HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-17-047 - Low Cost/Seasonal Traffic Calming Program
REPORT TO: Community and Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING: June 12, 2017
SUBMITTED BY: Ken Carmichael, Interim Director of Transportation Services,
519-741-2200, ext. 7372
PREPARED BY: Barry Cronkite, Interim Manager of Transportation Planning,
519-741-2200, ext. 7738
WARD(S) INVOLVED: All Wards
DATE OF REPORT: May 24, 2017
REPORT NO.: INS-17-047
SUBJECT: Low Cost / Seasonal Traffic Calming Program
___________________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That Council approve the commencement of a low cost / seasonal traffic calming
program in 2018 as outlined within report INS-17-047; and further,
That each Ward Councillor, in consultation with Transportation Services staff,
establish two locations per ward to execute radar speed display signs in 2017;
and further; and further,
That financial support for the required infrastructure / equipment for 2018 and
thereafter be referred to future budget deliberations.
BACKGROUND:
An update to the existing City of Kitchener traffic calming policy was adopted by Council
in March, 2014 (INS 14-042).The traffic calming policy outlines a number of evaluation
criteria that provide a fair and consistent review of streets while defining and prioritizing
the individual streets that are most in need of traffic calming, from a traffic safety
perspective.
Three (3) traffic calming reviews are typically approved annually through budget
deliberations, howeverthere are currently over 175requested streets on the priority list,
18of whichwarrant a formal traffic calming review based on the parameters outlinedin
the traffic calming policy.
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
10 - 1
A resident led traffic calming program was tentatively adopted by the Community and
Infrastructure Services Committee through approval of report INS 17-038. Resident led
traffic calming is reliant upon neighbourhood initiatives, and generally consistsof
measures that can be installed by the respective community.
Low cost traffic calming would allow Members of Council and City staff to manage traffic
issues on streets where known concerns exist, but are not yet warranted for a full scale
traffic calming review, nor has the community chosen to engage in resident led
initiatives.
REPORT:
Council and residents of Kitchener have requested that interim, low cost traffic calming
measures be implemented on roadways to help alleviate safety concerns until such a
time that that a formal traffic calming review takes place and/or on roadways that may
not meet minimum traffic calming warrant thresholds.
Accordingly, Transportation Services staff has conducted a comprehensive review of
interim traffic calming measures, and measures that are not otherwise included in a
formal traffic calming review.Many of these measures have been incorporated into the
resident led traffic calming initiative, approved at the Community and Infrastructure
Services Committee on May 29, 2017. Further alternative traffic calming measures are
recommended to be included through this proposed low cost / seasonal traffic calming
policy.
RADAR SPEED DISPLAY SIGNS:
A radar speed display sign flashes the speed at which vehicles pass by the unit,
bringing awareness to the driver of their operating speed, as well as identifying that
there are concerns of speeding within the community. Generally, studies within the
Traffic Engineering field indicate that these units have an immediate impact, and will
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
10 - 2
reduce operating speeds by approximately 3-5 km/h. However, studies have shown
that after an initial reduction, drivers typically revert back to their previous driving habits.
Advantages:
Temporarily helps alleviate speeding concerns.
Satisfies residential speeding concerns.
Simple to operate.
Disadvantages:
Initial start-up cost
May not help alleviate speeding issues over a longer period time.
Transportation Services is recommending that five units be in place for the 2018
program,budget permitting, and that these units be installed for approximately two
weeks per location on a rotational basis. By rotating the signs through various
locations on a regular basis, citizens should not grow accustomed to the signs, and
therefore the signs should be more effective.
This proposal would see the radar speed display boards in place at 6-7 locations, for
two week periods, within each ward throughout each year, starting in 2018. New
locations, or repeat locations, would be recommended each year. The locations chosen
for each ward will be determined through one on one meetings with each Councillor in
advance of each year.
It is recommended that the radar speed display signs be put in place during the spring,
summer and fall seasons as the units are typically not operational in the winter due to
the impacts of the colder temperatures on battery life.
It is recommended that two radar speed display boards be purchased, upon approval of
this report, for application across the City in 2017. This would allow approximately two
(2) locations per ward being addressed in 2017 to be determined through one on one
meetings with each Councillor. Staff would use the data from the 2017 locations to
better assess the impacts of these signs, allowing for better decision making for 2018
locations.
As a result, three radar speed display units would be required to be purchased in 2018
for the full execution of this aspect of the recommended program.
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
10 - 3
FLEXI-POLE DELINEATORS:
Flexi-pole delineators are signs that are mounted in the centre of a roadway and display
messages to drivers. The signs are 122 centimetres tall and 33 centimetres wide, but
generally are outside of the typical travelled portions of the lanes.
These types of measures have been piloted in other jurisdictions. The messaging is
customizable, but typically warning / regulatory messages are provided to drivers by
way of these signs (i.e. speed limit, children at play, school zone etc.). Studies have
shown that the visual narrowing of the travelled lane along the roadway subconsciously
causes drivers to slow down by approximately 5 km/h.
It is recommended that they be installed in locations that fall within the following
parameters:
A minimum road width of 9.0 11.0 metres, depending on parking regulations.
That the road be classified as a local road or a minor collector
An average annual daily traffic less than 5000 vehicles per day
Some form of pedestrian generator in the area.
Signs should be spaced approximately 150 metres apart and at least three (3)
metres away from driveway accesses.
Should be removed in the winter season for roadway maintenance
Advantages.
th
5 km/h reduction in 85 percentile speeds.
Signs can utilize various messaging.
Disadvantages
Potential loss of on-street parking.
Cyclists may feel pinched by vehicles in the area of the posted signs.
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
10 - 4
Damage to roadway through placement of the sign.
May negatively impact emergency services response time.
Maintenance cost.
It is recommended that the application of flexi-pole delineators be limited to a maximum
of four (4) signs per ward.These four (4) signs could be used at one location per ward,
or distributed to more than one location. The recommended locations will be determined
through one on one meetings between Transportation Services staff and each
Councillor.These signs will typically be installed in the spring (March/April) and
removed in the fall (October/November) as staffing permits.
OTHER MEASURES
Temporary and low cost traffic calming measures are an emerging segment in the
Transportation Engineering industry. Transportation Services will continue to research
measures as other viable solutions present themselves.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
Strategic Priority:3: Safe and Thriving Neighbourhoods.
Strategy:3.2: Create safer streets in our neighbourhoods through
new traffic calming approaches.
Strategic Action:NB39: Traffic Calming
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The current low cost traffic calming capital budget has a balance of approximately
$24,000. It is recommended that the $10,000 cost to purchase two (2) radar speed
display signs in 2017 be taken from this budget.
The cost to purchase three (3) additional speed display signs will be approximately
$15,000 and will be purchased in early 2018, taken from the existing low cost traffic
calming budget.
The cost to purchase flexi-stake delineators for ten (10)identified roadways in 2018 is
approximately $15,000 and is recommended to be included in future budget
deliberations.
The flexi-stake delineator program will have an operating cost of approximately $10 000
in 2018 and is recommended to be included in future budget deliberations.
This proposal, if approved, will require operating budget support of $10,000 per annum
in 2019 and each year thereafter.
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
10 - 5
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM
advance of the council / committee meeting.
SUMMARY:
The implementation of this low cost / seasonal traffic calming program will result in:
Radar speed display signs being posted at two locations in each ward in 2017.
Radar speed display signs being posted at 6-7 locations in each ward in 2018
and each year thereafter.
-installed on one (or more) roadway(s) in each ward
in 2018 and each year thereafter.
This program will provide members of Council and staff with further measures to
address speeding concerns across the City.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Justin Readman, Interim Executive Director
Infrastructure Services Department
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
10 - 6