Item - 2020.SC12.24

Scarborough Community Council directed:

1. Transportation Services to undertake a traffic study on Port Union Road, between Island Road and Lawrence Avenue East, to determine if any advance green lights or arrows are warranted for improved safety and report back to Scarborough Community Council in Q4 2020.

Port Union Road is classified as a minor arterial road with a speed limit of 60km/hr. The road is a key commuter route to the Rouge Hill GO Station for both local residents and individuals living in Pickering and northeast Scarborough.

In 2021/2022, the City of Toronto will be widening Port Union Road from Lawrence Avenue East to Island Road. Work will include the addition of a second northbound lane, complete sidewalks on both sides, bicycle lands, landscaped median between Lawrence Avenue East and Clappison Boulevard and centre-turn lanes in some locations. When completed, this important project will address traffic congestion and improve conditions for all road users.

Currently, City Transportation staff are advancing detailed design for this project. This includes finalizing utility relocation design, and modifying the roadway in certain sections to address concerns raised by residents and to minimize impacts to private property. This work will be completed in 2020.

In December 2019, a local resident and the West Rouge Community Association, which represents approximately 3,400 households, contacted my office to express concerns about traffic flow at Port Union and Island Road and Port Union at Fanfare Avenue/Lawson Road.

At Island Road, there is an advanced green signal for cars driving south on Port Union to make a left hand turn. Often cars heading west on Island will turn right onto Port Union during that advanced green light. However, there is not an advanced green signal for those people turning right, and local residents report it is hard to see when the advanced green is ending.

At Fanfare Avenue/Lawson Road, there are currently no advanced green lights or arrows. This controlled intersection has two commercial plazas and is used by TTC route 38. When the northbound bus turns from Port Union onto Lawson Road, local residents report difficult site lines for southbound drivers turning eastbound onto Fanfare Avenue. 

I hereby request Transportation Staff to study if advance green lights or arrows at these two locations are warranted for improved safety.