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HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-13-055 - Glasgow St Traffic Calming - Complete INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TRANSPORTATION SERVICES Barry Cronkite Transportation Planning Project Manager 200 King Street West P.O. Box 1118 Phone: (519) 741-2200 ext. 7738 Fax: (519) 741-2747 TTY: (866) 969-9994 E-mail: barry.cronkite@kitchener.ca 10 June 2013 TO: RESIDENTS OF GLASGOW STREET Dear Sir/Madam: RE: Glasgow Street Traffic Calming Review As you may be aware, the City of Kitchener initiated a traffic c response to concerns raised by area residents. Based on the results of the review, Transportation Services tabl th Community and Infrastructure Services Committee on May 27 2013, recommending that a series of traffic calming measures be installed on Glasgow Street between Fischer Hallman recommended that bike lanes be installed between Belmont Avenue impending road reconstruction. One of the concerns raised at the Committee meeting was that res may not have fully understood the implications of the full recon the inclusion of bike lanes. Resultantly, the report was deferr have ample opportunity to consider the ramifications of Council For your information plans can be viewed at: http://www.kitchener.ca/en/livinginkitchener/TrafficCalming.asp Currently there is parking permitted on the east side of Glasgow stst approximately 83 (23 of the 83 available spaces are prohibited f – March 31 ) spaces available on the east side that would otherwise be lost through the addition of ce lane. While there is a considerable supply of on-street parking parking on-street due to the low density nature of the street an staff during evening and weekend periods, indicate that parking being parked on-street at any one time. These vehicles would ha or on adjacent side streets, thus mitigating the overall impact Another issue raised at the Committee meeting was the potential Street between Westmount Road and Knell Drive. Much like the ci residential facility, but a facility provided for the Community community. While barrier free accessibility and inclusive walka both sides of any roadway, the Pedestrian Charter also speaks th The Pedestrian Charter has been adopted by City of Kitchener cou pedestrians and related matters in the city on a pedestrian scal “To create an Urban environment in all parts of the city that en 10 - 1 Uphold the right of pedestrians of all ages and abilities to sa conditions Provide a walking environment with the public right-of-way and for travel, exercise and recreation Provide and maintain infrastructure that gives pedestrians safe and crossing streets Ensure that residents’ access to basic community amenities and public transit use Walkable communities encourage and facilitate community health, are also inherit principles of a sustainable transportation syst Master Plan (currently in draft under review), encourages a more and efficient movement of pedestrians, cycling and transit over Glasgow Street is served by Grand River Transit (route 4), with pedestrian friendly (there is no sidewalk, or bus pad. Users wa Transit offered the following comments: “The transit Network Redesign and Transportation Master Plan con a transit corridor for the future. The reconstruction work sche upgrade pedestrian amenities along Glasgow St in ways that can c Glasgow Street is part of the Westmount neighbourhood, a mature walkable, and accessible for the entire community. Community fe community with the provision of sidewalks. The deferred portion of Report INS-13-055 – “Glasgow Street Traf and Infrastructure Services Committee on: Monday, June 17, 2013 Time: To Be Determined Kitchener Council Chambers City Hall, 200 King Street West You may appear at that time as a delegate either for or against regard, please contact Colin Goodeve of our City Clerks Departme colin.goodeve@kitchener.ca by the end of the business day on Fri meeting. The time of the meeting will not be set until late on Services or City Clerks to confirm the timing of the meeting acc If you have any questions regarding traffic calming on Glasgow S please contact the undersigned Monday to Friday between the hour Regards, Barry Cronkite Transportation Planning Project Manager Cc: Mayor and Members of Council 10 - 2 10 - 3 Community and Infrastructure Services Committee REPORT TO: May 27, 2013 DATE OF MEETING: Ken Carmichael, Interim Director of Transportation Services SUBMITTED BY: Barry Cronkite, Transportation Planning Project Manager PREPARED BY: (519-741-2200 x. 7738) Ward 8 WARD(S) INVOLVED: May 15, 2013 DATE OF REPORT: INS-13-055 REPORT NO.: GLASGOW STREET TRAFFIC CALMING SUBJECT: RECOMMENDATIONS: That a series of two (2) medians and two (2) chicanes be install between Fischer Hallman Road and Knell Drive; and further; That bicycle lanes be installed on Glasgow Street between Belmon Drive; and further; That the Uniform Traffic Control By-law be amended accordingly. BACKGROUND: The existing City of Kitchener traffic calming policy was adopted by Council in August 2004 (DTS 04-125). This policy outlines a number of evaluation crite consistent review of streets and communities, while defining and streets that are most in need of traffic calming, from a traffic Through the approval of report INS-11-066 in August 2011, Glasgo Hallman Road to Belmont Avenue West), was approved for a formal timing of the review was intended to allow for any potential tra incorporated in to the reconstruction of Glasgow Street in 2013/ Report INS-11-066 was brought forth to Council as a result of a appeared at Council on Jun 13/11, requesting the consideration o calming measures on Glasgow Street between Fischer Hallman Road REPORT Glasgow Street is designated as a major collector roadway within Plan. The function of a major collector roadway is to collect a streets, other collector roadways and the arterial road system, 10 - 4 through traffic between neighbourhoods. The expected traffic vo roadways is 8,000 to 12,000 vehicles per day. The posted speed limit is 40 km/h as outlined within the City of By-law 2007-138. The speed limit was reduced from 50 km/h to 40 establishment of the formal traffic calming policy in an attempt In 2000, Glasgow Street was reconstructed from Fischer Hallman R existing rural road cross-section was updated to an urban cross- and gutter, sidewalk on one side, bicycle lanes and defined traf Glasgow Street between Knell Drive and Westmount Road is schedul 2014, while the reconstruction of Glasgow Street between Westmou Avenue is underway. The reconstruction of roadways can provide traffic calming measures into the roadway design. On February 29, 2012 our study team held its first public meetin concerns on Glasgow Street between Belmont Avenue and Fischer Ha approaches to developing solutions. The existing traffic conditi Automated Volume & Speed Studies th CountAADT 85 Percentile Location AADT DateCombined Speed (km/h) SeptEastbound – 2534 5354 58 between Knell and Westwood 2011Westbound – 2820 SeptEastbound – 2505 between Knell and Inwood 5273 51 2011Westbound – 2768 SeptEastbound – 3496 7128 51 Between Avondale and Dunbar 2011Westbound – 3632 th Note:The 85 percentile speed is the speed at which 85% of vehicles are trav Note: Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) Speeds recorded are typically what is anticipated for a roadway with the exception of the section between Knell Drive and Westwo the general disrepair of Glasgow Street between Knell Drive and anticipated that speeds could increase following reconstruction roadway not occur. 10 - 5 Collision Analysis (2009-2012) A four (4) year collision history was reviewed along Glasgow Str Road and Belmont Avenue with a total of twenty two (22) reported summary of the collision history: Initial Impact Type YearTotal RearTurning Approaching SideswipeSMV Angle EndMovement 2012 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 2011 0 1 3 3 0 1 8 2010 2 2 0 4 0 0 8 2009 0 0 1 3 0 0 4 Total 2 3 6 10 0 1 22 It should be noted that the collision history does not include t and Belmont Avenue/Westmount Road/Fischer Hallman road as they a Regional jurisdiction and further, collisions at these intersections are not mitigateable by traffic calming. The collision history for Glasgow Street shows that a variety of along this street. However, ten (10) of the collisions are rear intersections and can, at least partially be attributed to drive Community Response As part of the initial public meeting, attendees and residents w within the neighbourhood, and identify potential solutions. The st input received following the 1 public meeting: A total of twenty nine (29) responses were received, seventeen Glasgow Street residents. The majority of the responses received identified speed and vol as the main concerns. The following measures were identified within the responses rec alternatives to calm traffic. 10 - 6 Requested Traffic Calming Alternatives While many different measures were suggested through the respons common thread with the alternatives suggested for solutions on G exception of all-way stops. Accordingly, Transportation Service Glasgow Street and Westwood Drive, Knell Drive, Inwood Drive, Ab Road for the inclusion of all-way stops along Glasgow Street, ho this time. Additionally, any measures that included vertical deflections we the collector nature of Glasgow Street. Additionally, Glasgow S for Emergency Services and is also a transit route. Any vertica significant impact on overall emergency response rate. Early in the evaluation process it was also determined that, due that traffic calming options from Westmount Road to Belmont Aven narrow road right of way and carriageway, with mature trees, so measures that involve increasing the effective roadway width had Additionally, the Cycling Master Plan designates Glasgow Street the cycling network and therefore, in all alternatives bike lane considered between Belmont Avenue and Westmount Road. This does Kitchener’s Cycling Master Plan. A second public meeting was held on July 5, 2012 to present the and disadvantages of each alternative, and to present the prefer by the steering committee. Attendees were asked to provide any recommended plan was developed. The alternatives that were consi follows: Bicycle lanes along Glasgow Street from Fischer Hallman Road to A center boulevard from Fischer Hallman Road to Westmount Road access at intersections) A series of five (5) medians strategically located Fischer Hall Road. 10 - 7 The series of medians was identified and presented as the prefer nd Following the 2 public meeting a total of seventy (70) responses were received, which were from Glasgow Street residents and forty one (41) of t door campaign in opposition to our initial preferred alternative Westmount Rd). Based on all of the feedback provided, a number of changes were alternative. Additionally, a second alternative was prepared usi rd petition that was received. A 3 meeting was held on September 27, 2012, to introduce these new alternatives to the neighbourhood. The alternatives present Westmount Road to Belmont Avenue – Bicycle Lanes Bicycle lanes will result in narrower vehicle lanes which will operating speeds Supports recommendations outlined in the approved Cycling Maste The loss of on-street parking is a concern, as parking is prohi bicycle lanes. While a complete loss of parking was indicated a received indicated a general preference for this alternative The provision of on-street parking was investigated, however it impact the existing mature trees Fischer Hallman Road to Knell Drive – Chicanes/Medians Glasgow Street, from Fischer Hallman Road to Knell Drive, is no reconstruction as it was reconstructed in 2000 A series of strategically located chicanes are being proposed i near Silvercrest Drive and Knell Drive Chicanes and medians will have a positive impact on vehicle spe Chicanes and medians do not impact the provision of on-street b Knell Drive to Westmount Road Option 1: Medians The medians were proposed to be located strategically so that t access, and they minimize property impacts where possible Cycling facilities have been included on street along with redu Option 2: On-Street Parking Bay Medians and chicanes were not included On street cycling was included as per the Cycling Master Plan A defined on-street parking bay was included on the south side issues “Bump outs” were included around intersections to increase land beginning/end of parking bays The design used elements of what was requested through resident design standards with which the City needs to adhere to 10 - 8 On September 27, 2012, Transportation Services mailed a survey t owners that abut or are adjacent to Glasgow Street outlining the The intent of the survey was to determine if there is sufficient the proposed traffic calming measures. As per the City of Kitch minimum of 50% of directly affected residents/property owners mu 60% of the respondents must support the recommended plan, in ord consideration of the plan. The results of the survey are as fol Residents of Westmount Road to Belmont Avenue In favour of the Bicycle lanes: 12 (71%) Opposed: 4 (24%) n/a (no indication of support for or against): 1 ( 6%) Total – 17 (out of 51 – 33% response rate) Residents of Westmount Road to Knell Drive In favour of medians: 2 ( 6%) In favour of the on-street parking bay concept: 10 (31%) In favour of neither (general reconstruction): 20 (63%) Total – 32 (out of 49 – 65% response rate) Residents of Knell Drive to Fischer Hallman Road In favour of chicanes and medians: 19 (73%) Opposed: 6 (23%) n/a (no indication of support for or against): 1 ( 4%) Total – 26 (out of 53 – 49% response rate) Total number of responses to the survey - 75 out of 153 (49% It should be noted that because Glasgow Street has three distinc different characteristics, that the survey has been summarized b order to be more reflective of resident opinion. Based on the survey, sufficient support has been achieved for the installation of a series of chicanes and medians between Knell Drive and Fischer Hallman Roa While sufficient input wasn’t received from Glasgow Street betwe Westmount Road, responses received indicated that the residents cycling lanes, and the inclusion of cycling facilities as recomm Accordingly, Transportation Services recommends the installation proposed. In reviewing input received from residents between Knell Drive a evident that physical changes to the roadway to incorporate any desirable. However, through the entire traffic calming process, should the residents not want traffic calming, that the general place, which would include bicycle lanes as per the Cycling Mast 10 - 9 should have a positive impact on overall speeds and serve as a p calming. The measures recommended for Glasgow Street should be considered in that they address the concerns regarding speeding while addre Additionally, support for the preferred alternative is evident f fronting Glasgow Street that responded to the final survey. Acc the proposed chicanes and medians be implemented on Glasgow Stre Should Council endorse the recommended plan, all proposed traffi expected to be installed in congruence with the planned reconstr ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN: This initiative falls under the Community Priority of Quality of all orders of government, to create a culture of safety in our c FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: The cost to install the preferred traffic calming plan (2 chicanes and 2 medians) is approximately $50 000. This cost will be taken from the existing traffic calm COMMUNICATION: This project has had extensive public involvement and communicat affected property owners, three public information centres with formal survey. Transportation Services has worked extensively with Engineering review to ensure that all resident needs and concerns were addre Transportation Services will continue to work hand in hand throu to ensure that construction of any traffic calming measures will reconstruction of Glasgow Street in order to minimize disruption CONCLUSION: The recommended plan, which recommends the installation of two ( medians, provides the best technical solution to problems indica study. Residents of Glasgow Street have indicated Support for the proposed plan. Transportation Services feels that the recommendations improve g Glasgow Street. Pauline Houston, Deputy CAO ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Infrastructure Services Department 10 - 10 10 - 11 10 - 12 10 - 13 10 - 14