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HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-13-052 - On-Street Stopping Restrictions - Woodfield St REPORT TO:Community and Infrastructure Services Committee DATE OF MEETING: May 27, 2013 SUBMITTED BY: Ken Carmichael, Interim Director, Transportation Planning PREPARED BY: Ronald Schirm, Crossing Guard Supervisor (Ext. 7232) WARD(S) INVOLVED: Ward 4 DATE OF REPORT: May 8, 2013 REPORT NO.: INS-13-052 SUBJECT: ON-STREET STOPPING RESTRICTIONS – WOODFIELD STREET RECOMMENDATIONS: That stopping be prohibited from 8:00 A.M. – 4:30 P.M, Monday to Friday, on the east side of Woodfield Street from a point 30 metres north of Apple Ridge Drive to a point 25 metres north of Woodfield Court; and further, That the Uniform Traffic By-law be amended accordingly. BACKGROUND : Woodfield Street is a local residential roadway located in Ward 4. In response to an identifiable operational concern as specified by local residents and in order to ensure the safe operation of two-way and pedestrian traffic and emergency vehicle access, a review of on-street parking and stopping regulations was required. REPORT : Transportation Services has received a request to review the existing parking regulations on Woodfield Street. Currently, on-street parking is permitted on both sides of Woodfield Street for a maximum period of three (3) consecutive hours, as outlined in the City of Kitchener Uniform Traffic By-law No. 2007-138. Woodfield Street is used extensively by parents and care givers of students of J.W. Gerth Public School at bell times. A school crossing is located on Apple Ridge Drive at the intersection of Woodfield Street. In conjunction with this school crossing, a no stopping anytime zone is located on both sides of Woodfield Street from Apple Ridge Drive to 30 metres north thereof, as outlined in the general provisions of the City of Kitchener Uniform Traffic By-law No. 2007-138. Transportation Services has reviewed this issue including numerous field investigations, and has concluded that insufficient sightlines can exist with vehicles parking on both sides of Woodfield Street, especially in the curve of the roadway. Further, there are concerns that when vehicles are parked on both sides of the roadway, emergency access is severely limited to that area of Woodfield Street as well as Woodfield Court. 4 - 1 Transportation Services recommends prohibiting stopping from 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M., Monday to Friday, along the east side of Woodfield Street from the end of the no stopping zone, which is 30 metres north of Apple Ridge Drive, to a point 25 metres north of Woodfield Court to ensure safe two-way traffic operations and emergency vehicle access on the roadway. As this high demand for parking/stopping is related exclusively to school related activities and to lessen the impact on local residents it is recommended that this be a weekday prohibition only. It is anticipated that a loss of approximately ten parking spaces will result from this prohibition. Additionally, Transportation Services will arrange for the installation of no parking anytime signs on the west side of Woodfield Street 15 metres on either side of Woodfield Court as per the general provisions in the City of Kitchener Uniform Traffic By-law No. 2007-138. 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, on-street parking concerns have been addressed. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS : The approximate cost for sign installations for the roadway is $1000 and will be taken from the existing sign maintenance budget. COMMUNICATIONS : Residents in the immediate area were advised of this proposed stopping regulation change through a mail out sent in April 2013. One concern was received regarding which side of Woodfield Street should have the stopping restriction. Transportation Services staff advised the resident that the most effective location for these restrictions is the east side of the roadway as it encompasses the inside of the curve in the roadway. ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Pauline Houston, Deputy CAO Infrastructure Services Department 4 - 2 INS Report 13-052 Appendix “A” Proposed No Stopping 8:00 A.M - 4:30 P.M. Monday to Friday Proposed Corner Parking Restriction Proposed No Stopping 8:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M. Monday to Friday zone JW Gerth Public School School Crossing Existing No Stopping Anytime Zone 4 - 3