General Committee
	TO:	Mayor and Members of Council
	FROM:	Jim Baird, Commissioner of Development Services Alan Brown, Director of Engineering
	PREPARED BY:	David Porretta, Engineering Technician
	DATE OF MEETING:	2006-Jan-23
	SUBJECT:	Stonebridge Drive and Wilfred Murison Avenue - Proposed School Crossing Guard Service

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the staff report entitled “Stonebridge Drive and Wilfred Murison Avenue - Proposed 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 Stonebridge Drive and Wilfred Murison Avenue at a cost of $4,628.40 per year, exclusive of GST;

AND THAT Council pre-approve an addition of $20,000 to the 2006 Operating Budget for Adult School Crossing Guards, account 640-998-5642;

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

AND THAT the Operations Department be authorized to install school crossing signs and crosswalk pavement markings at the intersection of Stonebridge Drive and Wilfred Murison Avenue in early Spring 2006;

AND THAT the cost of labour and materials, for the associated crossing, be funded by Monarch Larkin (1055097 Ontario Ltd);

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 Stonebridge Drive and Wilfred Murison Avenue in 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 Stonebridge Drive and Wilfred Murison Avenue.

BACKGROUND:

The Engineering Department received a request from the Principal of Stonebridge Public School to provide adult school crossing guard service at the intersection of Stonebridge Drive and Wilfred Murison Avenue (see Attachment A). The intention of the service is to provide assistance to students of Stonebridge Public School.

The intersection of Stonebridge Drive and Wilfred Murison Avenue are controlled by all-way stop control. Stonebridge Public School is located on the northwest corner of the intersection. Stonebridge Drive and Wilfred Murison Avenue are both minor collector roads, with access to 16^th Avenue and McCowan Road, respectively.

The posted speed limit and operating speed on Stonebridge Drive is 40 km/h and 58 km/h, respectively. The average daily traffic volume is 3300. The posted speed limit and operating speed on Wilfred Murison Avenue is 40 km/h and 49 km/h, respectively. The average daily traffic volume is 1320.

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 Stonebridge Drive and Wilfred Murison Avenue 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 afternoon peak school time, 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 necessary requirements for adult crossing guard service were satisfied.

Typically, the Town’s contractor requires several weeks to hire and train a new crossing guard. At that time, it is likely that winter conditions will not permit the proper installation of pavement markings which are required to conform to engineering standards. Therefore, it is recommended that the crossing guard service be scheduled to start in the Spring of 2006.

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). The 2005 budget included a growth allowance for 4 crossing guards. At the end of 2005, only 3 placements had been made, therefore the 2006 base budget included an allowance for 1 additional guard placement. The “Elson Street and Tauney Road – Proposed Adult School Crossing Guard” report dated January 23, 2006 recommends the crossing guard placement be funded from the 2006 base budget, leaving no further allowance for additional guards in 2006.

The proposed 2006 Operating Budget includes $20,000 for growth of four additional crossing guards in 2006. Staff recommend pre-approval of the $20,000 Operating Budget item for School Crossing Guards in account 640-998-5642. This will provide sufficient funds for the adult school crossing guard service at the intersection of Stonebridge Drive and Wilfred Murison Avenue and allow for three more adult school crossing guards to be allocated in 2006, as required.

The cost of labour and materials to implement the crossing guard service measures, such as signs and pavement markings, 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 and pavement markings for the proposed adult school crossing guard service at the intersection of Stonebridge Drive and Wilfred Murison Avenue 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\Stonebridge & Wilfred Murison CROSSING GUARD REPORT\Stonebridge & Wilfred Murison CROSSING GUARD REPORT Draft 2.doc