Description
The stop sign southbound on Oxton at ORIOLE PARKWAY was introduced a couple of years after the intersection had been designed to permit traffic to flow though the intersection on a dedicated lane without stopping. This doubled the volume of traffic on the arterial road and reduced the flow of commuters going through a residential neighbourhood. The STOP sign has prevented the redesigned intersection from functioning. What a waste! The consequence is rush hour traffic backs up the arterial road well past Chaplin in the morning rush. It took a decade to reconfigure this intersection and the Avenue Road/Oxton intersection with the final design implemented in 2000. The result was far fewer accidents especially rear enders on Oxton in the afternoon. I have tried to get the City and councillors to explain why this Stop sign was installed, to no avail. I hope you have better luck. Its removal would be a boon to commuters, residents and air quality. Oxton holds about 25 southbound vehicles in gridlock. If it were allowed to flow, it would take twice as many vehicles and reduce flow into the local road portion of Avenue Road. Thanks in advance for your help. J Newell 774 Avenue Road.
18 Comments
John Newell (Guest)
Closed John Newell (Guest)
Reopened hgross88 (Registered User)
jmoller (Guest)
Guinevere (Registered User)
It's both fascinating and alarming what causes traffic congestion. A momentarily distracted driver can have a wave-like effect that can stretch behind them for miles.
The laws of the road are hard won - the history of the 'test dummy' alone demonstrates this. Safety fixtures such as headlights, signals, and safety belts weren't installed into cars initially, but they proved v.e.r.y. useful in reducing the number of vehicle fatalities.
The force imparted by a vehicle should be respected, they have been around a grand total of a 125 years. Use of them is by no means innate.
John Newell (Guest)
The STOP sign is still there stopping the flow of arterial road traffic on to a dedicated lane on Oriole Parkway. This limits flow to about one vehicle per minute which is absurd, Local traffic on Oriole Parkway southbound flows freely in a dedicated lane, The consequences are that: 1) traffic is backed up on Oxton and Avenue Rd southbound as far back as Chaplin and beyond. 2) More traffic is forced on to the local section of Avenue Rd south of Oxton. 3) there is unnecessary noise and pollution on the residential section of a major arterial road 4) the delays cause unnecessary tension and wastes time.
If Mayor Tory is serious about eliminating gridlock, here is an extremely cost effective project for improving the quality of life for motorists and residents just by removing one STOP sign. A decade went into designing and constructing this section of the arterial road to improve flow and safety. Post of its potential has been undone by this ill conceived and inappropriate stop sign.
Jorgen Moller (Registered User)
John Newell (Guest)
Suicide_Boi (Guest)
John Newell (Guest)
John Newell (Guest)
Transportation Services has not factored in the pollution, noise and health costs caused by stop and go traffic on Oxton an Avenue Road southbound traffic. Oxton accommodates about 25 idling vehicles while there is normally another 25 stalled on Avenue Road Southbound. The thousand dollar cost Transport Services estimated for removing the STOP sign should be able to cover a yield to pedestrian sign. Does Transportation Services know how many pedestrians on Oriole Parkway cross Oxton in the morning rush hours? They could cross to the East side of Oriole Parkway at the traffic light or the North side of Oxton at Highborn. They need to note that these are residential arterial roads that are supposed to have a heavy truck curfew between 7 PM and 7 AM. This has not been enforced since the City was merged by Harris and Leach. We lost our Metro Councillor Ila Bossons in the process who made sure the by-law was enforced.
If the STOP Sign is a safety issue, could Transportation Services explain why pedestrians do not get hit at the west end of Oxton where there is no stop sign for southbound or northbound arterial road traffic? Thanks, J.Newell.
John Newell (Guest)
John Newell (Guest)
John Newell (Guest)
John Newell (Guest)
John Newell (Guest)
John Newell (Guest)
Councillor Josh Matlow visited the site with me on Wed. Sept. 9th, 2015. He explained that placing the stop sign was a political decision with nothing to do with traffic safety, but the product of an active blogger. Once installed, it is very hard to have it removed even when it contravenes Book 5 - Regulatory Signs of the Ontario Traffic Manual indicates a "STOP" sign should not be used where the protection of pedestrians is the express primary concern. See Staff report Action Required Oct 22, 2009. Ref No Ts09189te.top.doc. In fact, the STOP sign may give a false sense of security to pedestrians as it does not stop traffic coming in the opposite direction.
It is worth noting that the Report does not comment on the environmental impact of causing gridlock on Oxton and Avenue Road. Nor does it comment on the over use of STOP signs resulting in motorists not treating them with respect.
John Newell (Guest)
J. Newell