HomeMy WebLinkAboutDTS-06-016 - Traffic Control - River Rd E & Lorraine Ave1
Kd LR
Development&
Technical Services
6 REPORT
Report To: Development &Technical Services Committee
Date of Meeting: February 6, 2006
Submitted By: John McBride, Director of Transportation Planning
Prepared By: Dennis Lopes, Traffic Technologist (741 -2369)
Ward(s) Involved: Chicopee -Grand River Ward (2)
Date of Report: January 24, 2006
Report No.: DTS 06 -016
Subject: TRAFFIC CONTROL — RIVER ROAD EAST AND LORRAINE
AVENUE
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That right turns during the red phase be permitted for the southbound direction on Lorraine
Avenue at River Road East; and further,
That the Uniform Traffic By -law be amended accordingly.
BACKGROUND:
Transportation Planning has received a request from a resident of the Heritage Park Community
to review the existing traffic controls at the intersection of River Road East and Lorraine Avenue.
As outlined in the City of Kitchener Municipal Plan, River Road East is designated as a
secondary arterial roadway and Lorraine Avenue is designated as a major collector roadway.
At the present time, southbound traffic on Lorraine Avenue is prohibited from completing a right
turn during the red phase (7:00 a.m. — 9:00 a.m., 4:00 p.m. — 6:00 p.m., Monday — Friday), as
outlined in the City of Kitchener Uniform Traffic By -law No. 2000 -159.
REPORT:
This request cited that, with the current turning movement prohibition at the intersection of River
Road East and Lorraine Avenue traffic is being backed up substantially on Lorraine Avenue during
the peak periods of the day. In response to this request, Transportation Planning has reviewed the
history of the installation of the turning movement prohibition at the intersection of River Road
East and Lorraine Avenue.
The current turning movement prohibition was installed in June of 1999 (D.O.P.W.R. 99 -20) due
to the K -W Expressway improvements. At that time River Road East was the detour route for
traffic, necessitated by the closure of the Ottawa Street bridge over the K -W Expressway. In order
to create gaps in traffic along River Road East, right turn on red prohibitions during the peak hours
were installed on Lorraine Avenue at River Road East and on Krug Street at River Road East. In
January of 2000, K -W Expressway improvements on the Ottawa Street bridge were completed
and reopened to traffic. The intention was to remove the right turn on red prohibitions at the
intersections. However, during the closure, this Division received input from a number of residents
that the ability to access River Road East from Halliwell Drive improved during the detour, due to
the turn prohibition in place on Lorraine Avenue at River Road East. Therefore, it was
recommended (D.O.P.W.R. 2000 -7) that the right turn on red prohibition on southbound Lorraine
Avenue at River Road East be implemented permanently.
In September of 2005, traffic control signals were installed at the intersection of River Road East
and Hickson Drive. These new signals now provide this area's residents with a protected exit from
their subdivision onto the arterial road network (River Road East). This in turn, will reduce the
amount of traffic exiting from Halliwell Drive onto River Road East.
The Region of Waterloo Traffic Signals Section was consulted regarding the potential to remove
the right turn on red prohibition for the southbound direction on Lorraine Avenue at River Road
East and has no concerns regarding the removal of the prohibition. The removal of the prohibition
will benefit the overall operation of the intersection.
Therefore, in an effort to improve the level of service and reduce unnecessary vehicle delays,
Transportation Planning recommends that right turns during the red phase be permitted for the
southbound direction on Lorraine Avenue at River Road East and that the City of Kitchener
Uniform Traffic By -law be amended accordingly.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The approximate cost for the removal of the signing is $100 and will be taken from the existing
sign maintenance budget.
John McBride, Director
Transportation Planning
Dennis Lopes, Traffic Technologist
Transportation Planning
DL
Attach.
14
Ken Carmichael, C.E.T.
Supervisor of Traffic & Parking
ti L
ti
• 1
1 }.�'r 1 '� •.
r, r, �'•r r
r
• � .1 • f L 1
% I%
1 • r 1
J.
• }�.� .r r . r
Y• y r •'
ti � �•
.1
r
• r 1
• •r• ti.
• ti �
r•
ti.
ti .•r.
r � 'r'•1
. 1
:Ir - .r �••Y
r 1
�� •1 1
1
'r
f, rr'
1 r _
' •ti
yti1 1
.. 1
1 {• r
.ti r
•ti r
. }•r.
1
..: • y
• r�
• Y
r _5
• 1 fr •
�1
• r
• „ r
s•