HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-11-050 - Kinzie Ave - Traffic Calming - Follow up review1
KITCx~i~~R
Staff Report
~nfrastrurture Services Department
~w.k~~~~~r~erca
REPORT T0: Community and Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING: June 20, 2011
SUBMITTED BY: John McBride, Director of Transportation Planning
PREPARED BY: Dave Seller, Traffic Technologist (741-2369)
WARD(S) INVOLVED: Ward 2
DATE OF REPORT: June 7, 2011
REPORT NO.: INS-11-050
SUBJECT: KINZIE AVENUE -TRAFFIC CALMING FOLLOW UP
REVIEW
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the traffic calming measures (four (4) speed humps) on Kinzie Avenue between
Weber Street East and River Road East remain in place.
BACKGROUND:
Transportation Planning had received requests from residents of Kinzie Avenue to review the
existing traffic conditions. According to the concerns indicated, vehicular speeds and vehicle
noise were the most prevalent. Report DTS-07-011, approved in January 2007, recommended
that a formal traffic calming review be conducted for Kinzie Avenue.
The first public meeting was held in November 2007. Residents were invited to review the data
regarding vehicle speeds, traffic volume data and collisions as well as provide their input about
the traffic issues in the neighbourhood. In May 2008, a second public meeting was held to
present five (5) design options (including a do-nothing option) to the residents of Kinzie Avenue.
A preferred alternative was identified and feedback was requested from residents in order to
determine if the community, as a whole, supported the recommendations.
The preferred alternative consisted of installing four (4) speed humps along the entire length of
Kinzie Avenue. This plan was well-received by the residents. A final traffic calming
recommendation, based on this plan, was submitted to Council in September 2008 (DTS-08-
145). The recommended traffic calming measures were installed in the fall of 2008.
REPORT:
As part of the review of the traffic calming measures along Kinzie Avenue, Transportation
Planning has compared the data for speeds, traffic volumes and collisions, based on conditions
observed both before and after the traffic calming installation. The results are as follows:
5-1
1
KITCx~i~~R
Staff Report
~nfrastrurture Services Department
~w.k~~~~~r~erca
Kinzie Avenue -Traffic Volumes and Speeds
Count Station Locations
Date Traffic Volumes Speeds (kmlh)
NB SB Total Change NB SB Avg. Change
Btwn: Thaler Avenue and 2007 2,248 2,249 4,497
25% 56 56 56
~ 7%
Rutherford Drive 2010 1, 538 1, 844 3, 382 43 49 46
Btwn: Harold Avenue and 2007 2, 238 2,155 4, 393
-3% 57 51 54
-6%
Walker Street 2010 1, 894 2, 351 4, 245 52 50 51
NOTE: 85th percentile speed is the speed at which 85% of vehicles are travelling at or below.
The collision history along Kinzie Avenue was reviewed before and after the traffic calming
measures were installed and the following are the results.
In the four (4) years prior to the implementation of the traffic calming measures (January 2004 to
December 2007) there were twenty seven (27) reported collisions along Kinzie Avenue, for a
collision rate of 6.7 collisions per year. In the two years since the implementation of the traffic
calming measures (January 2009 to December 2010) there have been thirteen (13) reported
motor vehicle collisions resulting in a collision rate of 6.5 per year. The study results indicate
that the implementation of traffic calming on Kinzie Avenue has had no negative effects towards
collisions.
Based on this data, it can be concluded that both traffic volumes and speeds on Kinzie Avenue
have declined since the traffic calming installation in 2008.
Transportation Planning conducted afollow-up neighbourhood survey in March 2011 as part of
the traffic calming plan for Kinzie Avenue to gauge community support for the traffic calming
measures. The survey package included the results of the traffic studies performed both before
and after the installation, as discussed in this report. Responses were received from a total of
27 of the 113 properties surveyed, and the results are as follows:
Total Survey Results:
Residents in support of maintaining the existing traffic calming 22 (81 %)
Residents not in support of maintaining the existing traffic calming 5 (19%)
Total 27 of 113 (24% response rate)
Based on the results above, the neighbourhood is in support of maintaining the existing traffic
calming measures on Kinzie Avenue. Accordingly, Transportation Planning recommends that
the existing traffic calming measures be retained on Kinzie Avenue.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
The recommendations of this report align with the City of Kitchener's People Plan, supporting a
Culture of Safety and Wellbeing.
5-2
1
Staff Re ort
p
Krr~.~-~~,i~iER ~nfrastru~ture Servrces Department www.kitthenerta
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no additional costs to maintain the existing traffic calming measures.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
Residents of Kinzie Avenue have been involved in this traffic calming review through the entire
process. This includes confirmation with the residents to initiate the review, conducting two (2)
public meetings with the residents to gain input on the issues at hand, as well as to receive
feedback on proposed solutions.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Pauline Houston, Deputy CAO
Infrastructure Services Department
Attachments: Speed Hump Location Map
5-3
1
Staff Re ort
p
Krr~.~-~~,i~iER ~nfrastru~ture Servrces Department www.kitthenerta
Kinzie Avenue Traffic Calming
~~f
~h
f
r
~ ~~~ r~ ~'
~~ ~~~
.~
~~
~~ ~
.~
_ f
~ ~~ ~,
~ ~ ~ ,
~e. ~-
"/ ~
LEGEND
h~
~'O
I
~i.C?
~ ~ Speed Hump
5-4
~~~. ,
~'~ ~~
,~ `~ ~~a