HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-13-031 - Dixon St - Carwood Ave - Traffic Calming Follow-Up Review
REPORT TO:
Community and Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING:
April 22, 2013
SUBMITTED BY:
Ken Carmichael, Interim Director of Transportation Services
PREPARED BY: Justin Mishko, Traffic Technologist, extension 7153
WARD(S) INVOLVED: Ward 9
DATE OF REPORT:
March 14, 2013
REPORT NO.:
INS-13-031
DIXON STREET / CARWOOD AVENUE – TRAFFIC
SUBJECT:
CALMING FOLLOW UP REVIEW
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the existing traffic calming measures (five speed humps, one intersection
narrowing, one raised crosswalk and one all-way stop control at the intersection of
Dixon Street and Carwood Avenue) on Dixon Street and Carwood Avenue remain in
place.
BACKGROUND:
Transportation Services staff initiated a traffic calming review for Dixon Street / Carwood
Avenue in 2008 in response to concerns raised by area residents regarding traffic volumes
and speeds. As a result of this traffic calming review, a series of traffic calming measures
were installed on both roadways. These measures were installed as per the recommendations
in Report DTS-09-071 in the fall of 2011 and included five speed humps, one intersection
narrowing, one raised crosswalk and one all-way stop control at the intersection of Dixon
Street and Carwood Avenue.
Transportation Services staff has conducted a one year follow up review of the traffic calming
measures installed. The intention of this review is to evaluate the effectiveness of the traffic
calming plan in terms of ensuring that the measures have successfully mitigated the traffic
issues identified by affected area residents and to ensure that residents are generally satisfied
with the outcome.
REPORT:
As part of the one year follow up review, Transportation Services staff updated traffic volume
and speed data to determine the effectiveness of the traffic calming measures installed on
Dixon Street and Carwood Avenue. The results of these studies are summarized in the table on
the following page:
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DixonStreetVolumesandSpeeds
th
Volumes85PercentileSpeeds(km/h)
CountStation
Date
Location
NBSBTotalChangeNBSBCombinedChange
May2008N/AN/A365455.755.055.4
PlymouthRd.
40.5%8.5%
toCarlinAv.
Oct201210311145217649.851.650.7
Sep2008N/AN/A333756.057.456.7
CarlinAv.to
37.2%18.3%
CarwoodCr.
Oct20129981098209645.247.446.3
CarwoodAvenueVolumesandSpeeds
th
Volumes85PercentileSpeeds(km/h)
CountStation
Date
Location
EBWBTotalChangeEBWBCombinedChange
Sep2008N/AN/A401158.758.858.8
CarwoodCr.to
33.8%17.2%
CourtlandAv.
Oct201212781377265548.049.448.7
The results of these studies show significant changes in both volumes and vehicle operating
speeds.
In the three years prior to the implementation of the traffic calming measures there were
fifteen motor vehicle collisions on Dixon Street and Carwood Avenue within the study area;
this yields a collision rate of five per year. In the one year since the implementation of traffic
calming measures (November 2011 through November 2012) there has been one motor
vehicle collision.
Transportation Services staff conducted a follow up neighbourhood survey as part of the
traffic calming plan for Dixon Street and Carwood Avenue. In February 2013, a survey
package was mailed out to all affected area residents within the scope of the review 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. The results of
this survey are as follows:
In favour of retaining traffic calming measures: 33 (76%)
In favour of removing traffic calming measures: 5 (12%)
Undecided: 5 (12%)
TOTAL: 43 out of 174 (25% responded)
Based on the results above, it is indicative that there is neighbourhood support to maintain the
existing traffic calming measures on Dixon Street and Carwood Avenue. Accordingly,
Transportation Services recommends that the existing traffic calming measure remain in place
on a permanent basis.
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Through the traffic calming follow review process the desire to have installed a centre median
island for the eastbound approach to Carwood Avenue and Carwood Crescent was identified.
Transportation Services staff will be working towards the installation of the centre median island
by fall 2013.
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:
The approximate cost for the installation of the centre median island is $1500 and will be taken
from the existing traffic calming budget.
COMMUNICATIONS:
This project has had extensive public involvement and communication which is culminating with
the one year follow up to the installation of the preferred traffic calming plan for Dixon Street and
Carwood Avenue.
Pauline Houston, Deputy CAO
ACKNOWLEDGED BY:
Infrastructure Services Department
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