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Home My WebLink AboutINS-16-075 - Traffic Calming Follow Up Review - Pioneer & Bechtel REPORT TO: Community and Infrastructure Services Committee DATE OF MEETING: October 3, 2016 SUBMITTED BY: Ken Carmichael, Interim Director of Transportation Services, 519-741-2200, ext. 7372 PREPARED BY: Steven Ryder, Traffic Technologist, 519-741-2200, ext. 7152 WARD(S) INVOLVED: Ward 4 DATE OF REPORT: August 29, 2016 REPORT NO.: INS-16-075 SUBJECT:Pioneer Drive/Bechtel Drive – Traffic Calming Follow Up Review ___________________________________________________________________________ RECOMMENDATIONS: That the existing five (5) speed humps and one (1) raised crosswalk be maintained permanently on Bechtel Drive between Doon Village Road and Black Walnut Drive; and further, That the existing two (2) speed cushions and one (1) raised crosswalk be maintained on a permanent basis on Pioneer Drive between Doon Village Road and Black Walnut Drive. BACKGROUND: Transportation Services had received requests from residents of the Pioneer Drive and Bechtel Drive communities on numerous occasions in the past to review the existing traffic conditions on both Pioneer Drive and Bechtel Drive between Doon Village Road and Doon Village Road. Concerns cited vehicle speeds, and overall road user safety. In January 2008, a traffic calming review was initiated for both roadways with the intent to reduce overall vehicle speeds and increase safety for all road users. The first public meeting was held in April 2008. Residents were invited to review the data regarding vehicle speeds, traffic volumes, and collisions, as well as provide their input on the traffic issues in the neighbourhood at that time. In February 2010, a second public meeting was held to present five (5) design options (including a do-nothing *** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. *** Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance. 3 - 1 option). A preferred alternative was identified and feedback was requested from citizens to determine if the community as a whole supported the recommendations. The preferred alternative consisted of seven (7) speed humps and two (2) raised crosswalks. Through consultation with Emergency Services, the preferred alternative was modified to include two (2) speed cushions, rather than speed humps, on Pioneer Drive between Doon Village Road and Black Walnut Drive to accommodate emergency response times. Approval of the preferred alternative was received through report INS- 11-067 in September 2011, and subsequently installation occurred in late 2011/early 2012. REPORT: Transportation Services has compared the data for speeds, traffic volumes and collisions based on the conditions before and after the traffic calming installation along Pioneer Drive and Bechtel Drive. The results of these studies are summarized in the table below: Pioneer Drive - Volumes and Speeds VolumesSpeeds (km/h) Count Station Location Date NB SB Total Change Avg. 85th Change ويﮭﯿوﻲﮭﮭىوﮭﯿ Jun-07 57 Between Nathaniel Crescent and -21.1% -14.1% Nathaniel Crescent وﻮيىوﻰوﯾﻮﻲﯾﮭ 45 May-16 ويﯾﯾوﻰيوىﮭﻮﯿ Aug-08 56 Between Vintage Crescent and -19.6% 9.7% Nathaniel Crescent ويىىوﯾﯿﯿىىﻮو 45 May-16 Bechtel Drive - Volumes and Speeds VolumesSpeeds (km/h) Count Station Location Date NB SB Total Change Avg. 85th Change ﻵﮭىﯾﯾﻵوﻲﯿﻮيﯾ Aug-08 Between Sabrina Crescent and Black -13.6% 12.9% Walnut Drive وﮭﮭوﯿﻵﯿوﯿﻵﻵﻰى May-15 ﯿﻲﯾﯾﻰﯿوﻲوي Aug-08 57 Between Sabrina Crescent and Anvil -26.3% -5.8% Street ﯾﻰﯿﯾﻵﮭويىﯿ 42 May-16 th *85 Percentile Speed is the speed at which 85% of drivers travel at or below. The follow up studies show that since the implementation of traffic calming measures on Pioneer Drive/Bechtel Drive, speeds have been reduced, while volumes have somewhat fluctuated – which may be attributed to studies being conducted during both the school year and summer period. In the three years prior to the implementation of the traffic calming measures, there were 19 motor vehicle collisions on Pioneer Drive and Bechtel Drive within the study area; this yields a collision rate of 6.3 per year. In the four years since the *** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. *** Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance. 3 - 2 implementation of traffic calming measures (January 2012 through January 2016) there were nine (9) motor vehicle collisions, yielding a collision rate of 2.3 per year. This equates to an annual reduction of approximately 4.0 collisions per year. In July 2016, Transportation Services conducted a survey of affected residents in order to gauge community support for the traffic calming measures. The survey included the results of the traffic studies conducted, as discussed in this report. The results are as follows: Total Survey Results: 84 (78%) Residentsin support of maintaining the existing traffic calming 24 (22%) Residents not in support of maintaining the existing traffic calming Total 108 out of 475 (23% response rate) Based on the results above, there is clear neighbourhood support to maintain the existing traffic calming measures on Pioneer Drive/Bechtel Drive. Accordingly, Transportation Services recommends that the existing traffic calming measures be maintained on a permanent basis. ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN: The recommendation of this report supports the achievement of the city’s strategic vision through the delivery of core service. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: There is no cost associated with the recommendation. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: INFORM – Residents of Pioneer Drive/Bechtel Drive community have been involved in this traffic calming review throughout the entire process. This includes confirmation to the residents to initiate review, conducting two (2) public meetings with the residents to gain input on the issues at hand, as well as receive feedback on the proposed solution. The approval plan was supported by the majority of responding residents through a formal survey. CONSULT - Residents were notified regarding this report to recommend maintaining the traffic calming measures on a permanent basis. ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Justin Readman, Interim Executive Director Infrastructure Services Department Attached: Appendix A – Traffic Calming Plan *** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. *** Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance. 3 - 3 ÇŉĂźź╜ľ/Ă▄▓╜■┼t▄Ă■ t╜◘■śśŉ5ŉ╜ōśĂ■ŕ.śľ╙Ċś▄5ŉ╜ōś Ç╙śĂĽ◘ōś♫▄Ă■ℓ╙◘ŎℓĂℓśŉ╜śℓ◘źź╜ōśℓ♫śśŕ╙ĵ▓♫ℓ⁪ĊŎ◘ℓ♫śśŕľĵℓ╙╜◘■ℓĂ■ŕĊŎ◘ ŉĂ╜ℓśŕľŉ◘ℓℓŎĂ▄╫ℓĊ╙ĂĊ╙ĂōśĽśś■╜■ℓĊĂ▄▄śŕ◘■t╜◘■śśŉ5ŉ╜ōś5ŉ╜ōśĽśĊŎśś■5◘◘■ë╜▄▄Ă┼ś w◘ĂŕĂ■ŕ5◘◘■ë╜▄▄Ă┼św◘Ăŕ╜■◘ŉŕśŉĊ◘ℓ▄◘ŎĊŉĂźź╜ľŕ◘Ŏ■Ă■ŕ♫ŉ◘ō╜ŕśℓĂźśŉľ◘■ŕ╜Ċ╜◘■ℓź◘ŉ ♫śŕśℓĊŉ╜Ă■ℓ⁭ *** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. *** Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance. 3 - 4