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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOES 23-02 '() (, '.). .. ,. Ciú¡ o~ REPORT TO COUNCIL FROM: Richard W. Holbom, P. Eng. Division Head Municipal Property & Engineering DATE: May 10, 2002 REPORT NUMBER: OES 023 - 02 SUBJECT: Fluorescent Yellow-Green School Area and School Crossing Signs RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. That Report OES 023-02 be received; and 2. That the City of Pickering continue to use the standard, white on blue colour, school crossing and school crossing ahead signs until such time that the fluorescent yellow-green colour is officially adopted by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario as the new standard for the Manual ofUnifonn Traffic Control Devices; and 3. That for consistency reasons, the Region of Durham be requested to retrain trom installing any fluorescent yellow-green school crossing and school crossing ahead signs on Regional Roads in the City at this time; and 4. That a copy of this report and the applicable Council resolution be forwarded to the Region of Durham and the area municipalities. ORIGIN: Correspondence from the Region of Durham dated January 23, 2002, which outlined the Region's proposal to gradually replace all School Area and School Crossing Signs on the Regional Road network with fluorescent yellow-green signs commencing in 2002. AUTHORITY: Ministry of Transportation of Ontario, Manual ofUnifonn Traffic Control Devices (MTO, MUTCD) FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: No costs are associated with the recommendation to continue using the current MTO, MUTCD standard, white on blue colour, school crossing and school crossing ahead signs. If and when the new fluorescent yellow-green colour is officially approved by the MTO, however, the replacement of 116 existing signs on City streets would cost approximately $8,200.00 for which no current budget exists. Funds required to switch over would be budgeted in Roads account 2320-2409 and could be phased over a two-year period. The fluorescent reflective yellow-green sheeting used to manufacture the signs is currently about 2.5 times more expensive than the white on blue style. An additional amount would also have to be funded by the Region of Durham to replace all of the signs that exist on their road network within the City. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: New fluorescent yellow-green signs have begun to proliferate throughout the Province of Ontario as municipalities seek ways to raise the awareness and improve the safety of pedestrians in school areas. While the new sign sheeting offers very unique high visibility characteristics in Report to Council OES 023 - 02 Date: May 10, 2002 nn3 Subject: Fluorescent Yellow-Green School Signs Page 2 low light conditions, the new colour has not yet been adopted by the MTO and incorporated as a recognized standard in the MUTCD. The Region of Durham and a number of the area municipalities have recently decided to begin replacing the current white on blue school crossing signs with the new colour even though additional liability may exist for using a standard which at present is only approved by the US and Canadian Transportation Associations. Given that a current budget of approximately $8,200.00 does not exist in 2002 to replace any of the existing school signs, it is recommended that the situation be closely followed and that the replacement of the signs be budgeted for in 2003 and 2004 should the new colour be approved by the MTO. BACKGROUND: School crossing signs in the Province of Ontario are currently recommended to have a reflective blue background with a reflective white border, symbol and/or legend. These standards are consistent with the specifications as detailed in the Manual of Unifonn Traffic Control Devices and have been adopted using a different colour than that of standard black on yellow warning signs for the purpose of specifically identifying areas of high pedestrian activity near schools. School crossing signs, however, have been gradually losing their effectiveness due to the installation of many other blue coloured signs on roadways throughout the Province of Ontario, including the relatively new Tourism Oriented Destination Signs (TODS). As a means to recapture the awareness and safety of pedestrians in school areas, a number of municipalities in Ontario have begun to install signs made of a new fluorescent yellow-green sign sheeting. The new colour is highly visible and unique to the roadway environment, which may potentially alert drivers to the presence of pedestrians earlier and also maintain their attention for a longer period of time while traveling through a school area. Although there are presently no defining studies which can substantiate long-tenn safety improvements from the new fluorescent yellow-green signs, it can be assumed that based on their very different appearance most drivers will find these signs more readily visible than the current blue signs. Acting on this observation, the u.S. and the Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) have both adopted the new colour in their MUTCD's for school signs. Notwithstanding their decisions, however, the new colour has not yet been approved by the MTO and incorporated into the Province's MUTCD. Concerns about the increased risk of liability from the use of the legally unrecognized fluorescent yellow-green signs have resulted in the reluctance of many municipalities to install them. Up until recently this practice was also the recommendation of the Region of Durham Traffic Advisory Committee, which has representation from each area municipality. As the signs continue to proliferate throughout Ontario, however, more pressure from residents is being received for municipalities to make the change. It has been recently announced that the Region of Durham, the Municipality of Clarington, the City of Oshawa, The Town of Whitby and the Township of Scugog have adopted the new colour and will gradually be replacing all existing school area and school crossing signs. The Town of Ajax has decided to maintain the current white on blue standard school area and school crossing signs at this time. The Region of Durham is seeking area municipal response to this issue and have advised that they will not replace signs on Regional Roads within a municipality that has not adopted the new sign colour. Although it is recognized that the new colour may be incorporated into the Provincial MUTCD at some point in the future, the reality is that the new fluorescent yellow-green signs are presently not an accepted legal standard. While it can be argued that based on risk-assessment the new colour may provide added safety protection, it is recommended that the new signs not be installed until the Province officially approves of the new colour and incorporates changes to the MUTCD. It should also be noted that there is no provision in the 2002 current budget to undertake a sign replacement program this year. If the City were to change 116 signs from the current standard to the new fluorescent yellow-green colour special funding in the amount of $8,200.00 would be required. If the new colour is not officially adopted by the Province the expenditure could prove f) n 4 Report to Council OES 023 - 02 Date: May 10, 2002 Subject: Fluorescent Yellow-Green School Signs Page 3 costly for the City. If the new colour becomes adopted, the cost and replacement program could be phased over two years to lessen the financial impact. ATTACHMENTS: Prepared By: /~ C. hen Brake, Supervisor, Traffic Engineering & Waste Management Submitted by: Copy: Chief Administrative Officer Roads Supervisor Technician, Traffic Engineering Recommended for the consideration of Pickering City Council