HomeMy WebLinkAboutDSD-20-036 - 2020 Formal Traffic Calming Reviews - Initiation ApprovalREPORT TO: Community and Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING:March 9, 2020
SUBMITTED BY: Barry Cronkite, Director, Transportation Services
519-741-2200, ext. 7738
PREPARED BY:Steven Ryder, Traffic Planning Analyst
519-741-2200, ext. 7152
WARD (S) INVOLVED:Wards 3, 4, 10
DATE OF REPORT:February 10, 2020
REPORT NO.: DSD-20-036
SUBJECT: 2020 Formal Traffic Calming Reviews – Initiation Approval
___________________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION:
That traffic calming reviews for the following roadways be initiated in 2020:
East Avenue – between Weber StreetEastand Krug Street
Pioneer Tower Road – between Baxter Place and Pioneer Ridge Drive
Biehn Drive – between Old Huron Place and Caryndale Drive
BACKGROUND:
The existing City of Kitchener traffic calming policy was adopted by Council in March 2014 (INS-
14-042). The traffic calming policy outlines evaluation criteria that provide a fair and consistent
review of streets, while defining and prioritizing individual streets that are most in need of traffic
calming, from a traffic safety perspective.
Through budget deliberations, the budget for traffic calming has been approved to support the
provision of traffic calming measures for three (3) traffic calming reviews in 2020. It is anticipated
that while these reviews will be initiated in 2020, installation will occur in 2021.
RE
PORT:
The intent of traffic calming is 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. The types of traffic calming measures selected depend on the issues being
addressed and the function of the road.
Transportation Services manages a traffic calming priority list. This list includes all roadways that
have had requests for traffic calming measures, either through a request from Councilor
Kitchener residents. These streets are reviewed on an annual basis, with respect to speed,
volume, collisions, and safety factors. Attached is the current traffic calming priority list which
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994for assistance.
9 - 1
has been filtered to display only warranted roadways (Appendix‘A’). Currently, there are a total
of 29locations on the priority list that are warranted for traffic calming.
PROPOSED TRAFFIC CALMING REVIEWS
East Avenue (Weber Streetto Krug Street)
th
Ranked 4on the warranted traffic calming list with 58points;
Designated asa Major Collectorroadway with posted speed limitsof 40 and 50 km/h;
th
percentile speed (at whichdrivers travel at or below): 63km/h;
2019recorded 85
2019recorded AADT (average annual daily traffic): 3,948vehicles;
Identified concerns include speeding and traffic volumes, which can be addressed
through the traffic calming review;
On-street cycling facilities are present for this section of East Avenue (combination of
bicycle lanes and temporary green sharrows until the LRT construction was completed).
Pioneer Tower Road
th
Ranked 6on the warranted traffic calming priority list with 69 points;
Designated as a Local roadway with a posted speed limit of 50 km/h;
th
2018 recorded 85percentile speed (at which drivers travel at or below): 58 km/h;
2018 recorded AADT (average annual daily traffic): 3,434 vehicles;
Identified concerns include speeding and traffic volumes, which can be addressed
through the traffic calming review.
Biehn Drive
th
Ranked 8on the warranted traffic calming priority list with 54 points;
Designated as a Major Collector roadway with a posted speed limit of 50 km/h;
th
2018 recorded 85percentile speed (at which drivers travel at or below): 59 km/h;
2018 recorded AADT (average annual daily traffic): 4,670vehicles;
Identified concerns include speeding and traffic volumes, which can be addressed
through the traffic calming review.
East Avenue,Pioneer Tower RoadandBiehn Drive are ranked #4, #6 and #8, respectively, on
the 2020 warranted traffic calming priority list.
OTHER ROADWAYS CONSIDERED
st
Lennox Lewis Way(ranked 1) is not being recommendedat this time,due to its
predominantly industrial nature. Staff recognize that there is a large high school,
community center and adjacent sports fields, but the lack of a residential component
along Lennox Lewis Way limits the benefit of formal traffic calming. Further, Lennox Lewis
Way wasadded to the traffic calming priority listing in late 2019, and therefore staff have
not had opportunityto gather updated traffic data, or determine if there are other
measures more suitable along the roadway rather than formal traffic calming.
9 - 2
Stirling Avenue Southfrom Homer Watson Boulevard to Highland Road West (ranked
nd
2
) was reconstructedin 2019 and includeda narrower road width, a redesigned
intersection atPleasant Avenueand cycling facilities funded by the Ontario Municipal
Commuter Cycling Program. The data used to calculate the formal traffic calming warrant
predates the re-construction ofStirling Avenue South. Accordingly, Transportation
Services will collect traffic data with the intent of re-evaluating this section of Stirling
Avenue South with regards to traffic calming priority.
rd
Doon Valley Drive(ranked 3) is within the ongoing Lower Doon and Conestoga College
Node Study being led by the City of Kitchener. Transportation Services will wait for the
results of the study before re-evaluating the potential need for traffic calming along Doon
Valley Drive.
th
Westforest Trailfrom Victoria Street South to Highland Road West (ranked 5) was
recommended for a formal traffic calming review in 2019, but was postponed in order to
evaluate the potential impacts of a seasonal traffic calming measure on Westforest Trail.
Seasonal traffic calming on Westforest Trail has been successful and has led to a
th
decrease of the 85percentile speed by approximately7 km/h. This success has
mitigated the need for a formal traffic calming review at this time. Seasonal traffic calming
measures will be implemented on this segmentof Westforest Trailagainin 2020 andstaff
will continue to monitor.
th
Fairfield Avenuefrom Margaret Avenue to Ridgewood Avenue (ranked 7)is scheduled
for a full reconstruction in 2023. Transportation Services will explore appropriate
measures that can be implementedto calm traffic through the reconstruction using the
Complete Streets Guidelines.
Kenora Drivewas recommended for a formal traffic calming review in 2019. However,
because Holborn Drivewas in greater need of traffic calming andlocatedwithin the same
neighbourhood (Idlewood – Ward 2), a formal review of Kenora Drive was postponed.
The traffic calming priority listing is updated annually and Kenora Drive has since fallen
th
in the rankings to 11. Staff will continue to monitor traffic volume and speed along
Kenora Drive and will recommend as appropriate.
PROJECT UPDATES
There are three (3)formaltraffic calming reviews that were initiated in 2019 that may be
constructedin 2020pending further review and Council approval. A staff report will be presented
to Council in April 2020 for approval of implementationfor the following locations:
Deer RidgeDrive
Robert FerrieDrive(South Creek Drive to Doon South Drive)
HolbornDrive
9 - 3
2020 PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PILOTFOR FORMAL TRAFFIC CALMING
The formal traffic calming review process is currently broken down into five (5) phases, which
includestwo (2) public information centres (PICs) for affected residents to attend. The first PIC
is held early in the processto introduce the project and share opportunities and challenges. The
second PIC is held later in the process to present a preferred traffic calming planto residents.
While this approach has worked well in the past, residents have become more informed of formal
traffic calming and its impact as its use becomes more commonplace.
As a result, Transportation Services is proposing to pilot a modified public engagement process,
which would see one (1) public design charrette held rather than two (2) town hall style meetings.
The proposed change will include amore involved engagement opportunity through ahybrid
meeting thatwill still include a presentation followed by a publicdesign charrettefacilitated by
staff. The presentation will introduce the traffic calming process, opportunities and challenges
similar to the current process. The designcharretteportionwill give residentsthe opportunity to
participate in the design process through small breakout groups each facilitated by a
transportation staff member. Participants can mark upplans of the subject roadwayand can
engage in smaller collaborative discussions.Using feedbackfrom the design charrette a draft
preferred plan will be mailed to eachaffected resident for comment before coming to Council for
final approval.
For the recommended 2020 locations, Transportation Services intends on piloting this modified
public engagement process for two of three proposed locations; East Avenue and Biehn Drive.
Pioneer Tower Road will follow the current public engagement process. This will afford staff the
opportunity to do a comparative analysis of the two separate meeting types.
2020 SEASONAL TRAFFIC CALMING UPDATE
In 2019, the Seasonal Traffic Calming Program included eight (8) in-road flex signsperward,
and a total of seven (7) speed radar display boards that rotated amongst all 10 wards.
Staff have proposed that the2020Seasonal Program involves an increase of in-road flex signs
to 10per ward, which is an increase of two (2) units per ward compared to 2019. Additionally
there will be anincrease to the number of speed radar display boards to 10 from seven (7),
which would providefor one dedicatedspeed board per ward, which will be rotated monthly to
address ongoing requests.
Additionally, staff are recommending that 10extra flexible delineators be available as a
contingency for staff to deploy in areas that are most in need.This is also in recognition that
while the seasonal measures have traditionally deployed evenly amongst all wards, wards differ
in size and degree of traffic related concerns. This affords staff the ability to address concerns
accordingly.
Transportation staff will continue to work together with each ward councillor and with Operations
staff through the winter to plan and coordinate the locations for the seasonal measures so that
9 - 4
the implementation of the measures can commence as early as possibleon an annual basis.
This coordination is critical to ensure that successful locations are evaluated and selected,
hardware is installed,appropriate no parking signageiscoordinated,and staff resources are
planned accordingly.
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:
Council has allocated $210,000for the completion of three (3) formal trafficcalming reviews in
2020. This budget will be applied to the planning, design, and installation of traffic calming
measures.
The purchase of 30 additional flexible delineators and 3 speed display signs will cost
approximately $25,000 and will be taken from the existing small scale traffic calming budget.
The operating expenses for the 2019 Seasonal Traffic Calming Program was approximately
$25,000 for the 80 flexible delineatorsand seven (7) radar display boards. With the proposed
increase from 80 to 110 delineatorsand seven (7) to 10 radar display boards, the estimated
operational expenses for 2020 will total approximately $40,000and will also be funded through
the existing small scale traffic calming budget.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
Residents located along each of the proposed roadwaysrecommended for formal traffic calming,
and those in the surrounding catchmentareaswho are directly affected, will be engaged by way
of a minimum of one (1) public meeting, two (2) surveys, and other forms of communication.
Each project will be assigned a project manager who will be a single point of contact for residents
throughout the course of the traffic calming review.
If approved, staff will be piloting the new engagement process for two (2) of the three (3)
locations for 2020.
INFORM – This report has been posted to the City’s website with the agenda in advance of the
council / committee meeting.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Justin Readman, General Manager
Development Services Department
Attached:
Appendix A – 2020Warranted Traffic Calming Priority List
9 - 5
Appendix B – East AvenueProposed Traffic Calming Study Area
Appendix C – Pioneer Tower RoadProposed Traffic Calming Study Area
Appendix D – Biehn DriveProposed Traffic Calming Study Area
Appendix E – New Traffic Calming Pamphlet
9 - 6
Appendix A
Warranted Traffic Calming Priority List
20
20
9 - 7
Area
Catchment
LEGEND
Appendix B
Proposed Traffic Calming Study Area
-
East Avenue
Subject Area
-
9 - 8
Catchment Area
LEGEND
Appendix C
Proposed Traffic Calming Study Area
-
Subject Area
Pioneer Tower Road
-
9 - 9
Catchment Area
LEGEND
Appendix D
-
Proposed Traffic Calming Study Area
Drive
Subject Area
-
Biehn
9 - 10
Appendix E
New Traffic Calming Brochure
9 - 11
9 - 12