HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-11-080 - Bradley Drive Traffic Calming Review1
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Staff Report
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REPORT T0: Community and Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING: November 7, 2011
SUBMITTED BY: John McBride, Director of Transportation Planning
PREPARED BY: Danny Pimentel, Traffic Technologist (741-2371 }
WARD(S) INVOLVED: Ward 2
DATE OF REPORT: October 28, 2011
REPORT NO.: INS-11-080
SUBJECT: BRADLEY DRIVE -TRAFFIC CALMING FOLLOW UP
REVIEW
RECOMMENDATION:
That the existing traffic calming measures (two (2) speed humps and one (1) raised
crosswalk with curb extension) on Bradley Drive from Franklin Street North to River
Road East remain in place.
BACKGROUND:
Transportation Planning had received requests from residents of Bradley Drive to review the
existing traffic conditions. According to the concerns indicated, vehicular traffic is using Bradley
Drive as a short-cut to avoid congestion on Ottawa Street North, and that this traffic is speeding,
creating concerns regarding pedestrian safety. In November 2005, a traffic calming review was
initiated for Bradley Drive.
The first public meeting was held in March 2006. 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 June 2007, a second public meeting was held to
present five (5) design options (including a do-nothing option) to the residents of Bradley Drive.
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 two (2) speed humps and one (1) raised
crosswalk with curb extensions along Bradley Drive. This plan was well-received by the
residents. A final traffic calming recommendation, based on this plan, was submitted to Council
in September 2007 (DTS-07-146). The recommended traffic calming measures were installed in
the fall of 2008.
REPORT:
As part of the review of the traffic calming measures along Bradley Drive, Transportation
Planning has compared the data for speeds, traffic volumes, collisions and cut-through vehicles,
based on conditions observed both before and after the traffic calming installation.
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Staff Report
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In November 2009, updated traffic volume and speed data was collected on Bradley Drive, in
order to determine the effectiveness of the traffic calming measures. The results of these
studies are summarized in the table below, along with traffic data that was collected in August
2005, before the traffic calming review commenced. These results show a reduction in both
traffic volumes and speeds for Bradley Drive, in both the northbound (NB) and southbound (SB)
directions:
Bradley Drive -Volumes and Speeds
Volumes Speeds (kmlh)
Count Station Location Date NB SB Total Change NB SB Avg. Change
Between Askin Place and 2005 1218 1260 2478
21
1% 53.5 53.0 53.3
10
4%
Midland Drive 2009 905 1050 1955 .
- 46.8 48.6 47.7 -
.
Between Bradley Place and 2005 1108 1251 2359
20
4% 53.7 52.9 53.3
17
6%
Dooley Drive 2009 884 995 1879 .
- 42.6 45.2 43.9 .
-
NOTE: 85th percentile speed is the speed at which 85% of vehicles are travelling at or below.
In June 2005 a traffic originldestination study was conducted to determine the volume of cut-
through traffic on Bradley Drive. The results of that study are summarized in the table below,
along with results from a traffic originldestination conducted in January 2011. The comparison of
both studies will assist in determining the effectiveness of the traffic calming measures.
Bradle Drive Ori in/Destination Stud
AM Peak Period (7:30 - 10:30) MD Peak Period (12:00 - 2:00) PM Peak Period (3:00 - 6:00)
Date Cut
Vehic es Total
Volume % Cut Cut
Through Vehic es Total
Volume % Cut Cut
Through Vehic es Total
Volume % Cut
Through
2005 252 536 47 132 262 50 295 568 52
2011 192 434 44 131 220 60 322 517 62
Bradley Drive -Cut-Through Traffic Volumes
Date AM Peak MD Peak PM Peak Total Change
2005 252 132 295 679
5
0%
2011 192 131 322 645 -
.
The origin/destination studies reveal an increase, during certain peak periods, in the percentage
of cut-through vehicles. However, total vehicle volumes have decreased along Bradley Drive.
Overall cut-through traffic volumes have decreased by 5% since the traffic calming measures
have been implemented.
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In the four years prior to the implementation of the traffic calming measures there were
seventeen (17) motor vehicle collisions along Bradley Drive, for a collision rate of 4.3 per year.
In the three years since the implementation of the traffic calming measures (January 2008
through December 2010) there have been five (5) motor vehicle collisions resulting in a collision
rate of 1.7 per year. Overall this is a reduction in the collision rate by 2.6 collisions per year.
Transportation Planning conducted afollow-up neighbourhood survey as part of the traffic
calming plan for Bradley Drive. In August 2011, a survey package was mailed out to all Bradley
Drive 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. Responses were received from a total of 27 of the 51
residents surveyed, and the results are as follows:
Total Survey Results:
Residents in support of maintaining the existing traffic calming 23 (92%)
Residents not in support of maintaining the existing traffic calming 2 (8%)
Total 25 of 51 (49% response rate)
Based on the results above, it appears that there is neighbourhood support to maintain the
existing traffic calming measures on Bradley Drive. Accordingly, Transportation Planning
recommends that the existing traffic calming measures be retained on Bradley Drive.
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 Bradley Drive 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: Map of Traffic Calming Measures
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Krr~.~-~~,i~iER ~nfrastru~ture Servrces Department www.kitthenerta
Bradley Drive Traffic Calming
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