Tiny road receives two speed humps despite poll
Residents question the reason for spending $6,000 on a street that didn’t need it
Residents of Avion Ave., can rest easy, knowing that newly installed speed humps prevent heavy-footed drivers from imperiling their children and pets.
But since Avion is 150 metres long, at most, and allows for 24/7 parking on both sides of the street, the opportunity for drivers to get rolling at breakneck speed was always minimal.
That’s why some area residents are questioning why two speed humps were added to the tiny street earlier this year, with one calling it a waste of money.
Avion runs between Glen Manor Dr., and Maclean Ave., one street south of Queen St. E., and is too small to be an effective shortcut for drivers trying to dodge traffic on Queen.
The speed humps went in despite polling of area residents that failed to meet the city’s installation threshold. The local city councillor, Mary Margaret McMahon, got them approved at Toronto-East York community council.
A reader sent us a note about it, saying “there appears to be zero reason for them to exist,” noting that Avion is a “short street that, with parking on both sides, is impossible to speed along even if you wanted to.”
The reader, who asked not to be named, noted that polling did not result in enough votes in favour of speed humps, but McMahon pushed them through at Toronto-East York community council.
“It seems like a waste of money when there are streets that could legitimately use some sort of traffic calming, but can’t get it.”
Transportation services staff recommended against them and were supported by Toronto Fire Services, which said speed humps increase the time needed to respond to emergency calls.
McMahon (Ward 32, Beaches-East York) has already declared that she will not be running for re-election next year, which makes her advocacy of speed humps on Avion all the more curious.
STATUS: A city staff report shows the cost of installing two speed humps on Avion is $6,000. We asked McMahon why she got them through at community council.
She said that one local resident persisted for years in demanding the humps and rode her about it whenever they met.
It’s common at community council for councillors to ignore staff recommendations on speed humps, she said, noting that one councillor is well known for acceding to every request from residents for them.
“I’m a big proponent of Vision Zero road safety,” said, McMahon, adding, “if residents tell me that,” she goes along with them.
“They know their streets better than I do.”
It’s common at community council for councillors to ignore staff recommendations on speed humps