General Committee
	TO:	Mayor and Members of Council
	FROM:	Alan Brown, Director of Engineering
	PREPARED BY:	Parveen Kalia, Engineering Technician
	DATE OF MEETING:	2005-Nov-21
	SUBJECT:	Highglen Avenue and Brando Avenue - Proposed Adult School Crossing Guard Service

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the staff report entitled “Highglen Avenue and Brando Avenue – 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 Highglen Avenue and Brando Avenue at a cost of $4,628.40 per year, exclusive of GST, under the 2006 budget and to be funded from account 640-998-5642;

AND THAT the Operations and Asset Management Department be directed to install school crossing signs, crosswalk pavement markings and hard surface access to the sidewalk at the intersection of Highglen Avenue and Brando Avenue early Spring 2006;

AND THAT Forest Bay Homes provide the funds for the cost of labour and materials to install the school crossing signs, crosswalk pavement markings and hard surface access for the subject intersection;

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 Highglen Avenue and Brando Avenue 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 Highglen Avenue and Brando Avenue.

BACKGROUND:

The Engineering Department received a request from the Principal of Ellen Fairclough Public Elementary School to provide adult school crossing guard service at the intersection of Highglen Avenue and Brando Avenue (see Attachment A). The intention of the service is to provide assistance to students of Ellen Fairclough Public Elementary School.

Highglen Avenue is a minor collector residential street that has a vehicular operating speed of approximately 53 km/h and volume of 6500 per day. Brando Avenue is a local residential street that connects to Highglen Avenue and is controlled with a side stop. The vehicular operating speed is approximately 52 km/h and volume of 1000 per day. Both streets are posted with 40 km/h speed limit signs.

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 Highglen Avenue and Brando 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 warrant for a School Crossing Service considers the following:

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 necessary requirements for adult crossing guard service were satisfied.

Given that Council will be tentatively approving the proposed crossing guard service on Tuesday November 29, it is likely that winter weather conditions will not allow Town staff to install the required pavement markings. Hence, the adult school crossing pavement markings and signs will be installed early Spring 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). Based on the current contract, this amount is budgeted for in the 2006 budget year and be funded from account # 640-998-5642.

The cost of labour and materials to implement the crossing guard service measures like signage, pavement markings and hard surface access to 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 and Asset Management 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 Highglen Avenue and Brando 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\2005\Nov\Ellen Fairclough School Crossing Guard\Highglen Avenue and Brando Avenue CROSSING GUARD REPORT Draft 6.doc