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Home My WebLink AboutINS-11-040 - Clark Avenue Traffic Calming Review1 KITCx~i~~R Staff Report ~nfrastrurture Services Department ~w.k~~~~~r~erca REPORT T0: Community and Infrastructure Services Committee DATE OF MEETING: May 30, 2011 SUBMITTED BY: John McBride, Director of Transportation Planning PREPARED BY: Danny Pimentel, Traffic Technologist (741-2371) WARD(S) INVOLVED: Ward 3 DATE OF REPORT: May 19, 2011 REPORT NO.: INS-11-040 SUBJECT: CLARK AVENUE -TRAFFIC CALMING FOLLOW UP REVIEW RECOMMENDATION: That the existing traffic calming measures (five (5) speed humps) on Clark Avenue from Wilson Avenue to Siebert Avenue remain in place. BACKGROUND: As per the recommendations in Report DTS-08-143, Transportation Planning has conducted a follow-up review of the traffic calming measures (speed humps) that were installed on Clark Avenue in late 2009. The intention of this review is to evaluate the effectiveness of the traffic calming plan in terms of ensuring that the measures have successfully moderated traffic speeds and have discouraged traffic from using Clark Avenue as scut-through route. Transportation Planning had received requests from residents of Clarke Avenue to review the existing traffic conditions. According to the concerns indicated, vehicular traffic is using Clark Avenue as a shortcut to avoid delays and congestion along Fairway Road and Courtland Avenue and that this traffic is speeding. Additionally, in 2007, Clark Avenue was scheduled for reconstruction but deferred to spring/summer of 2008. Recognizing this opportunity, the City of Kitchener initiated a traffic calming review for Clark Avenue. The first public meeting was held on March 2, 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. On May 7, 2008, a second public meeting was held to present five (5) design options (including a do-nothing option) to the residents of Clark 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 five (5) speed humps along the entire length of Clark 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- 143). The recommended traffic calming measures were installed in the fall Of 2009. 2-1 1 KITCx~i~~R Staff Report ~nfrastrurture Services Department ~w.k~~~~~r~erca REPORT: As part of the review of the traffic calming measures along Clark 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: Clark Avenue -Volumes and Speeds Volumes Speeds (kmlh) Count Station Location Date NB SB Total Change NB SB Avg. Change Between Siebert Avenue 2006 706 1080 1786 44 9% 58.0 57.9 58.0 18 3% and Siebert Avenue (#180) 2010 691 304 995 . - 46.9 47.8 47.4 - . Between Harber Avenue 2006 1128 1038 2166 32 4% 55.9 57.8 56.9 23 9% and Broadmoor Avenue 2010 702 762 1464 . - 42.0 44.6 43.3 - . NOTE: 85th percentile speed is the speed at which 85% of vehicles are travelling at or below. The collision history was reviewed for Clark Avenue. In the four (4) years prior to the implementation of the traffic calming measures there were six (6) motor vehicle collisions along Clark Avenue, for a collision rate of 1.5 per year. In the two years since the implementation of the traffic calming measures (January 2009 through December 2010) there have been three (3) motor vehicle collisions resulting in a collision rate of 1.5 per year. These study results indicate that the implementation of traffic calming on Clark Avenue has had no negative effects towards collisions. Based on this data, it can be concluded that both traffic volumes and speeds on Clark Avenue have declined significantly since the traffic calming installation in 2009. However, it should be noted that since the traffic calming measures were installed on Clark Avenue, concerns regarding adjacent streets (Woodhaven Road and Siebert Avenue) have arisen. These concerns include both speeding and an increase of traffic. The table below displays traffic volumes and speed data collected before and after the traffic calming measures were implemented on Clark Avenue. The following table displays a significant increase in traffic volumes with a minimal increase in speeds along both Woodhaven Road and Siebert Avenue. Woodhaven Road -Volumes and Speeds Volumes Speeds (kmlh) Count Station Location Date NB SB Total Change NB SB Avg. Change Between Gerard Avenue & 2006 374 324 698 +58 6% 55.5 50.8 53.2 +1 3% Byron Avenue 2010 624 564 1188 . 53.9 53.8 53.9 . Siebert Avenue -Volumes and Speeds Volumes Speeds (kmlh) Count Station Location Date EB WB Total Change EB WB Avg. Change Between Harber Avenue & 2004 164 408 572 +43 9% 47.7 45.3 46.5 +3 3% Woodhaven Road 2010 358 660 1019 . 47.8 48.4 48.1 . 2-2 1 Staff Re ort p Krr~.~-~~,i~iER ~nfrastru~ture Servrces Department www.kitthenerta Transportation Planning conducted afollow-up neighbourhood survey as part of the traffic calming plan for Clark Avenue. In February 2011, a survey package was mailed out to all Clark Avenue residents, in order 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. It also included speed and traffic volume data for the adjacent roadways that were impacted by the traffic calming measures. Responses were received from a total of 32 of the 84 residents surveyed, and the results are as follows: Total Survey Results: Residents in support of maintaining the existing traffic calming 26 (81 °/a) Residents not in support of maintaining the existing traffic calming 6 (19%) Total 32 of 84 (38°/a response rate) Based on the results above, it appears that there is neighbourhood support to maintaining the existing traffic calming measures on Clark Avenue. Accordingly, Transportation Planning recommends that the existing traffic calming measures be retained on Clark Avenue. The impacts of Clark Avenue's traffic calming measures on adjacent roadways have identified an overall concern. As a result, the area encompassing Siebert Avenue, Woodhaven Road and Harber Avenue will be recommended for a formal traffic calming review proposal, to be initiated in 2011. 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. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: There are no additional costs to maintain the existing traffic calming measures.. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Residents of Clark 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 2-3 1 Staff Re ort p Krr~.~-~~,i~iER ~nfrastru~ture Servrces Department www.kitthenerta Clark Avenue Traffic Calming m ~~ .1 i r~ ~~. -., i ~, *~~ -, ~~ ~ ~ m ~ $ m $ ~. ~ f TQ } ~ ~ r~ ~M r r r * r * r r * r r * ~~~~fi ~~~~ ~~ ~ ~' '~ +r r r ~ ~~ ~ lr ~ r ~ r ~° r ~~ r ~ ~~ r r r~ r .~ rti.ti ti r• ~ Y r r r r * .. * ~. S * ' ~ ~ ~:• 1 ~ ~ ~ '~~ r ~~ ~~~ .. ~'•ti .- ~~ ~. ~, ~~~ ~~ ~• , ~. ~~ ~~°-~ ~ Speed Hump 2-4 LEGEND