HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-13-003 - Perth Rd-Pleasant Ave-Belmont Ave - Traffic Calming Review
REPORT TO:
Community and Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING:
February 25, 2013
SUBMITTED BY:
Ken Carmichael, Interim Director of Transportation Services
PREPARED BY:
Danny Pimentel, Traffic Technologist (741-2200 ext. 7371)
WARD(S) INVOLVED: Ward 9
DATE OF REPORT: February 13, 2013
REPORT NO.:
INS-13-003
PERTH ROAD - PLEASANT AVENUE - BELMONT
SUBJECT:
AVENUE NEIGHBOURHOOD – TRAFFIC CALMING
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That traffic calming measures not be implemented for the Perth Road - Pleasant Avenue -
Belmont Avenue Neighbourhood.
BACKGROUND
:
Traffic volume and speeding are significant safety related issues frequently raised by residents
of affected neighbourhoods in the City of Kitchener. In response to these issues, Kitchener City
Council adopted a Traffic Calming Policy in 2004 and established an annual budget to address
traffic management issues in residential neighbourhoods. The traffic calming policy outlines a
number of evaluation criteria that provide a fair and consistent review of streets and
communities, while defining and prioritizing the individual streets and/or communities that are
most in need of traffic calming from a traffic safety perspective.
In June 2009, Council approved DTS Report 09-076, “Traffic Calming Priority List - 2009/2010”,
which recommended that a traffic calming review be conducted for two (2) roadways in the City
of Kitchener including Perth Road.
In order to better define the existing conditions on Perth Road an origin and destination study
was conducted in September 2009. At that time the study indicated that 70 percent of the traffic
using Perth Road was “cut-thru” traffic. Furthermore, during this time period, Transportation
Services was responding to residential requests for an all-way stop to be installed at the
intersections of Perth Road at South Drive and Perth Road at Pleasant Avenue. All-way stop
warrants were conducted for both intersections and the results indicated that both were
warranted. The installation of the all-way stop controls took place in late October 2009. In order
to measure the impact of the all-way stop controls at these intersections a second origin and
destination study was conducted in June 2010, the second study yielded the same results as
the first, with 70 percent of the traffic using Perth Road is “cut-thru” traffic.
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Transportation Services determined that with traffic volume and more importantly “cut –thru”
traffic using this neighbourhood, any traffic calming measures used to deter traffic from using
Perth Road will be diverted to the neighbouring streets such as Glen Road and South Drive.
Furthermore, the adjacent streets to Perth Road have all been included on the Traffic Calming
Priority list, through requests by neighbouring residents.
In August 2010, Council approved DTS Report 10-153, “Perth Road Traffic Calming Review”,
which recommended that the scope of the Perth Road traffic calming review include the
neighbourhood road network of Glen Road, South Drive, Pleasant Avenue and Belmont Avenue
East.
REPORT
:
A total of 265 properties were surveyed in September 2010 in order to determine if there was
sufficient neighbourhood support to commence the traffic calming review. Out of the 93
responses received, 72 (79%) were in favour of initiating a traffic calming review, while 21 (21%)
were against initiating a traffic calming review. Subsequently, two public meetings were held in
March of 2011 and June of 2012 to discuss the traffic calming review process, the current traffic
conditions, alternative design options, the advantages and disadvantages of each design
alternative and present the preferred design alternative option as determined by the traffic
calming steering committee.
In October 2012, Transportation Services staff mailed a final survey to all affected area
residents and property owners within the Perth Road, Pleasant Avenue, Belmont Avenue
neighbourhood. This survey asked all residents and property owners if they were in favour of
the recommended traffic calming plan (see attachment). The intent of the survey was to
determine if there was sufficient support for the implementation of the recommended traffic
calming measures. As per the City of Kitchener Traffic Calming policy, a minimum of 50% of
directly affected residents/property owners must respond to the survey and 60% of the
respondents must support the recommended plan, in order for there to be any further
consideration of the plan.
There were a total of 260 properties surveyed within the boundaries of the study area. The
results of this survey are as follows:
In favour of the recommended plan: 51
(39.8%)
Opposed to the recommended plan: 77
(60.2%)
Total - 128 out of 265 (48.3% response rate)
Based on the results above, the Perth - Pleasant - Belmont Neighbourhood traffic calming
review did not meet the required minimum community support as outlined in the City of
Kitchener Traffic Calming policy. Consequently, Transportation Services is recommending that
traffic calming measures not be implemented for the Perth - Pleasant - Belmont Neighbourhood.
A letter dated January 10, 2013 was sent to the affected residents, advising them that
Transportation Services will be recommending that no further action be taken.
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FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no costs associated with the recommendation.
COMMUNICATIONS:
This project has had extensive public involvement and communication. It has included two (2)
public information centres, two (2) information packages and three (3) surveys including the final
survey.
Attach.
Preferred Traffic Calming Option
Jim Witmer, Interim Deputy CAO
ACKNOWLEDGED BY:
Infrastructure Services Department
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Alternative 3 - Preferred Traffic Calming Option
Two (2) speed humps on Belmont Avenue
One (1) speed hump on South Drive
Belmont Avenue one-way from Queens Boulevard to Perth Road
Pleasant Avenue one-way from Stirling Avenue to Glen Road; Pleasant Avenue
would remain two-way from Glen Road to Queens Boulevard
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