Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-12-058 - Margaret Ave Road Diet - Traffic and Pavement MarkREPORT TO: Community and Infrastructure Services Committee DATE OF MEETING: September 10, 2012 SUBMITTED BY: John McBride, Director of Transportation Services PREPARED BY: Justin Mishko, extension 3203 WARD(S) INVOLVED: Ward 10 DATE OF REPORT: July 11, 2012 REPORT NO.: INS-12-058 MARGARET AVENUE ROAD DIET - TRAFFIC AND SUBJECT: PAVEMENT MARKING PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS: That Schedule 1 - No Parking of the Uniform Traffic By-law, be amended to change the on-street parking regulations for specified sections of Margaret Avenue, as outlined in Appendix ‘A’ of Infrastructure Services Department report INS-12-058; and, That on-street cycle lanes be installed on the south side of Margaret Avenue from Victoria Street North to the City limits; and, That on-street cycle lanes be installed on the north side of Margaret Avenue from a point 50 metres west of Victoria Street North to the City limits; and, That on-street parking areas be defined through on-road pavement markings; and further; That the Uniform Traffic By-law be amended accordingly. BACKGROUND: Transportation Services has received requests to review the traffic conditions on Margaret Avenue, more specifically, to address concerns regarding speeding, pedestrian safety, and cycling safety. The Cycling Advisory Committee, in its presentation to Council on February 27, 2012 included the provision of cycle lanes on Margaret Avenue from the City of Waterloo to Victoria Street North as one of the five priorities for completion in 2012. REPORT: According to the City of Kitchener’s Official Plan, Margaret Avenue is designated as a major collector roadway, providing access to: the surrounding street network within this neighbourhood; City of Waterloo; as well as Kitchener’s downtown core. Margaret Avenue is a two lane roadway, has a pavement width varying between 11.5 metres and 14.5 metres, with a speed limit of 50 km/h as per the Uniform Traffic By-law. Roadway properties such as this typically enhance driver comfort levels, thereby increasing operating speeds and decreasing comfort levels of pedestrians and cyclists. î ó ï To quantify the traffic conditions on Margaret Avenue, Transportation Services staff deployed automated data recording units to capture speed and volume data on Margaret Avenue between Blucher Street and Wilhelm Street and between Guelph Street and Fairfield Avenue. The results of the studies are as follows: ¬¸ ݱ«²¬ßßÜÌèëл®½»²¬·´» Ô±½¿¬·±²ßßÜÌ Ü¿¬»Ý±³¾·²»¼Í°»»¼øµ³ñ¸÷ Ó¿®¹¿®»¬ßª»²«»¾»¬©»»²Ñ½¬Ò±®¬¸¾±«²¼æîèèë ëêïèëê Þ´«½¸»®Í¬®»»¬úÉ·´¸»´³Í¬®»»¬îðïïͱ«¬¸¾±«²¼æîéíí Ó¿®¹¿®»¬ßª»²«»¾»¬©»»²Ñ½¬Ò±®¬¸¾±«²¼æîççð ëèïìëè Ù«»´°¸Í¬®»»¬úÚ¿·®º·»´¼ßª»²«»îðïïͱ«¬¸¾±«²¼æîèîì Margaret Avenue is part of the priority network of the Cycling Master Plan (2010). In that Margaret Avenue is classified as a major collector roadway, cycle lanes have been identified as the most appropriate cycling facility in this case. Cycle lanes provide adequate separation between cyclists and motorists on a roadway with the traffic volumes and speeds such as Margaret Avenue. The proposed bike lanes would link with the existing bike lanes on Margaret Avenue in Waterloo. In a presentation to Council on February 27, 2012, the Cycling Advisory Committee established five priorities for projects to be completed in 2012. Cycle lanes on Margaret Avenue are one of these priorities. The Cycling Advisory Committee recognises the importance of this route to cyclists in Kitchener and Waterloo. The rationale for the cycle lanes provided by the Cycling Advisory Committee was: Significant safety improvements for cyclists; Cycling Master Plan priority network; Primary bike route from northwest Kitchener; A primary link to Waterloo and their cycling network The recommended installation of said cycle lanes will serve in helping to reduce the overall pavement width which will have a positive impact on pedestrian safety and lowered vehicle operating speeds, as well as complying with the Cycling Master Plan by installing an integral cycling link connecting the City of Waterloo with the surrounding area neighbourhoods and Kitchener’s downtown core. The installation of on-street cycle lanes on Margaret Avenue will impact on-street parking facilities. Currently there are approximately ninety-six (96) available spaces; the recommended changes to on-street parking on Margaret Avenue between Victoria Street North to the City limits will result in a loss of approximately four (4) spaces. Details of the recommended on-street parking configurations can be found in Appendix A. The existing “no stopping” between 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday to Friday along Margaret Avenue is proposed to be eliminated as it is no longer required and is not listed in, Schedule 4 – No Stopping. Transportation Services staff held a public information centre on April 25, 2012 where affected residents attended to review and comment on the proposed traffic and pavement marking plan, as well as provide additional comments on other related areas of concern. The meeting was attended by approximately 30 area residents along with local media. Through a drop in meeting format, existing conditions and recommended designs were discussed with the residents. Several comments were received via comment forms and emails, all of which welcomed the better use of the pavement width on Margaret Avenue. A few operational issues were identified which have î ó î either been implemented into these recommendations, or have been addressed outside of this review. ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN: This initiative falls under the Community Priority of Quality of Life. “Work with partners, including all orders of government, to create a culture of safety in our community.” By working with the neighbourhood, safety concerns related to vehicle speeds, pedestrian safety and cyclist safety have been addressed. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: The approximate cost for the installation the necessary signage and pavement markings to accommodate the delineated on-street parking and cycle facilities is $13,000 including materials and installation. The cycling master plan will absorb $6,000 with the remaining being taken from the general sign maintenance account. COMMUNICATIONS: Transportation Services staff held a public information centre on April 25, 2012. Several comments were received via comment forms and emails, all of which welcomed the better use of the pavement width on Margaret Avenue. A few operational issues were identified which have either been implemented into these recommendations, or have been addressed outside of this review. Resident comments and feedback have been incorporated into the above mentioned recommendations. ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Jim Witmer, Interim Deputy CAO Infrastructure Services Department î ó í “APPENDIX A” Proposed changes to on-street parking regulations “No Parking Anytime” DELETE Margaret Avenue North Wellington Street North A point 37 m west of Adam Street Margaret Avenue North Blucher Street Fairfield Avenue Margaret Avenue South Wilhelm Street Louisa Street Margaret Avenue South 133m west of Guelph Street Blucher Street ADD Margaret Avenue North 35m east of Wellington Street North Louisa Street Margaret Avenue North Adam Street Guelph Street Margaret Avenue North 40m east of Fairfield Avenue City limit Margaret Avenue South Wellington Street A point 50m west of Louisa Street Margaret Avenue South Blucher Street A point 65m east of Blucher Street Margaret Avenue South Guelph Street A point 20m east of Hartwood Avenue NOTE: Parking revisions outlined in the following parking plans î ó ì Margaret Avenue: Victoria Street to Breithaupt Street – Current MargaretAvenue: Victoria Street to Breithaupt Street – Proposed î ó ë Margaret Avenue: Breithaupt Street to Louisa Street – Current MargaretAvenue: Breithaupt Street to Louisa Street – Proposed î ó ê Margaret Avenue: Louisa Street to Blucher Street – Current MargaretAvenue: Louisa Street to Blucher Street – Proposed î ó é Margaret Avenue: Blucher Street to Fairfield Avenue – Current MargaretAvenue: Blucher Street to Fairfield Avenue – Proposed î ó è Margaret Avenue: Fairfield Avenue to City limit – Current MargaretAvenue: Fairfield Avenue to City limit – Proposed î ó ç