HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-15-036 - Green St at Park St - Left Turn Prohibition Staff Rport
I r rc'.�►E t .R Infrastructure Services Department wmkitchener.ca
REPORT TO: Community and Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING: May 4, 2015
SUBMITTED BY: Justin Readman, Director of Transportation Services,
(519) 741-2200 x 7038
PREPARED BY: Stephanie Brasseur, Traffic Project Coordinator,
(519) 741-2200 x 7373
WARD(S) INVOLVED: Ward 9
DATE OF REPORT: Apr 16, 2015
REPORT NO.: INS-15-036
SUBJECT: Green Street at Park Street— Left Turn Prohibition
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That left turns from Green Street onto Park Street be prohibited between 2:00 pm
and 6:00 pm, Monday to Friday, until December 31, 2015; and further,
That the Uniform Traffic Bylaw be amended.
BACKGROUND:
The construction of the new ION rapid transit line is underway. Accordingly, King Street
between Union Street and Victoria Street is closed for southbound (eastbound) through
traffic, resulting in the need to detour traffic to Park Street. While the detour signing
directs traffic to use Weber St as the designated detour, the secondary local detour is
Park Street. Traffic is still able to access Green Street from King Street, resulting in
significant traffic volumes on Green Street towards Park Street.
The closure of King Street and resulting detours are anticipated to be in place until the
end of 2015.
REPORT:
The intersection of Green Street at Park Street is not signalized, with vehicles on Green
Street being required to stop and provide right-of-way to traffic on Park Street. The
significant volume on Park Street, brought on by the detour, has resulted in significant
delays for vehicles making a left turn from Green Street onto Park Street during
afternoon time periods. This has resulted in congestion on Green Street, creating long
delays and driver frustration.
***This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
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Observations have been conducted to better determine the delays being experienced at
this location. It has been noted that operations in the morning are acceptable, while in
the afternoon delays are significant. The frustration experienced by motorists has led to
drivers taking unnecessary risks that would not normally be taken under better
conditions.
The prohibition of left turns from Green Street onto Park Street during afternoon
weekday time periods will greatly assist in keeping traffic moving, reducing delays and
driver frustration on Green Street. Accordingly, it is recommended that left turns from
Green Street onto Park Street be prohibited between the hours of 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm,
Monday to Friday, until the end of December, 2015. This turn prohibition will require the
rerouting of some local traffic in the area, but will reduce delays to drivers using Green
Street.
Other measures have been put in place to help assist with this congestion challenge,
including updated directional signing included with the existing detour signing, as well
as revisions to transit stops in the Park Street/ Green Street area to assist with reduced
congestion and to increase traffic and pedestrian safety in the area. Signal timing at the
Park Street / Union Street and Park Street / Glasgow Street intersections has been
adjusted to help improve traffic capacity through the Park Street corridor. Additionally, it
has been arranged to relocate school buses from Green Street to Walter Street to
further reduce the impact on peak traffic congestion.
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 cost to sign this turn prohibition will be paid for by the Region's ION rapid transit
project.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM — This report has been posted to the City's website with the agenda in
advance of the council / committee meeting.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Dev Tyagi, Deputy CAO of Infrastructure Services
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