HomeMy WebLinkAboutDSD-19-073 - Old Chicopee Drive Traffic Calming ReviewREPORT TO:Community and Infrastructure Services Committee
th
DATE OF MEETING:April 15, 2019
SUBMITTED BY:Barry Cronkite, Director, Transportation Services,
519-741-2200 ext. 7738
PREPARED BY:Eric Bentzen-Bilkvist, Traffic Technologist, (519) 741-2200 x7372
WARD (S) INVOLVED:Ward 2
th
DATE OF REPORT:March 25, 2019
REPORT NO.:DSD-19-073
SUBJECT:Old Chicopee DriveTraffic CalmingReview
_______________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That anintersection narrowing be installedat the eastern leg of the intersection of Conway Drive
and Old Chicopee Drive;
That aroadway narrowing beinstalledto the immediate east of the intersection of Boundbrook
Court and Old Chicopee Drive, and further; thatthe sidewalk on the south side of Old Chicopee
Drivebe extended by 10m,to provide a safer crossing area for pedestrians;
That aroadway narrowingbe installed at the eastern leg of the intersection of Huntingdale Drive
and Old Chicopee Drive;
That aspeed hump be installedat the Dom Cardillo trail crossing, between Bancroft Street and
Daimler Drive, and further;
That the Uniform Traffic By-Law be amended accordingly.
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 issuesCouncil reviewed, updated and
Traffic Calming Policy in 2014 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 February 2018, Council approved report INS-18-003Traffic Calming Priority -2018in which staff
recommended that a traffic calming review be conducted forOld Chicopee Drive.
REPORT:
In February 2018, Transportation Services conducted a survey re:theinitiation of atraffic calming review
for Old Chicopee Drive. Thissurvey met the minimum required threshold and as a result staff proceeded
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 forassistance.
5 - 1
with a Public Information Centre(PIC),held in May 2018. The intent of this PIC was to discuss the traffic
calming review process, the current traffic conditions of the roadway, and potential traffic calming
measures.AsecondPIC was held in February 2019after receiving feedback from residents through the
first PICand developing a preliminary preferred design; which included narrowingsat the intersections
of Conway Drive and Old Chicopee Drive, and Boundbrook Court and Old Chicopee Drive, and a speed
hump at the Dom Cardillo Trail. . The intent of the second PIC was to reviewresident feedback,present
the preferred design option as determined by the traffic calming steering committee,and answer any
questions and comments raised by residents.The final proposed plan was amended and now includes
an intersection narrowing at the intersection of Huntingdale Drive and Old Chicopee Drive inaddition to
the aforementioned previous measures due to resident feedback received at the second PIC.
Affected agenises were contacted, Grand River Transit and Kitchener Fire have no concerns regarding
the proposed traffic calming plan.
In March2019,Transportation Services staff mailed a final survey to all affected area residents along
Old Chicopee Drive. The intent of the survey was to determine if there is sufficient support for the
implementation of the recommended traffic calming measures. As perthe City of Kitchener Traffic
Calming policy, a minimum of 50% of directly affected residents must respond to the survey and 60% of
the respondents must support the recommended plan for staff to recommend installation of the proposed
measures.
There werea total of 447propertiessurveyed within the boundaries of the study area. The results of this
survey are as follows:
Old Chicopee DriveParticipation Summary(Indirectly Affected Homes)
In favour of installing the proposed traffic calming measures:50 (59.5%)
Opposed to installing the proposed traffic calming measures:34 (40.5%)
TOTAL responsesreceived,of 447 surveyedinside the study area:85 (19%)
To account for the large survey distribution, a separate analysis was done specifically for houses with
frontage on Old Chicopee Drive. The following numbers are included in the overall results provided
above, but summarized below to demonstrate input received from residents more directly impacted by
traffic on Old Chicopee Drive, given close proximity and direct access.
Old Chicopee DriveParticipation Summary(Directly Affected Homes)
In favour of installing the proposed traffic calming measures:23 (79%)
Opposed to installing the proposed traffic calming measures:6 (21%)
TOTAL responsesreceived,of 80surveyedon Old Chicopee Drive:29 (36%)
Although the minimum participation rate was not achieved, there is strong support to implement the
proposed traffic calming measures amongst those who are directly affected. Based on the indicated
support, Transportation Services recommends that the proposed traffic calming plan be implemented.
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
5 - 2
The recommended changes willultimately create a safer environment for road and trailusers, however
it will result in the loss of approximately ten (10) on street-parking spaces in the immediate vicinity of the
traffic calming measures.
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 total cost of implementing the traffic calming plan is approximately $40,000 andwill be taken from
Transportation Services Traffic Calming capital budget account.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM Directly affected residents of the Old Chicopee Drivetraffic calming review have received
information regarding this review since February 2018.Notification of both Public Information Centres
was provided through mail out and road signage. Information packages were distributed at both PICs
which highlighted key topics discussed and included questionnaires for feedback. Presentation materials,
conclusion ofeach PIC.
CONSULT Old ChicopeeDrive traffic calming review began withan initiation survey in February 2018.
Two (2) Public Information Centres were held to gain input at key stages of the traffic calming review
process, including feedback on the proposed preferred solution. In March2019, Transportation Services
staff mailed a final survey to all affected residents along Old Chicopee Drive and the surrounding
neighbourhood to determine support for the preferred plan.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Justin Readman,General Manager of Development Services,
DevelopmentServicesDepartment
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.
5 - 3
Appendix A: Traffic Calming Plan
Old Chicopee Drive Ottawa Street North to River Road East
1
2
Study Area
3
4
1)An intersection narrowing be installedat the eastern leg of the intersection of Conway Drive and
Old Chicopee Drive.
2)A narrowing be installedto the immediate east of the intersection of Boundbrook Court and Old
Chicopee Drive. And further, that the sidewalk on the south side of Old Chicopee Drivebe
extended by 10m.
3)A narrowing be installed at the eastern leg of the intersection of Huntingdale Drive and Old
Chicopee Drive.
4)A speed hump located at the Dom Cardillo trail crossing, betweenBancroft Street and Daimler
Drive.
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
5 - 4
Roadway Narrowing Measures 1, 2 and 3
Speed Hump Measure 4
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
5 - 5