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Home My WebLink AboutINS-12-013 - Laurentian Drive Follow Up Review1 Staff Re ort p Krr~.~-~~,i~iER ~nfrastru~ture Servrces Department www.kitthenerta REPORT T0: Community and Infrastructure Services Committee DATE OF MEETING: January 9, 2012 SUBMITTED BY: John McBride, Director of Transportation Planning PREPARED BY: Danny Pimentel, Traffic Technologist (741-2371 } WARD(S) INVOLVED: Ward 6 DATE OF REPORT: December 23, 2011 REPORT NO.: INS-12-013 SUBJECT: LAURENTIAN DRIVE -TRAFFIC CALMING FOLLOW UP REVIEW RECOMMENDATION: That the existing traffic calming measures (five (5) speed humps and two (2) raised crosswalks with curb extensions) on Laurentian Drive from Westmount Road East to Block Line Road remain in place. BACKGROUND: Transportation Planning had received requests from residents of Laurentian Drive to review the existing traffic conditions. According to the concerns indicated, excessive speeding regularly occurs on Laurentian Drive, and safety is compromised due to excessive volume and traffic related to schools in the area. In March 2008, a traffic calming review was initiated for Laurentian Drive. The first public meeting was held in April 2008. 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 2009, a second public meeting was held to present five (5) design options (including a do-nothing option) to the residents of Laurentian 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 five (5) speed humps and two (2) raised crosswalks with curb extensions along Laurentian Drive. This plan was well-received by the residents. A final traffic calming recommendation, based on this plan, was submitted to Council in September 2009 (DTS-09-123). The recommended traffic calming measures were installed in the spring of 2010. REPORT: As part of the review of the traffic calming measures along Laurentian Drive, Transportation Planning has compared the data for speeds, traffic volumes, and collisions based on conditions observed both before and after the traffic calming installation. 4-1 In June 2011, updated traffic volume and speed data was collected on Laurentian Drive, in order to determine the effectiveness of the traffic calming measures. The results of these studies are summarized in the table below: Laurentian Drive -Volumes and Speeds Volumes Speeds (kmlh) Count Station Location Date EB WB Total Change EB WB Avg. Change Between Blackhorne June 2008 1269 1867 3136 49.2 56.0 52.6 Drive and Briar Knoll 36 8% 17 3% - . . - Drive June 2011 951 1032 1983 43.9 43.1 43.5 October 2004* 1893 1967 3860 56.1 52.0 54.1 B D t ween unsmere e Drive and Shea August 2008 1450 1532 2982 +2.6%* 53.6 54.3 54.0 -10.0% Crescent June 2011 1530 1531 3061 47.3 49.8 48.6 June 2001 * 2037 2162 4199 55.3 58.4 56.9 Between Cartier Drive and Darcy Place August 2008 984 1030 2014 +5.2%* 50.7 48.6 49.7 -4.2% June 2011 1043 1081 2124 49.9 45.3 47.6 NOTE: 85th percentile speed is the speed at which 85% of vehicles are travelling at or below. The results on Laurentian Drive between Blackhorne Drive and Briar Knoll Drive show a reduction in both vehicle speeds and volumes, in both the eastbound and westbound directions. This data was collected during the school year for both before and after the study year. However the remaining count locations were not completed during similar times of the year. Prior to the installation of the traffic calming measures, studies were conducted during the summer months of 2008, while the studies after implementation were conducted during the school year in 2011. It is typical for volumes on roadways to see an increase in vehicles during school months when compared to non-school months, particularly on a roadway that serves two schools. For the two locations that were counted in August of 2008, additional data has been provided. The studies conducted in both 2001 and 2004 where completed during school months. Although this data is dated and other factors may have resulted in higher volumes for Laurentian Drive during those years, it can be assumed that volumes have decreased since the implementation of traffic calming on Laurentian Drive. In the three (3) years prior to the implementation of the traffic calming measures there were eighteen (18) motor vehicle collisions along Laurentian Drive, for a collision rate of 6.0 per year. In the one year since the implementation of the traffic calming measures (April 2010 through April 2011) there have been three (3) motor vehicle collisions resulting in a collision rate of 3.0 per year. Overall this is a reduction in the collision rate by 3.0 collisions per year. Transportation Planning conducted afollow-up neighbourhood survey as part of the traffic calming plan for Laurentian Drive. In November 2011, a survey package was mailed out to all Laurentian 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 32 of the 102 residents surveyed, and the results are as follows: 4-2 Total Survey Results: Residents in support of maintaining the existing traffic calming 27 (84%) Residents not in support of maintaining the existing traffic calming 5 (16%) Total 32 of 102 (31 % response rate) Based on the results above, it appears that there is neighbourhood support to maintain the existing traffic calming measures on Laurentian Drive. Accordingly, Transportation Planning recommends that the existing traffic calming measures be retained on Laurentian 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 Laurentian 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 4-3 Laurentian Drive Traffic Calming .~ ~~ 1~ _~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~+ icti °.~ L]~` ~ • ~. ~~~ ~a:r: ~~ e ~"~r~~.r~ s ~~ y _ ~ ~ ~~'~'~: .~ _ ~~ '~ '~ ~ ~ ~` ~ y ~ ~ ~ * ~ ... ~~ ~~ ~~ ~ ~. ~. ~ ~ ~~- r~ ~~ .. ~~ :~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~~ ~~~~ ~ ,. R ~~. .~ °., ,. ~ ., ~ x 1 ~~,~ _ +~ , __ __ -~ ~-~~ ~ t r._. _ #~ ~^ .., , _ r ~. ~~ _~ - ~. ~~~ , ~.~ - _ ~M~ LEGEND ~ Raised Crosswalk ~ Speed Hump 4-4 ~~ ~ r . ckky