Item - 2025.TE25.68

The Toronto and East York Community Council:

1.  Authorized the installation of speed humps on Elm Avenue, between Mount Pleasant Road and Sherbourne Street North.

2.  Directed the City Solicitor to prepare a By-law to alter the roadway for the installation of 3 speed humps on Elm Avenue, between Mount Pleasant Road and Sherbourne Street North, generally as shown on Attachment 1 to the letter (September 17, 2025) from Councillor Dianne Saxe. 

3.  Directed the General Manager, Transportation Services to evaluate expanding no standing/no parking times on Elm Avenue, between Mount Pleasant Road and Sherbourne Street North, to 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and to report back to the Toronto and East York Community Council by November 2025.

A large private school, Branksome Hall, is located at the intersection of Mount Pleasant Road and Elm Avenue. There is heavy traffic in the area, especially at student drop off and pick up times. This traffic has been exacerbated by three construction projects in the vicinity, as well as by a sharp increase in cut through traffic since the pandemic. This heavy traffic causes conflict with the school’s neighbours and reduces the willingness of parents to let their children walk to school, which in turn worsens vehicle traffic.

The school retained a traffic consultant which made multiple recommendations, including for traffic calming measures on Elm Avenue and for a traffic light at the intersection of Elm Avenue and Sherbourne Street North. This report was followed by extensive consultations between school, parents, and neighbors, with the assistance of the South Rosedale residence Association. These consultations will continue through an informal neighbourhood liaison committee.

At the request of the Ward Councillor, Traffic Operations did a detailed study and concluded that neighbourhood safety would be improved by installing traffic lights at the intersection of Elm and Sherbourne, which entails making Maple one-way eastbound. Most neighbours are strongly opposed to this to this recommendation. They have asked instead, that speed humps be installed on Elm Avenue, and that no-stopping restrictions be expanded. Once these are installed and the construction projects in the immediate vicinity are complete, the liaison committee will revisit their opposition to the recommended traffic light.