HomeMy WebLinkAboutDTS-06-039 - Traffic Control - King St W & Water StRECOMMENDATIONS:
That eastbound left turns from King Street West onto Water Street be permitted on
Sundays; and further,
That the Uniform Traffic By -law be amended accordingly.
BACKGROUND:
Transportation Planning has received a request from St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church to
review the existing traffic controls at the intersection of King Street West and Water Street.
As outlined in the City of Kitchener Municipal Plan, King Street West is designated as a
secondary arterial roadway and Water Street is designated as a local roadway.
At the present time, eastbound traffic on King Street West is prohibited at anytime from
completing a left turn, Monday - Sunday, 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 King
Street West and Water Street, visitors and members of St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church
are having a difficult time locating the church. The City of Kitchener is in the process of installing
directional signs on King Street West, as well as on Weber Street at Water Street, to direct the
visitors and members to the church. With the current turning movement prohibition at the
intersection of King Street West and Water Street the directional sign for eastbound traffic on King
Street West would be ineffective.
In response to this request, Transportation Planning has reviewed the history of the installation of
the turning movement prohibition at the intersection of King Street West and Water Street. The
current turning movement prohibition was installed in June of 1999 (D.O.P.W.R. 99 -19) due to a
request from Grand River Transit. At that time, Transit was experiencing delays on King Street
West at Water Street resulting from eastbound vehicles turning left onto Water Street. The delays
experienced resulted in lost time between transfer points which ultimately delayed riders in
reaching their destinations, as well as affecting transit route schedules.
Traffic volumes and congestion are much lower on Sundays on King Street West. The removal of
the left turn prohibition is not expected to create an increase in traffic congestion and /or delays on
King Street West.
The Region of Waterloo Traffic Signals Section and Grand River Transit were consulted
regarding the potential to change the left turn prohibition for the eastbound direction on King
Street West at Water Street. Both agencies have no concerns regarding the proposed revisions to
this regulation.
Therefore, in an effort to improve routing options in the Downtown and to assist in providing
direct access to St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church, Transportation Planning recommends
that eastbound left turns from King Street West onto Water Street be permitted on Sundays and
that the City of Kitchener Uniform Traffic By -law be amended accordingly.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The approximate cost for modifications to the signing is $250 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
RAFFIC CONTROL
KING STREET WEST &WATER STREET
Lefts turns proposed to be
permitted on Sundays