HomeMy WebLinkAboutDTS-06-010 - Regional Illumination PolicyRECOMMENDATIONS:
"That the Regional Municipality of Waterloo continue to be responsible for illumination on
Regional roads, and further;
That the Regional Municipality of Waterloo consider providing illumination on all
Regional roads within the developed urban boundary, and further;
That the Regional Municipality of Waterloo reconsider the use of the Illuminating
Engineering Society of North America illumination design guidelines instead of the
Transportation Association of Canada guidelines when new roadway lighting has been
justified by the proposed warrants with respect to the illumination of the adjacent
sidewalks, and further;
That where decorative lights are proposed on Regional roads within the defined Downtown
core of the City of Kitchener, or other City Council approved areas, where lights currently
exist, that the Regional Municipality of Waterloo contribute the proportional life cycle cost
of standard street lights with the City funding the remaining cost, and further;
That where pedestrian scale lights are proposed on Regional roads within the defined
Downtown core of the City of Kitchener, or other City Council approved areas, that the
Regional Municipality of Waterloo contribute 50% of the cost of the pedestrian scale lights
with the City funding the remaining cost, and further;
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That the Regional Municipality of Waterloo continue to fund all energy costs of lighting,
regardless of the style, on Regional roads."
BACKGROUND:
The Region of Waterloo has prepared a draft Regional Illumination Policy in conjunction with
the three local hydro authorities and five of the seven local municipalities. A number of
differences of opinion still exist with respect to the provision of decorative and pedestrian scale
lighting and the Region has asked for comments from the local municipalities prior to holding
public information centres and the approval of a final illumination policy.
REPORT:
Municipal staff along with the three hydro authorities have been meeting with Regional staff to
develop an illumination policy for Regional roads. While staff agree with the general intent of
the policy, there are three issues that remain outstanding including the appropriate warrants to
use in determining when lights will be installed, the use of decorative lights and pedestrian scale
lights.
Regional Council also asked that the local municipalities consider the option of them assuming
the responsibility for illumination on Regional roads. Currently approximately 18% of all street
lights are located on Regional roads. While there would at times be some benefits with the City
controlling all street lighting, the Region controls most other aspects of the infrastructure within
the Regional right of way related to transportation. The road itself, signs, traffic control signals,
pavement markings and sidewalks (at least the initial construction) are all controlled, constructed
and maintained by the Region. We feel that street lighting is part of this infrastructure and
should remain under the Region's control.
Lighting Warrants
The City of Kitchener, through Kitchener Wilmot Hydro, designs its lighting installations using
the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) warrants for street lighting
whenever feasible and economically viable. The Region is proposing to use the lighting
warrants recently approved by the Transportation Association of Canada (TAQ with some
additional criteria to address lighting at mid block locations, transit routes, etc.
The TAC warrants will generally provide the same light levels on the roadway but may not
provide as much light on the adjacent sidewalk, especially on the opposite side to the light poles.
Serious consideration needs to be given to all users within the right of way, both vehicular and
pedestrians and cyclists. It is our position that the Region should provide for adequate light
levels on all public sidewalks or designated paths within the right of way.
The proposed Regional lighting warrants will for the most part maintain the level of light that
currently exists on most Regional roads. Usually where front lotted properties or access points
exist, roadway illumination is present. However on some backlotted arterial roads, such as
Lackner Blvd, portions of Bleams Rd and the future Ira Needles Blvd where residential
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properties, walkway links, transit and potentially cyclists and pedestrians could be present, there
is a need for lighting. These types of applications should be considered in the Regional policy.
Decorative Lights.
When the Region assumed street lighting responsibilities on Regional roads in 1999 it was
agreed by all of the local municipalities that the local municipality would continue to have the
responsibility for installation, replacement and maintenance of all decorative or custom
luminaires or a different type of luminaires (such as metal halide) or a higher level of
illumination (such as closer spacing or higher wattage) than typically installed by the Region.
The Region is responsible for energy costs only.
The only place that the Region is responsible for providing lighting is the arterial road system.
This results in the City bearing the entire cost of decorative lights if we want to put greater
emphasis on streetscape design and quality, corridor identity, pedestrian scaled environments and
improved lighting for pedestrians, etc. The Regional approach is not supportive of the City's
redevelopment efforts in the core or planned intensification corridors. In fact, it could be argued
that it is not supportive of the Region's goal of greater intensification, increased use of transit or
shifting of commuters to other modes of transportation. A welcoming, appropriately lit
environment is crucial to getting motorists out of their vehicles and into other modes such as
walking, transit and cycling. A pleasant inviting core will help to achieve this goal.
Specifically, Regional roads within the core include Victoria St, Frederick/Benton St, Charles St,
Weber St and a small portion of King St from Victoria St to the railway tracks. At the time that
these roads are rebuilt, decorative — pedestrian oriented - lighting should be introduced. We
recognize that existing lights already exist on these roads and that there would be an additional
cost to replace them, but it is Staff's position that the Region should be contributing a portion of
the upgrade cost. At the very least the Region should pay for the proportion of life cycle cost
already incurred. For example, if the existing lights have been in place for 60% of their expected
life, then the Region should be paying for 60% of their replacement cost as their contribution
towards the decorative light installation. The City would then be responsible for the ongoing
maintenance costs while the Region would be responsible for the energy costs.
Pedestrian Scale Lights
Normal street lighting is predominantly in place to illuminate the road, which at times can leave
sidewalks with minimal levels of light particularly on the opposite side of the street. Pedestrian
scale lighting is normally located in downtown areas and is directed at the sidewalk in areas of
high pedestrian activity. The Region's current practice is that the local Municipality is
responsible for the capital, maintenance and operating costs of all pedestrian scale lighting. An
example of pedestrian scale lights are Cedar St, Ontario St and Water St.
Pedestrian scale lights, especially in the Downtown core and encouraged through design studies,
are supportive of the pedestrian environment, which leads to improved lighting and sense of
safety, greater intensification opportunities, greater use of transit and improved streetscape
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quality. By increasing the comfort level of pedestrians through improved lighting, greater use of
public transit and ultimately rapid transit can be achieved. Alternative lighting fixtures should
also be considered for future infrastructure projects, such as potential underpasses, that
contribute to an interesting, well lit downtown environment. This approach is supportive of both
the City's and Region's efforts with respect to growth management, urban intensification and an
effort to shift auto use to alternate methods of travel. It is also supportive of the Pedestrian
Charter, which both the City and Region have adopted.
To help achieve this, it is recommended that where pedestrian scale lights are proposed on
Regional roads within the defined Downtown core of the City of Kitchener, or other Council
approved areas, that the Regional Municipality of Waterloo contribute 50% of the cost of the
pedestrian scale lights with the local Municipality funding the remaining cost. The City would
then be responsible for the ongoing maintenance costs while the Region would be responsible for
the energy costs.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
If Regional Council adopts this approach, it would ultimately reduce the capital development
cost to the local Municipality of introducing decorative and pedestrian scale lighting on Regional
roads within the Downtown core at the time that they are reconstructed. At this time, cost
estimates can not be supplied because it will be dependant on the road, type of light, ultimate
design and timing.
John P. McBride Director
Transportation Planning
Jeff Willmer, MCI P, RPP
Director of Planning
Rob Shamess, P. Eng
Director of Engineering