HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-13-013 - Country Hill Dr - 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:
Justin Mishko, Traffic Technologist, extension 7153
WARD(S) INVOLVED:
Ward 3
DATE OF REPORT:
February 4, 2013
REPORT NO.:
INS-13-013
SUBJECT: COUNTRY HILL DRIVE - TRAFFIC CALMING REVIEW
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That three speed humps be installed on Country Hill Drive between Cherry Hill Drive and
Martinglen Crescent; and,
That one raised crosswalk be installed on Country Hill Drive in front of Country Hills
Public School between Old Country Drive and Coach Hill Drive; and,
That one raised crosswalk be installed on Country Hill Drive at the trail crossing between
Coach Hill Drive and Four Seasons Court.
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 several streets in the City of
Kitchener including Country Hill Drive.
In response, Transportation Services staff have reviewed the existing traffic conditions on
Country Hill Drive and in November 2010, a neighbourhood traffic calming review was initiated
with the intent to reduce vehicle speeds, deter non-residential traffic from the area and reduce
the incidence of collisions, thereby increasing safety for all users within the right of way.
10 - 1
REPORT:
In May 2010, affected area residents were surveyed in order to determine if there was sufficient
neighbourhood support to commence the traffic calming review. Through this survey it was
determined that sufficient resident support existed as per the City of Kitchener Traffic Calming
policy. Subsequently, two public meetings were held in November 2010 and June 2012 to
discuss the traffic calming review process along with the current traffic conditions, alternative
design options as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each design alternative and
present the preferred design alternative option as determined by the traffic calming steering
committee.
As part of the traffic calming review process, staff circulated the preferred design alternative
option to all affected agencies for comment. Kitchener Fire provided the following comments:
Fire maintains its position that the Department does not support traffic calming
initiatives that will affect apparatus response times to emergencies that will in
turn, affect citizen safety. The Department maintains a Council approved
Standard of Cover that outlines our response times to Fire, Medical, Rescue and
HazMat calls and traffic calming initiatives such as the alternatives proposed
have a negative impact on being able to achieve those response times.
In addition to response times, traffic calming initiatives have a detrimental effect
on our apparatus due to additional wear and tear and will have an effect on our
apparatus maintenance budget in the future.
We are in support of alternative traffic calming initiatives that do not affect
response times, such as the flex stake design that has been on trial on Pioneer
Drive. Unfortunately, the alternatives proposed do not include this design.
In addition, Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) responded to the circulation of the
preferred design alternative option. GRCA staff indicated that two of the proposed traffic calming
measures are in proximity to natural heritage features regulated by the GRCA and “based on
the understanding that the proposed improvements are upgrades to existing infrastructure that
will not increase the footprint of the existing road, these upgrades are considered minor works
and a permit from the GRCA will not be required.”
In November 2012, Transportation Services staff mailed a final survey to all affected area
resident and property owners surrounding Country Hill Drive. This survey asked all residents
and property owners if they were in favour of the recommended traffic calming plan. 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.
10 - 2
There were a total of 70 surveys sent out to residents and property owners that abut or are
adjacent to Country Hill Drive. The results of this survey are as follows:
In favour of the recommended plan: 24
(80%)
Opposed to the recommended plan: 6
(20%)
Total 30 responded out of 70 (43%)
Note: Properties with multiple units are considered as one majority vote.
The results of the final survey show that the minimum support rate has been achieved while the
minimum response rate has not. In the event that an additional five votes were received in
response to this final survey, regardless of vote selection, the minimum support rate (which
would equal 69%) and the minimum response rate (which would equal 50%) would be satisfied.
Based on this, Transportation Services staff is recommending that the preferred traffic calming
plan be implemented. This plan includes the following:
three speed humps between Cherry Hill Drive and Martinglen Crescent;
one raised crosswalk in front of Country Hills Public School; and,
one raised crosswalk at the trail crossing between Coach Hill Drive and Four Seasons
Court.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The cost to install the recommended traffic calming measures is approximately $45,000. This
cost will be taken from the existing traffic calming budget.
COMMUNICATIONS:
This project has had extensive public involvement and communication. It has included two
public information centres, two information packages and three surveys including the final
survey.
Attach.
Preferred Traffic Calming Option
Jim Witmer, Interim Deputy CAO
ACKNOWLEDGED BY:
Infrastructure Services Department
10 - 3
Alternative 1 - Preferred Traffic Calming Option
One speed hump between Cherry Hill Drive and Cedarhill Crescent.
One speed hump between the trail crossing and Four Seasons Court.
One speed hump between Four Seasons Court and Martinglen Crescent.
One raised crosswalk in front of Country Hills Public School.
One raised crosswalk at the trail crossing between Coach Hill Drive and Four Seasons
Court.
10 - 4