HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-12-042 - Block Line Rd Traffic Operations AnalysisREPORT TO:
Community and Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING:
June 18, 2012
SUBMITTED BY:
John McBride, Director of Transportation Services
PREPARED BY: Barry Cronkite, Transportation Planning Project Manager
(519-741-2738)
WARD(S) INVOLVED:
Ward 6
DATE OF REPORT:
June 6, 2012
REPORT NO.:
INS-12-042
SUBJECT:
Traffic Operations Analysis – Block Line Road (Homer
Watson Boulevard to Westmount Road
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the Block Line Road Traffic Operations Analysis (Homer Watson Boulevard to
Westmount Road) prepared by HDR Corporation, dated May, 2012 be approved; and
further,
That the necessary funding to implement the reconstruction be funded from the Road
Resurfacing program, the Cycling Master Plan program and the Development Charge
Fund as outlined in the Financial Implications section.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Kitchener completed a Class C Environmental Assessment (EA) for the extension of
Block Line Road from Homer Watson Boulevard to Courtland Avenue in February 2001. The
first two phases of construction; extending Block Line Road from Homer Watson Boulevard to
Lennox Lewis Way; has been completed. The extension from Lennox Lewis Way to Courtland
Avenue is anticipated to begin construction later in 2012 and be completed in 2013. The
impending extension of Block Line Road to Courtland Avenue will create a “new” continuous
east-west corridor that will serve as an alternative to both Ottawa Street and Bleams Road.
The Region of Waterloo has implemented a roundabout at the intersection of Homer Watson
Boulevard and Block Line Road to provide increased capacity at the intersection in the future.
Additionally, Block Line Road from Homer Watson Boulevard to Westmount Road is scheduled
for a full resurfacing.
The EA conducted for the extension of Block Line Road in 2001 assumed 4 lanes from
Westmount Road to Homer Watson Boulevard, however, in its present condition, this section of
roadway is 2 lanes with on street cycling facilities. It was converted from a 4 lane roadway to 2
lanes and bike lanes in the summer of 1999, shortly after the commencement of the EA for the
extension of Block Line Road.
Because of the assumed roadway characteristics within the EA, very little consideration was
given to Block Line Road outside of the identified extension. It was assumed at the time that the
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roadway could be reinstated to 4 lanes. At that time, the primary responsibility of any arterial
roadway was to move traffic. While it’s still the same today, the need for “complete streets” that
accommodate all modes of travel is required to sustain growth within the City of Kitchener.
Accordingly, in May 2011, the City retained HDR Corporation to complete a traffic operations
analysis and a preliminary design for Block Line Road improvements from Homer Watson
Boulevard to Westmount Road if required (see attached location map).
While a substantial change in traffic patterns is anticipated with the completion of the extension
of Block Line Road to Courtland Avenue, the study was required to analyze the full extent of the
impact that increased traffic will have on the existing portion of Block Line Road from
Westmount Road to Homer Watson Boulevard, and address the need to accommodate all users
(cyclists and pedestrians) in addition to vehicular traffic.
REPORT:
HDR Corporation has completed the Traffic Operations Analysis for Block Line Road from
Homer Watson Boulevard to Westmount Road with direction from City Staff.
The primary objective of the traffic operations analysis was to identify the needs of Block Line
Road in the future, given anticipated growth due to the extension of Block Line Road to
Courtland Avenue as well as increased development within the southwest area of the City.
To address the identified deficiencies in the existing road corridor, staff and HDR Corporation
identified the following changes:
To be installed in 2012:
Block Line Road between Westmount
Block Line Road is currently in disrepair
Road and app. 200m south of Strasburg
and was scheduled for a full resurfacing
Road
in 2012/2013. The budgeted funds for
this work will be incorporated into the
larger project to pay for the works
attributable to the general resurfacing.
Add 2 pedestrian refuge islands to assist
in safer pedestrian crossings of Block
Line Road and increase access to
McLennan Park
To be installed in 2013 to support the extension of Block Line Road:
Block Line Road / Rittenhouse Drive
Add a 20m westbound left turn storage
lane. To be installed to support the
Block Line Road extension.
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Block Line Road / Strasburg Road
Add an 80m second northbound through lane
plus taper on south leg.
Block Line Road between 200m south of
Add a second through lane per direction
Strasburg Road and Homer Watson
on Block Line Road.
Boulevard
Road resurfacing and pavement
delineation
To be installed at a future date:
Block Line Road / Laurentian Drive
Traffic Signal installation (continue to
monitor and install when warranted)
In order to accommodate the specified changes to the travelled portion of the roadway, it has
also been recommended that multi use trails be installed on both sides of Block Line Road from
Homer Watson Boulevard to Westmount Road. Block Line Road is identified as a “Priority
Route” within the Cycling Master Plan, and is required to provide connectivity within the City’s
cycling network.
COMMUNICATIONS:
As part of this project, a Public Information Centre was conducted in April 2012 to provide the
public, agencies, stakeholders, interested and affected parties with an opportunity to review and
comment on the study findings including the proposed design. The direct mail-outs to adjacent
property owners provided a general project overview, as well as contact names and information
for those interested.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The total estimated construction cost for the project is $1,400,000 (excluding signal installation
at Laurentian Drive) and will be funded as follows:
Note Project Name Source of Funding Amount
1 Resurfacing of Various City Streets Federal Gas Tax $323,000
2 Cycling Masterplan Implementation Parking Enterprise $185,000
3 Development Charges Reserve Fund Development Charges $892,000
TOTAL $1,400,000
Note:
1. A portion of the work to be completed relates to resurfacing the existing portion of Block
Line Road and scheduled for a full resurfacing in 2012/2013. The cost estimate for this
work is $323,000 and will be funded through the resurfacing budget.
2. The anticipated cost to relocate the cycling facilities to boulevard level is $185,000.
Because these works are required to maintain the integrity of the City’s cycling facilities
and promote “complete streets”, this amount will be paid for through the annual Cycling
Program. Accordingly, this amount will be applied to the annual cycling program for
2013.
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3. The need for the remainder of the recommended improvements is a direct result of the
extension of Block Line Road to Courtland Avenue and continued development of the
south west portion of the City. Therefore the remaining $892,000 in improvements
required to accommodate traffic demands will be funded through development charges.
The development charge reserve fund ended the year $750,000 better than was
projected during the 2012 budget process. This means that $750,000 of the required
$892,000 could be funded without compromising the previously projected position of the
reserve fund at the end of 2014. The remaining $142,000 of funding required will need
to come for development charge capital closeouts in 2012 or by reprioritizing
development charge funded projects scheduled for 2013 or 2014.
CONCLUSION:
The City of Kitchener is responsible for the management and rehabilitation of Block Line Road.
Therefore, the required improvements must be completed in a timely and efficient manner to
support the extension of Block Line Road to Courtland Avenue.
Block Line Road between Homer Watson Boulevard and Westmount Road requires road
improvements in order to be able to adequately address the increase in traffic that is anticipated
as a result of the extension of Block Line to Courtland Avenue . Further, Block Line Road is
identified as a core cycling facility within the Cycling Master Plan, and the inclusion of cycling
facilities are required to maintain the integrity of the City’s cycling infrastructure. Therefore Staff
recommend that the Block Line Road Traffic Operations Analysis (Homer Watson Boulevard to
Westmount Road) and the improvements contained therein be approved in their entirety.
Proceeding with the improvements for Block Line Road in 2013, enables the roadway to
adequately handle the volume of traffic anticipated by the extension of the roadway.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY:
Pauline Houston, Deputy CAO
Infrastructure Services Department
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Study Area
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