HomeMy WebLinkAboutDSD-2023-286 - Speed Limit Review - School Zones and Bingemans Centre Dr
Development Services Department www.kitchener.ca
REPORT TO: Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee
DATE OF MEETING: August 14, 2023
SUBMITTED BY: Barry Cronkite Director, Transportation Services,
519-741-2200, ext. 7738
PREPARED BY: Faranak Hosseini, Project Manager, Transportation Safety
519-741-2200, ext. 7665
WARD(S) INVOLVED: All Ward (1-10)
DATE OF REPORT: July 20, 2023
REPORT NO.: DSD-2023-286
SUBJECT: Speed Limit Review School Zones and Bingemans Centre Drive
RECOMMENDATION:
That school zones in City of Kitchener neighbourhoods maintain a consistent and
static speed limit of 30 km/h; and,
That Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) school zone locations maintain a
consistent and static speed limit of 30 km/h; and further,
That the speed limit of 50 km/h be maintained on Bingemans Centre Drive.
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS:
The purpose of this report is to:
o Review appropriate speed limits and time of day restrictions in school zones
on City of Kitchener streets;
o Review appropriate speed limits in ASE school zone locations; and,
o Review the potential for increasing the 50 km/h posted speed limit on
Bingemans Centre Drive to 60 km/h.
The key finding of this report is:
o Given the community function of school properties and the presence of
children and other vulnerable street users throughout the day and year, staff
recommend maintaining a consistent and static speed limit of 30 km/h for all
school zones in Kitchener neighbourhoods including all ASE school zone
locations. This approach is aligned with other municipalities including
Cambridge, Guelph, Mississauga, and Waterloo.
o Considering the existing conditions of Bingemans Centre Drive, including on-
road cycling facilities, high operating speeds, transit service, and business
community concerns regarding speeding and safety, staff recommend
maintaining the speed limit of 50 km/h for this street.
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
These recommendations have no expected financial implications.
This report supports the delivery of core services.
BACKGROUND:
City Council approved a reduction in speed limits from 50 km/h to 40 km/h across
neighbourhoods within the City of Kitchener (DSD-2021-189). Additionally, Council directed
staff to reduce speed limits within school zones to 30 km/h within these neighborhoods.
More information regarding the details of the Neighbourhood Speed Limit Project and results
of the pilot project can be found in staff report DSD-2021-189.
In March 2023, Council passed a motion to review of speed limits in school zones, ASE
areas, and on Bingemans Centre Drive as follows:
Whereas 30km/h school zones have been implemented across The City as per the
Council approved Neighbourhood Speed Limit project;
Whereas safety concerns regarding speeding and street safety continue to be a top
concern for Kitchener residents;
Whereas school zone bylaws on Region of Waterloo and City of Kitchener streets
are not consistent in terms of the speed limit and time of day and time of year; and,
Whereas Automated Speed enforcement (ASE) has been installed on Westheights
Drive and Franklin Street and residents find driving under the 30km/h hour posted
speed limit extremely challenging;
Therefore be it resolved that staff be directed to investigate appropriate speed limits
and time of day restrictions in school zones on City of Kitchener streets and report
back to Council prior to the start of the 2023 school year;
Therefore be it resolved that staff be directed to review the appropriate speed limit
in ASE zones for Westheights Drive and Franklin Street and report back on this
matter prior to the fall 2023.
That staff be directed to review the potential for increasing the 50 km/h speed limit
on Bingemans Centre Drive to 60 km/h."
REPORT:
This report reviews and provides recommendations on speed limits in school zones and
ASE sites located on City of Kitchener streets. It also provides a review and recommendation
for the posted speed limit on Bingemans Centre Drive.
School Zones Speed Limits
The reduction of posted speed limits was informed by a pilot project in three residential
neighbourhoods in the areas of Doon South, Huron and Idlewood. This pilot project
demonstrated the effectiveness of reducing neighbourhood speed limits to 40km/h and
school zones speed limits to 30km/h. Data collected in school zones during the pilot showed
a 12% (from 41.2 to 36.4 km/h) reduction in the average operating speed, and a 13% (49 to
42.4 km/h) reduction in the 85th percentile speed.
School properties serve as important community hubs offering a diverse range of amenities
such as school activities, daycares, after-school programing, public meeting spaces,
summer schools and camps, and rental areas for recreational leagues. Furthermore, school
properties provide outdoor sports facilities such as basketball courts, soccer fields, and
parks. Given the role schools play within the neighbourhoods they serve, and the variety of
services they offer residents at all times of the day and year, they attract children and
vulnerable street users who rely on active transportation methods for accessing school
properties.
Staff conducted a comparison of speed limits and time restrictions in school zones across
other municipalities. Other neighbouring municipalities have adopted a similar approach to
the City of Kitchener regarding speed limits in school zones. These municipalities, which
share similar road networks, and characteristics with Kitchener, have recognized the
importance of implementing static 30 km/h speed limits in residential school zones. The
consensus among these municipalities is that school zones attract children and vulnerable
street users at all times of the day and serve as community hubs for programming and
outdoor activities throughout the year. The following municipalities have implemented static
speed limits of 30 km/h in school zones: City of Cambridge, City of Guelph, City of
Mississauga, and City of Waterloo.
Transportation Services has received feedback from Region of Waterloo School Travel
Planning to address safety concerns in school zones. Data collected in October 2022
highlights speeding as the top safety issue in these areas. Furthermore, a survey conducted
in three Kitchener schools during the same period revealed that approximately 52% of
students use active transportation, such as walking or cycling, to commute to school.
Transportation Services continues to recommend a static and consistent speed limit of 30
km/h in neighbourhood area school zones to prioritize the safety of residents of all ages who
utilize school properties throughout the year and outside of regular school hours. The 30
km/h posted speed limit in school zones is applicable at all times for consistency and
enhanced safety. Studies indicate a direct correlation between vehicle speeds and the
probability of a collision resulting in serious injury or fatality. Specifically, the likelihood of
survival in a vehicle-pedestrian collision is approximately 15% when a vehicle is traveling at
50km/h. However, the likelihood of survival can increase to 70% when the vehicle is traveling
at 40km/h, and to 90% when the vehicle is traveling at 30km/h. Currently, staff have
implemented the 30 km/h speed limits in approximately 85% of school zones across the city
with the remaining 15% underway and to be converted by end of 2023.
Automated Speed Enforcement Locations
In 2021, the Region of Waterloo implemented Automated speed enforcement (ASE) on
regional and municipal roads within the Region of Waterloo. A total of 16 sites received ASE
units in the first phases of the program. Four (4) ASE units are currently located within the
City of Kitchener; two on City of Kitchener streets and two on regional roadways. These
sites were selected based on criteria developed by a working group comprised of regional
and area municipality stakeholders and using data such as roadway characteristics and
traffic speeds. In 2023, The Region of Waterloo is expected to expand the ASE program to
include an additional 16 sites and two (2) additional cameras for a total of 32 sites and six
(6) cameras across The Region. The ASE units currently located on streets under the
jurisdiction of the City of Kitchener are operational without any time restrictions, helping to
ensure consistent enforcement for enhanced safety in school zones. More information
regarding the details of the automated speed enforcement initiative can be found in staff
report DSD-20-104.
In the Region of Waterloo, the ASE program has been implemented with the primary
objective of reducing speeds within school zones. This strategic measure aims to mitigate
the risk of severe collisions in areas where the safety of children and other vulnerable street
users is a priority. The Region of Waterloo is currently conducting a pilot program to explore
the implementation of static speed limits versus time/day/month speed limit restrictions in
school zones on Region of Waterloo roads. This program aims to assess the impact of
reducing speed limits on regional roads to 40km/h during school hours. An important
and operating characteristics of their respective roadways and streets. The Region of
Waterloo primarily operates and maintains arterial roadways that are designed to move
significant volumes of traffic through the Region. Area municipalities primarily operate
collector and local streets within communities that provide access to homes and
neighbourhood amenities. Additionally, The City of Kitchener has adopted a complete
streets methodology for neighbourhoods, transitioning streets to be more accommodating
for active transportation and vulnerable street users.
Staff recommend a unified and standardized approach of 30 km/h speed limit at all times
within City of Kitchener school zones, including school zones equipped with ASE units. This
approach is consistent with area municipalities including Cambridge, Guelph, Mississauga,
and Waterloo, and ensures that all school zones within Kitchener neighbourhoods maintain
a predictable speed limit, prioritizing the safety of students, parents, and other vulnerable
street users who utilize these properties throughout the day and year.
Bingemans Centre Drive Speed Limit
Bingemans Centre Drive is classified as a major collector roadway with a posted speed limit
of 50km/h and services a range of businesses, vehicles, and street users. Currently the road
is a transit corridor with painted bike lanes and a sidewalk on the north side. The south side
of the road does not have sidewalk facilities and the corridor does not have any mid block-
controlled crossings. The most recent traffic data for Bingemans Centre Drive from 2017
shows an 85th percentile speed of 75 km/h with average daily traffic volume of 11,292
vehicle trips. Between 2013 and 2023, a total of 28 collisions occurred on this road. Among
these collisions, two involved pedestrians and one involved a cyclist. Of the 28 collisions,
seven resulted in injuries. In March 2023, Council directed staff to review the potential for
increasing the 50 km/h speed limit on Bingemans Centre Drive to 60 km/h.
The lack of a sidewalk on the south side of the street, the absence of mid-block crossings
and the high traffic volumes and operating speeds pose challenges for street users who
need to cross the street to access businesses and transit service. To address pedestrian
safety concerns, two pedestrian islands are being installed at locations with a higher
expected number of crossings as part of the Vision Zero Hot Spot Improvement program.
More information regarding the Vision Zero Hot Spot Improvement program can be found in
Staff Report DSD-2023-152. While these improvements aim to enhance safety, higher
posted speed limits on the road could undermine the effectiveness of these measures and
compromise the safety of vulnerable street users crossing the road or using the existing
painted bike lanes. An 85th percentile operating speed of 75 km/h on this street shows that
vehicles are currently not complying with the posted speed limit. Increasing the speed limit
could further increase the operating speeds of vehicles.
The unique characteristics of Bingemans Centre Drive, such as transit vehicles making
frequent stops, slower moving truck traffic, turning vehicles slowing to access businesses,
painted bike lanes without physical separation, and pedestrians crossing the roadway to
access transit or due to the absence of a sidewalk on the south side of the road, all contribute
to a recommendation for a 50km/h speed limit. Lower speed limits help reduce the potential
for collisions and improve safety for all street users. An increased speed limit should only
be considered when the existing on-road bike lanes are upgraded to separated cycling
facilities to prioritize vulnerable road user safety.
Transportation Services has received feedback from businesses along this roadway
expressing concerns about speeding, access challenges for driveways, and the safety of
staff and patrons who do not rely on alternative modes of transportation including walking,
cycling and transit.
Staff recommend maintaining the current posted speed limit of 50 km/h given the existing
conditions on Bingemans Centre Drive. This approach prioritizes safety for vulnerable street
users and helps address concerns expressed by businesses and other stakeholders in the
area.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This report supports the delivery of core services.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Capital Budget The recommendation has no impact on the Capital Budget.
Operating Budget The recommendation has no impact on the Operating Budget.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM
the council / committee meeting.
PREVIOUS REPORTS/AUTHORITIES:
Report DSD-19-159 Neighbourhood Speed Limit Review
Report DSD-20-104 Automated Speed Enforcement
Report DSD-2021-189 Neighbourhood Speed limit Review
APPROVED BY:
Justin Readman, General Manager, Development Services Department
ATTACHMENTS:
None