbanized in 2010/2011. Adherence to the posted speed reduction will provide greater safety for pedestrians.

 

Land Redevelopment along Highway 48

As the lands along Highway 48, south of Major Mackenzie, is currently and will continue to be redeveloped, the subject street is transitioning from a rural to an urbanized roadway. This means that there are more access and egress points that connect directly to Highway 48. There are also more traffic control signals on Highway 48, i.e. one located at Bur Oak Avenue and the other at Castlemore Avenue. Hence, there will be a growing number of conflict points along this section of Highway 48 as the adjacent lands continue to be redeveloped. Consequently, the posted speed limit of 80 km/h does not reflect these arising conditions.

 

Road Network Improvements

With the opening of Donald Cousens Parkway, the existing high speed and high volume traffic traveling through Markham, via Highway 48, will now likely use Donald Cousens Parkway as an alternative. Hence, the classification of Highway 48 should be downgraded and consequently the existing posted speed limit should be reduced.

 

Operations Department - Road Maintenance

Now that the Town has jurisdiction over Highway 48, south of Major Mackenzie Drive, the Operations Department is required to maintain the subject road. Given that the existing posted speed limit on this section of road is 80 km/h, additional safety precautions would be required to protect the road maintenance crews while on site.

 Additional safety precautions include a crash truck that would be situated a given distance between traffic and the road maintenance crew. To-date however, the Operations Department has not required a crash truck for road maintenance purposes as posted speed limits on other Town roads are less than 80 km/h. For these reasons, it is appropriate to reduce the speed limit.

 

Given the above factors on Highway 48 south of Major Mackenzie Drive, it is recommended to reduce the speed limit from 80 km/h to 50 km/h. The recommend posted speed limit will provide greater public safety, reflect the changing conditions on Highway 48 and also meet the requirements of the Operations Department. In addition, the recommended posted speed limit will be consistent with the existing speed limit south of Edward Jeffreys Avenue. See Attachment ‘B’ for details.

 

York Regional Police will be requested to enforce the reduced posted speed limit upon the installation of the signs.

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

The cost of materials to install the signs is included for in the 2008 Engineering budget, account #8402. On-going maintenance costs for this installation will be included in future Operations Department budgets.

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

The Operations Department has reviewed this report and their comments have been incorporated.

 

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’ – Existing Speed Limit Zones

Attachment ‘B’ – Proposed Speed Limit Zones

Attachment ‘C’ – Proposed By-law

 

 

 

Q:\Development\Engineering\REPORTS\2008\June\Highway 48 Speed Limit Reduction\Highway 48 Speed Limit Reduction Draft 5.doc