REPORT TO GENERAL COMMITTEE
TO:	Mayor and Members of Council
FROM:	Jim Baird, Commissioner of Development Services
	Alan Brown, Director of Engineering
PREPARED BY:	Parveen Kalia, Engineering Technician
DATE OF MEETING:	2006-Jan-23
SUBJECT:	Elson Street and Tawney Road – Proposed Adult School Crossing Guard

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the report entitled “Elson Street and Tawney Road – Adult School Crossing Guard Service,” be approved;

AND THAT the Engineering Department be authorized to establish an adult school crossing guard service at the intersection of Elson Street and Tawney Road at a cost of $4,628.40 per year, exclusive of GST;

AND THAT the crossing guard be funded from account 640-998-5642;

AND THAT the Operations Department be authorized to install school crossing, crosswalk pavement markings and hard surface access to the existing sidewalk at the intersection of Elson Street and Tawney Road in early Spring 2006;

AND THAT the cost of labour and materials, for the associated crossing, be funded by Forest Bay Homes;

AND THAT Staffing Services, the Town’s Adult School Crossing Guard supplier, be directed to provide the services of an adult school crossing guard at Elson Street and Tawney Road intersection early spring 2006 upon completion of the pavement markings and sign installation.

PURPOSE:

This report recommends that adult school crossing guard service be provided at the intersection of Elson Street and Tawney Road.

BACKGROUND:

The Engineering Department received a request from the Principal of Cedarwood Public Elementary School to provide an adult school crossing guard service at the intersection of Elson Street and Tawney Road (see Attachment A). The intention of the service is to provide assistance to students of Cedarwood Public Elementary School.

The subject intersection has four approaches including driveway approach to Cedarwood Public Elementary School and is controlled by an all-way stop control. Elson Street is a minor residential collector road with a posted speed limit of 40 km/h. The average daily traffic on Elson Street between Tawney Road and Eastvale Drive is approximately 1900 vehicles per day. The surrounding study area is currently under development and it is expected that the vehicular volume will continue to increase.

DISCUSSION:

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 guidelines.

A gap time study was conducted at the intersection of Elson Street and Tawney Road and the study results indicate that the technical warrants have been met and an adult school crossing guard service is required.

Warrant for School Crossing Service

The Ministry of Transportation and Ontario Traffic Conference guidelines considers the following when warranting adult school crossing guards:

Safe Gaps - A safe gap is a break in traffic that permits sufficient time for a child to safely cross a road. If there are less than 4 safe gaps available during each

5-minute interval, then adult school crossing service may be provided.

Crossing Service - Where there exists 4 or more safe gaps available for crossing children in

not provided each 5-minute interval during the study period.

During the peak school times, there were several 5 minute intervals where less than 4 gaps were observed. Based on the limited number of safe gaps allowing school children to cross, the requirements necessary for adult crossing guard service were satisfied.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

The cost of an adult school crossing guard at this location is $4,628.40 per annum (calculated at $12.18, exclusive of GST, x 2 shifts x 190 days). Given the warrants were conducted late last year and that the 2005 budget (account 640-998-5642) anticipated a growth of 4 crossing guards with only three placements to-date, this proposed location can be accommodated within 2006 base budget.

The cost of labour and materials to implement the crossing guard service measures such as signage, pavement markings and hard surface access to the sidewalk will be recovered from the developer given that this subdivision has not been assumed by the Town.

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

Subject to Council’s approval, the Operations Department will install the approved signage; pavement markings and hard surface access to sidewalk for the proposed adult school crossing guard service at the intersection of Elson Street and Tawney Road and recover the total cost from the Developer.

ATTACHMENTS:

Attachment A – Proposed School Crossing Guard Location Map

Alan Brown, C.E.T. Director of Engineering

Jim Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P. Commissioner of Development Services

Q:\Development\Engineering\REPORTS\2006\Jan\Elson St and Tawney Rd SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD\Report Crossing Guard Draft 3.doc