HomeMy WebLinkAboutENG 20-25Report to
Council
Report Number: ENG 20-25
Date: September 29, 2025
From: Richard Holborn
Director, Engineering Services
Subject: Proposed Traffic Controls – Burkholder Drive
Josiah Henson Public School
File: A-1440
Recommendation:
1. That the attached draft by -law be enacted to amend Schedule “1”, Schedule “6”,
Schedule “7”, Schedule “9” and Schedule “14” to By -law 6604/05 to provide for the
regulation of stopping and parking restrictions on highways or parts of highways under
the jurisdiction of The Corporation of the City of Pickering, specifically to provide for traffic
controls on Burkholder Drive in the vicinity of Josiah Henson Public School; and,
2. That the appropriate officials of the City of Pickering be authorized to take the actions
necessary to implement the recommendation in this report.
Executive Summary: The purpose of this report is to request Council to enact a by -law for
the inclusion of various traffic controls aimed at increasing pedestrian and vehicular safety on
Burkholder Drive in the vicinity of Josiah Henson Public School.
With the recent opening of Josiah Henson Public School, the close proximity of Rick Johnson
Memorial Park , the many pedestrians that cross over Burkholder Drive, and anticipating
another school directly south of Rick Johnson Memorial Park , staff are proposing the following
changes to the Traffic and Parking By -law 6604/05:
• Reduction of the speed limit on Burkholder Drive, from Taunton Road to Peter Matthews
Drive from 50 km/h to 40 km/h
• Installation of an all-way stop at Burkholder Drive and Skyridge Boulevard
• Installation of an all-way stop at Burkholder Drive and Hibiscus Drive
• A permanent school crossing guard at the existing all-way stop at Burkholder Drive and
Azalea Avenue
• Installation of a Community Safety Zone on Burkholder Drive from Cameo Street to
Hibiscus Drive
ENG 20-25 September 29, 2025
Page 2
• Replacing parking restrictions with stopping restrictions on Burkholder Drive (Skyridge
Boulevard to Azalea Avenue) to prevent motorists from parking in the bike lanes
Relationship to the Pickering Strategic Plan: The recommendations in this report respond
to the Pickering Strategic Plan Priority of Advance Innovation & Responsible Planning to
Support a Connected, Well-Serviced Community.
Financial Implications: The supply and installation of signs and posts can be
accommodated within the 2025 Roads Current Budget.
Discussion: The purpose of this report is to request Council to enact a by -law to allow for
the inclusion of stopping restrictions, all-way stops, and a community safety zone aimed to
increase pedestrian and vehicular safety around Josiah Henson Public School.
On Septem ber 15, 2025, Josiah Hensson Public School officially opened to the public. The
school is located on the northeast corner of the intersection of Burkholder Drive and Azalea
Avenue. Burkholder Drive is a north-south arterial road with one lane in each direction and bike
lanes on both sides of the street. The surrounding community is primarily residential with many
pedestrians, of all ages, crossing Burkholder Drive to attend Rick Johnson Memorial Park ,
which is located on the southwest corner of Burkholder Drive and Azalea Avenue.
A. The posted speed limit on Burkholder Drive was reduced from 50 km/h to 40 km/h
Prior to school opening, the posted speed limit on Burkholder Drive, from Taunton Road to
Peter Matthew Drive, was 50 km/h. However, with the opening of Josiah Henson Public
School, the close proximity of Rick Johnson Memorial Park , anticipating another school directly
south of the park, and the many pedestrians that cross over Burkholder Drive, City of Pickering
staff have changed the posted speed limit signs in this section of Burkholder Drive from 50
km/h to 40 km/h. Staff believe that this reduction in speed limit is a positive change,
particularly around a school, that will better serve the community .
B. Two additional all-way stops were installed on Burkholder Drive to allow for safe
pedestrian crossing points
It was recognized by staff that the only safe pedestrian crossing point to the school was at the
all-way stop located at Burkholder Drive and Azalea Avenue, which crosses near the school’s
front entrance. Recognizing that pedestrians will also cross both north and south of the school,
City of Pickering staff added two additional all-way stop locations in advance of the school
opening at the following locations:
• Burkholder Drive and Skyridge Boulevard
• Burkholder Drive and Hibiscus Driv e
ENG 20-25 September 29, 2025
Page 3
These new all-way stop locations will better assist pedestrians when crossing over to the
school as well as assisting all pedestrians that use the park.
The all-way stop locations are shown on Attachment 1.
C. A crossing guard w ill be permanently added to the intersection of Burkholder Drive
and Azalea Avenue
In addition to the speed limit reduction and the all-way stops that were added to Burkholder
Drive, a crossing guard was placed at the intersection of Burkholder Drive and Azalea Avenue
to assist with the school opening. However, given for the number of pedestrians observed in
the area, Engineering Services staff are arranging for the guard to remain at the location
permanently.
Other intersections in the community will be analyzed for crossing guard requirements once
vehicle and pedestrian traffic and patterns at the school have been better established.
D. Community Safety Zone on a portion of Burkholder Drive is recommended
To increase awareness to the community that Burkholder Drive is a street of increased
pedestrian activity , it is recommended that Burkholder Drive be made a Community Safety
Zone from Cameo Street to Hibiscus Avenue. A Community Safety Zone within these limits will
encompass Josiah Henson Public School, Rick Johnson Memorial Park and a future school
just south of the park.
It is not recommended at this time to include Burk holder Drive as a location for Automated
Speed Enforcement. With the addition of two all-way stops and a reduction of the posted
speed limit, staff will monitor the operating speed of the roadway, and if vehicular speeds are
high, an Automated Enforcement Speed c amera will be considered for Burkholder Drive.
The proposed Community Safety Zone is shown on Attachment 1.
E. Stopping and parking restrictions on surrounding streets are to be revisited
Parking restrictions are currently present on Burkholder Drive opposite the school. It is
recommended by Engineering Services staff that the parking restrictions be changed to
stopping restrictions to prevent motorists from stopping within the bike lane on Burkholder
Drive from Sk yridge Boulevard to Azalea Avenue.
All other parking and stopping restrictions surrounding the school will be reviewed by
Engineering Services and Municipal Law Enforcement Services staff and may be subject to
community consultation before recommendation.
The proposed stopping restrictions on Burkholder Drive are shown on Attachment 1.
The draft by -law amendment to By -law 6604/05 for Schedules “1”, “6”, “7”, “9” and “14” is
presented in Attachment 2.
ENG 20-25 September 29, 2025
Page 4
Attachments:
1.Proposed Traffic Controls, Josiah Henson Public School Opening
2.Draft by -law Amendment to Schedule “1”, No Stopping, Schedule “6”, Through Highway s,
Schedule “7”, Stop Signs, Schedule “9”, Speed Limits, and Schedule “14” Community
Safety Zones to By -law 6604/05.
Prepared By: Approved/Endorsed By:
Nathan Emery Richard Holborn, P. Eng.
Coordinator, Traffic Programs & Operations Director, Engineering Services
Nadeem Zahoor, P. Eng., M. Eng
Manager, Transportation & Traffic
NE:ccc
Recommended for the consideration
of Pickering City Council
Marisa Carpino, M.A.
Chief Administrative Officer
Original signed by:Original signed by:
Original signed by:
Original signed by:
Proposed Traffic Controls
NTS
Engineering Services
Department
September, 2025 Josiah Henson Public School Opening
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New All-way Stop
Proposed Community
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Existing Parking
Restrictions (Anytime)
Proposed Stopping
Restrictions (anytime)
To Replace Parking
Restrictions (anytime)
*Burkholder Drive (Taunton Road to
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limit change from 50 km/h to 40 km/h
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Attachment 1 to Report ENG 20-25
The Corporation of the City of Pickering
By-law No.
Being a by-law to amend By-law 6604/05
providing for the regulating of traffic and
parking, standing and stopping on highways or
parts of highways under the jurisdiction of the
City of Pickering and on private and municipal
property.
Whereas By-law 6604/05, as amended, provides for the regulating of traffic and parking
on highways, private property and municipal property within the City of Pickering; and
Whereas, it is deemed expedient to amend Schedule 1, Schedule 6, Schedule 7,
Schedule 9 and Schedule 14 to By-law 6604/05 to provide for the regulation of parking
on highways or parts of highways under the jurisdiction of the Corporation of the City of
Pickering. Specifically this by-law is to provide for the inclusion of traffic controls for a
new school, Josiah Henson Public School.
Now therefore the Council of The Corporation of the City of Pickering hereby enacts as
follows:
1. Schedule 1 to By-law 6604/05, as amended, is hereby further amended thereto
by the following:
Schedule 1
No Stopping
Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4
Highway Side Limits (From/To) Prohibited Times
or Days
Add
Burkholder Drive Both Skyridge Boulevard to
Azalea Avenue
Anytime
Attachment 2 to Report ENG 20-25
By-law No. Page 2
2. Schedule 6 to By-law 6604/05, as amended, is hereby further amended thereto
by the following:
Schedule 6
Through Highways
Column 1 Column 2
Highway Limits (From/To)
Add
Burkholder Drive Taunton Road (R.R.4) to Skyridge
Boulevard
Burkholder Drive Skyridge Boulevard to Azalea Avenue
Burkholder Drive Azalea Avenue to Hibiscus Drive
Burkholder Drive Hibiscus Drive to Peter Matthews Drive
Hibiscus Drive Sapphire Drive to Burkholder Drive
Hibiscus Drive Burkholder Drive to Marathon Avenue
Skyridge
Boulevard
Sapphire Drive to Burkholder Drive
Skyridge
Boulevard
Burkholder Drive to Peter Matthews Drive
By-law No. Page 3
3. Schedule 7 to By-law 6604/05, as amended, is hereby further amended thereto
by the following:
Schedule 7
Stop Signs
Column 1 Column 2
Highway Compulsory Stop Facing Traffic
Burkholder Drive
@ Skyridge
Boulevard
Burkholder Drive, northbound and southbound
Burkholder Drive
@ Hibiscus Drive
Burkholder Drive, eastbound and westbound
Hibiscus Drive @
Burkholder Drive
Hibiscus Drive, northbound and southbound
Skyridge
Boulevard @
Burkholder Drive
Skyridge Boulevard, eastbound and westbound
4. Schedule 9 to By-law 6604/05, as amended, is hereby further amended thereto
by the following:
Schedule 9
Speed Limits
Column 1 Column 2 Column 3
Highway Limits Speed
Add
Burkholder Drive Full Limit 40 km/h
By-law No. Page 4
5. Schedule 14 to By-law 6604/05, as amended, is hereby further amended
thereto by the following:
Schedule 14
Community Safety Zones
Column 1 Column 2 Column 3
Highway Limits (From/To) Prohibited Times
or Days
Add
Burkholder Drive Cameo Street to Anytime
Hibiscus Drive
6. By-law passed this 29th day of September, 2025.
____________________________
Kevin Ashe, Mayor
________________________________
Susan Cassel, City Clerk