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HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-13-063 - Highview - Yellow Birch - Golden Meadow Neighbourhood Traffic Calming Review REPORT TO:Community and Infrastructure Services Committee DATE OF MEETING: August 12, 2013 SUBMITTED BY: Justin Readman, Director of Transportation Services PREPARED BY: Danny Pimentel, Traffic Technologist (741-2200 ext. 7371) WARD(S) INVOLVED: Ward 7 DATE OF REPORT: July 31, 2013 REPORT NO.: INS-13-063 HIGHVIEW - YELLOW BIRCH - GOLDEN MEADOW SUBJECT: NEIGHBOURHOOD TRAFFIC CALMING REVIEW RECOMMENDATIONS: That two (2) speed humps be installed on Highview Drive between Driftwood Drive and Ira Needles Boulevard, and further; That two (2) speed humps be installed on Yellow Birch Drive between Driftwood Drive and Ira Needles Boulevard, and further; That one (1) raised crosswalk be installed on Highview Drive at the hydro corridor between Bent Willow Drive and Sugar Maple Street, and further; That one (1) raised crosswalk be installed on Yellow Birch Drive at the hydro corridor between Hoddle Crescent and Cedar Crest Street, and further; That one (1) intersection narrowing be installed on Highview Drive at Hickory Hollow Crescent, and further; That an all-way stop control be installed at the intersection of Highview Drive and Driftwood Drive, and further; That parking be prohibited on the east side (odd numbered houses) of Highview Drive from Hickory Hollow Crescent to Hickory Hollow Crescent, and further; That parking be prohibited on the west side (even numbered houses) of Yellow Birch Drive from Cedar Crest St to a point 115 meters north thereof, and further; That parking be prohibited on the west side (even numbered houses) of Yellow Brich Drive from Hoddle Crescent (north intersection) to a point 115 meters south thereof, and further; That parking be prohibited on the west side (even numbered houses) of Yellow Birch Drive from Golden Meadow Crescent to a point 35 meters north thereof, and further; That a centerline be installed on Highview Drive through the curve located between Hickory Hollow Crescent and Hickory Hollow Crescent, and futher; That the Uniform Traffic By-law be amended accordingly. 8 - 1 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 May 2011, Council approved INS 11-013, “Traffic Calming Priority - 2011”, which recommended that a traffic calming review be conducted for several streets in the City of Kitchener, including Highview Drive. In response, Transportation Services staff have reviewed the existing traffic conditions on Highview Drive and in August 2011, 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. REPORT : In August 2011, affected residents on Highview Drive 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, a public meeting was held on November 3, 2011 to discuss the traffic calming review process along with existing traffic conditions. At the first public meeting residents of adjacent roadways, particularly Yellow Birch Drive, were very well represented. These residents expressed great concern over the potential impacts that traffic calming measures on Highview Drive would have on their roadway. It was suggested that the study area be expanded to include both Yellow Birch Drive and Golden Meadow Drive. Upon reviewing the comments received from the public meeting and the concerns raised by residents during the public meeting, Transportation Services decided to expand the study area to include Yellow Birch Drive and Golden Meadow Drive, along with Highview Drive. As a result, two (2) public meetings were held in February 2012 and October 2012 to discuss the traffic calming review process along with the current traffic conditions, alternative design options as well as advantages and disadvantages of each design alternative and present the preferred design alternative (see attached) 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 8 - 2 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. Transportation Services also received comments from Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) regarding the preferred design alternative. GRCA provided the following comments: The GRCA would have no objection to the proposed traffic calming measures outlined below and attached. The proposed works are not located within an area that is regulated by the GRCA. As such, a GRCA permit will not be required for the proposed traffic calming measures as proposed. In addition, Grand River Transit (GRT) responded to the circulation of the preferred design alternative with the following comments: Highview Drive and Yellow Birch Drive currently have two bus routes travelling along them with full 7 day a week service. The service currently varies by time of day. There are 10 bus stops located on the streets, serving those streets and the surrounding area. This area is slated for review in 2015 when the new Highland/Victoria iXpress is implemented. The current plans show Highview Drive having two-way service from Driftwood Drive to Ira Needles Boulevard. Service may or may not continue on Yellow Birch Drive and will be a subject of public consultation. While recognizing that this is a City road, and as has been noted in the past, Grand River Transit have concerns about the use of traffic calming in this situation, particularly the use of vertical deflections (speed humps). Our Operations staff have indicated that the existing use of speed humps along a number of transit routes has had serious impacts on the ability to maintain schedules due to the excessive need to repeatedly slow down rather than maintain the speed limit. In addition there is a significant impact on passenger comfort, particularly at the rear of the bus as the motion is greater behind the rear wheels. Generally speaking, speed humps are not recommended for use on bus routes, as has been noted in ITE guidelines. Other options are typically preferred or recommended along bus routes that fit more in line with a Complete Streets approach, such as curb extensions at the bus stops, parking changes to narrow (or create a perception of narrowing) the street or bike lanes. Sometimes speed tables can create vertical deflection with less negative impact on the transit service, although these would still be less preferred options. 8 - 3 GRT also presented a report (P-13-066 Traffic Calming Measures Proposed On Streets In Kitchener With Grand River Transit Routes) to the Regional Planning and Works Committee. The recommendations made by GRT to the Region are as follows: Staff recommend that the Region advise that, for the reviews currently underway, the City of Kitchener that horizontal or passive traffic calming measures should be used on streets with bus routes. Vertical measures such as speed humps should be discouraged, due to negative impacts on transit operations and passenger comfort and safety concerns. This is informed from operational experience here in Waterloo Region, as well as in other municipalities in Canada, as determined from the CUTA survey. It is further proposed that policies in all local municipalities and the Region of Waterloo incorporate a prohibition on vertical traffic calming measures on streets with bus routes, with limited exceptions. One exception discussed in this report that could be acceptable for transit is measures at intersections and crossings such as raised crosswalks or raised intersections (speed tables), which have a similar, but lesser impact on transit operations and customer comfort than traditional speed humps. Finally, it is recommended that the Region participate in the City of Kitchener’s review of their traffic calming policy, which is planned to begin later this year. While the policy does state that vertical deflection will not be considered on transit routes, this has not always been reflected in practice. A new policy should look at existing traffic calming installations for review and possible retrofitting measures, to allow for better integration with transit service where applicable. A new policy could also promote innovative alternatives as described in this report, and traffic calming measures that are most beneficial to sustainable transportation modes, including transit, to align with RTMP goals. The Region of Waterloo Planning and Works Committee passed two motions as a result of the report presented by GRT: THAT the Regional Municipality of Waterloo endorse Report No. P-13-066, dated June 18, 2013, regarding traffic calming measures on streets with Grand River Transit Routes. AND THAT this report be forwarded to the City of Kitchener for consideration in its current review of traffic calming measures and to all other Area Municipalities. Be advised that the traffic calming policy is currently under staff review, with an intent to address the concerns identified by the above agencies. In February 2013, Transportation Services staff mailed out a final survey to all affected residents/property owners along Highview Drive, Yellow Birch Drive and Golden Meadow Drive. This survey was also mailed out to thirty (30) residents who were outside the study area but provided comments at some point throughout the review process. The survey asked all residents/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 8 - 4 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 253 surveys sent out to residents/property owners along Highview Drive, Yellow Birch Drive and Golden Meadow Drive. The results of this survey are as follows: HIGHVIEW - YELLOW BIRCH - GOLDEN MEADOW FINAL SURVEY SUMMARY Surveyed No. of Response Response NON StreetYES NO Properties Responses Rate Rate (YES) VOTE Highview Drive 89 49 55.1% 40 9 81.6% 0 Yellow Birch 99 44 45.5% 27 16 61.4% 1 Drive Golden Meadow 35 15 45.7% 10 4 66.7% 1 Drive TOTAL (3 AFFECTED 223 110 49.3% 77 29 70.0% 2 STREETS) Outside Survey 30 15 50.0% 9 6 60.0% 0 Area TOTAL (ALL) 253 125 50.2% 86 35 68.8% 2 The results of the final survey for the directly affected roadways indicate that the minimum support rate has been met, while the response rate falls short by 0.7% (49.3%-50.0% required). Based on the above results, Transportation Services is recommending that the preferred traffic calming plan be implemented. This plan includes the following: two (2) speed humps on Highview Drive between Driftwood Drive and Ira Needles Boulevard two (2) speed humps on Yellow Birch Drive between Driftwood Drive and Ira Needles Boulevard 8 - 5 one (1) raised crosswalk on Highview Drive at the hydro corridor between Bent Willow Drive and Sugar Maple Street one (1) raised crosswalk on Yellow Birch Drive at the hydro corridor between Hoddle Crescent and Cedar Crest Street one (1) intersection narrowing be installed on Highview Drive at Hickory Hollow Crescent an all-way stop control at the intersection of Highview Drive and Driftwood Drive parking be prohibited on the east side (odd numbered houses) of Highview Drive from Hickory Hollow Crescent to Hickory Hollow Crescent parking be prohibited on the west side (even numbered houses) of Yellow Birch Drive from Cedar Crest St to a point 115 meters north thereof parking be prohibited on the west side (even numbered houses) of Yellow Brich Drive from Hoddle Crescent (north intersection) to a point 115 meters south thereof parking be prohibited on the west side (even numbered houses) of Yellow Birch Drive from Golden Meadow Crescent to a point 35 meters north thereof a centerline on Highview Drive through the curve located between Hickory Hollow Crescent and Hickory Hollow Crescent Transportation Services is recommending the speed humps on both Highview Drive and Yellow Birch Drive, along with the proposed parking regulations change and roadway centre line, be installed in the fall of 2013 or spring of 2014, while the raised crosswalks and intersection narrowing be incorporated into the 2014 Roads Program. Incorporating the raised crosswalks and intersection narrowing into the 2014 Road Program, will result in cost savings due to the opportunity to have the work completed under general contract pricing, as oppose to isolated time and material pricing. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: The cost to install the recommended traffic calming measures is approximately $60,000 and will be taken form the existing traffic calming budget. COMMUNICATIONS: This project has had extensive public involvement and communication. It has included three (3) public information centers, two (2) information packages and three (3) surveys including the final resident survey. Pauline Houston, Deputy CAO ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Infrastructure Services Department 8 - 6 8 - 7