Item - 2021.TE22.27

The Toronto and East York Community Council directed:

1. Transportation staff to investigate having a westbound left-turn advance feature installed at the intersection of Lansdowne Avenue and Wallace Avenue to control and regulate traffic.

2. Transportation staff to investigate a westbound through traffic restriction at Wallace Avenue and Lansdowne Avenue during the peak rush hour period between 3:30-6:30 p.m.

Over the past number of years, my office has been working with the Junction Triangle and the Wallace Emerson Traffic Management Committees (JJTMC and WETMC) along with Toronto Transportation Services staff to introduce traffic improvements to ameliorate safety in the community. Residents have reported a rise in non-local traffic traveling westbound along Wallace Avenue, which is being used as a shortcut from Dufferin Street. This is problematic because Wallace Avenue is classified as a collector road, which is designed to carry lower volumes of traffic at lower speeds compared to major arterial roads that carry higher volumes of traffic at higher speeds. The increase in traffic and speeding heightens risk and has an adverse impact on public safety, especially students attending nearby schools.

As a result, I reached out to Traffic Operations staff requesting guidance on these issues and to make recommendations to address them. After consulting with area residents, I am recommending that staff investigate having a westbound left-turn advance feature installed at the intersection of Lansdowne Avenue and Wallace Avenue to control and regulate traffic. I am also asking that staff investigate a rush hour through traffic restriction at Wallace Avenue and Lansdowne Avenue to manage traffic travelling westbound on Wallace Avenue and crossing Lansdowne Avenue.