General Committee
	TO:	Mayor and Members of Council
	FROM:	Alan Brown, Director of Engineering
	PREPARED BY:	Parveen Kalia, Engineering Technician
	DATE OF MEETING:	2005-Jun-20
	SUBJECT:	Elson Street and Eastvale Drive - Adult School Crossing Guard Service

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the staff report entitled “Elson Street and Eastvale Drive – 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 Eastvale Drive at a cost of $4,555.00 per year, exclusive of GST, starting September 2005 to be funded from account 640-998-5642;

AND THAT the Operations and Asset Management Department be directed to install school crossing signs and crosswalk pavement markings at the intersection of Elson Street and Eastvale Drive before the commencement of the 2005/2006 school year.

PURPOSE:

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

BACKGROUND:

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

The subject area has four approaches and is controlled by an all-way stop control. In addition, 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 Eastvale Drive 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 requirements necessary for adult crossing guard service were satisfied.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

The cost of an adult school crossing guard at this location is $4,555 per annum (calculated at $12.18, exclusive of GST, x 2 shifts x 187 days). Based on the recent tender award, the budget in account # 640-998-5642 had anticipated growth of 4 crossing guards. With the addition of this guard, this budget can accommodate 3 additional guards for the remainder of 2005.

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

Subject to Council’s approval, the Operations and Asset Management Department will install the approved signage and pavement markings for the proposed adult school crossing guard service at the intersection of Elson Street and Eastvale Drive.

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\June\Cedarwood P.S. Crossing Guard\Elson Street and Eastvale Drive CROSSING GUARD REPORT Draft 5.doc