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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDTS-06-175 - Greenbrook Drive - Traffic Calming Update ) ~ Development & Technical Services ~ Report To: Date of Meeting: Submitted By: Prepared By: Ward(s) Involved: Date of Report: Report No.: Subject: Development and Technical Services Committee December 11, 2006 John McBride, Director of Transportation Planning Barry Cronkite, Traffic Technologist (741-2738) Forest - Rockway Ward - 5 December 4, 2006 DTS 06-175 GREENBROOK DRIVE - TRAFFIC CALMING UPDATE RECOMMENDATIONS: That the temporary traffic calming chicanes on Greenbrook Drive be removed, and further; That Transportation Planning hold an Open House no later than February 2007 that proposes a series of 8 speed humps to be strategically installed along Greenbrook Drive during the construction season in 2007, and further; That the intersection narrowing on Greenbrook Drive at Birchcliff Avenue be installed on a permanent basis in 2007, and further; BACKGROUND: That a resident survey on the effectiveness of the speed humps be conducted 6 months after their installation and a report be prepared for Council outlining the neighbourhoods position. In April 2005, Paradigm Transportation Solutions Ltd. was retained to conduct a Class "B" Environmental Assessment for Greenbrook Drive, as it was identified as one of three streets with the highest priority for traffic calming. The priorities are defined by a number of factors which include, but are not limited to, volume, collisions and speed. Public meetings were held on May 26, 2005 to introduce the project and traffic calming options and on September 21, 2005 to present the preferred alternative. The resulting approved traffic calming plan for Greenbrook Drive included the following measures: · Two centre-island chicanes, one near Lakeside Drive and one near Stonybrook Drive. · One offset chicane near Forest Hill Drive/Village Road. · Road narrowing at Birchcliff Avenue. · Speed hump north of Ruskview Road These measures (with the exception of the speed hump north of Ruskview Road) were installed on a temporary basis in spring 2006. REPORT: Greenbrook Drive is a major collector roadway that serves as an access to the surrounding arterial road network (Westmount Road, Fischer Hallman Road, Homer Watson Boulevard) and the Kitchener Waterloo Expressway for the Forest Hill community. In the past, Transportation Planning has received many requests to review traffic conditions on Greenbrook Drive, specifically relating to speeding and cut through traffic. The intent of a major collector roadway is to collect and distribute traffic between local streets, other collector roadways and the arterial road system. A major collector roadway is also intended to carry a certain amount of cut through traffic between adjacent neighbourhoods. As part of the Environmental Assessment, extensive public consultation occurred with the Greenbrook Dr residents, the larger community and all affected agencies including the Region of Waterloo (Emergency Medical Services), Waterloo Regional Police Services, Grand River Transit, Kitchener Fire Department and City of Kitchener Operations Services. It was clear that residents of the neighbourhood that do not live directly on Greenbrook Drive were concerned that traffic on Greenbrook Drive would infiltrate other neighbourhood streets. Their comments were factored into the design and location of the proposed measures. As a result, in March 2006, the approved traffic calming measures were installed on a temporary trial basis (with the exception of the speed hump) on Greenbrook Drive, in order to provide an opportunity to review the measures and their impact on the neighbourhood and surrounding streets. Specifically, speeds, volumes and collisions were compared on Greenbrook Drive as well as cross streets in the neighbourhood both before and after the traffic calming measures had been installed. One of the main objectives was to slow down traffic and reduce some of the through volumes without shifting traffic onto other local roads in the neighbourhood. The preferred treatments included: · Two centre-island chicanes, one near Lakeside Drive and one near Stonybrook Drive. · One offset chicane near Forest Hill Drive/Village Road. · Road narrowing at Birchcliff Avenue. · Speed hump north of Ruskview Road These measures, while intended to reduce vehicle speeds on Greenbrook Drive and possibly reduce the amount of through traffic, thereby increasing traffic and pedestrian safety, are not intended to negatively affect general traffic patterns of the community. Analysis In order to quantify the existing traffic conditions in the Forest Hill Community resulting from the temporary traffic calming measures, Transportation Planning collected and reviewed collision, speed and volume data following the installation of the temporary traffic calming measures. The results for the roadways that are the most affected are as follows: Speed (km/h) and Volume (veh/d) Studies Mid-Measure Locations Location Volume Volume difference Speed Speed difference Prior Dost Prior Dost Greenbrook Drive - Westmount 3934 3542 -392 58 59 + 1 Road to Fischer Hallman Road Lakeside Drive 1265 1147 -118 61 59 -2 Birchcliff Drive 1528 1213 -315 56 56 0 Greenbrook Drive - Westmount 8243 6801 -1 442 63 62 -1 Road to StirlinQ Avenue Forest Hill Drive - Westmount Road 1076 963 -104 52 55 +3 to Fischer Hallman Road Forest Hill Drive - Westmount Road 692 783 +91 n/a 52 n/a to Greenbrook Drive Warren Road 1626 935 -751 n/a 54 n/a Stonybrook Drive - Westmount 1303 1049 -254 n/a 51 n/a Road to Greenbrook Drive While differences in speeds midblock on Greenbrook Drive and the surrounding street network are negligible, volumes have generally decreased to varying degrees on these roadways. While the temporary traffic calming measures have not impacted speeds in the areas between the measures, they have impacted speeds within the immediate area of the measures. The results (85th percentile speeds) are as follows: 85 Percentile Speed at the Temporary Traffic Calming Measures Measure and Location Speed (km/h) Island chicane design (at the plaza) 44 20 metres east of island chicane design (near 54 Lakeside Drive) Intersection bump out design (at Birchcliff Avenue) 51 Offset chicane design (near Village Road/Forest 54 Hill Drive) As illustrated, while the speeds midblock along Greenbrook Drive remain the same, speeds within the general vicinity of the measures have decreased, with the island chicane design having the greatest impact on speeds. A review of the collision history indicated that there has been one reported collision within the temporary traffic calming measures. This occurred as a driver waited to turn left onto Forest Hill Drive after exiting the measure, and was rear ended by a car. The report, however, does not indicate that the measure was the cause of the collision. While there has only been one reported collision, there have been numerous incidents reported to our department at or near the measures. However, these are not quantifiable as collisions were not reported to the Waterloo Regional Police Department. Resident Survey On October 27, 2006, Transportation Planning mailed a survey and information report to residents/property owners of the Forest Hill Community on Greenbrook Drive and adjacent streets, as well as anyone that had expressed an interest in the study. The intent of the survey was to determine if there is support for the permanent installation of the temporary traffic calming measures on Greenbrook Drive. There were a total of 768 residential properties surveyed within the boundaries of the study area. The results of the survey are as follows: Residents that directly abut Greenbrook Drive In favour of installing chicanes on a permanent basis Opposed to installing chicanes on a permanent basis 25 (36%) 45 (64%) Total 70 out of 150 responded (47%) Residents that do not directly abut Greenbrook Drive In favour of installing chicanes on a permanent basis Opposed to installing chicanes on a permanent basis 60 (22%) 216 (78%) Total 276 out of 618 responded (45%) It is clear that residents of the Forest Hill Community do not support the existing temporary traffic calming measures (chicanes) on Greenbrook Drive. Some of the primary concerns that were cited are as follows: · Measures are not aesthetically pleasing and destroy the appearance of the neighbourhood · Winter weather will lead to unsafe driving conditions and create serious safety hazards at and near the chicanes · The cost to install chicanes is high and prohibitive given that cheaper alternatives have not been tried. · The measures have had little impact on speeds on the overall street · "Slalom" conditions have been created as some drivers are attempting to manoeuvre through the chicanes as quickly as possible, rather than at a reasonable, safe speed. However, many of the respondents that do not support the permanent installation of the chicanes do support some form of action. The most popular suggestions and a qualification of their application are as follows: · Photo radar (speed cameras) - While speed cameras were in use in 1994 and 1995 on provincial highways, and proved to be an effective tool to slow traffic, the Provincial government of the day removed them from use and provincial legislation does not currently allow for the use of photo radar on any roadway within Ontario. · Increased enforcement - It is recognized that enforcement is an effective traffic calming tool when present. Its effectiveness is governed by the availability of staffing of the Waterloo Regional Police Services, and therefore is limited to short term gains, and is not a long term solution. · All-way stops - All-way stops are not intended to be used as a traffic calming initiative because of the potential safety concerns that result from unwarranted stop signs as well as increased economic, operational and environmental impacts, (as addressed in an earlier report, titled Traffic Calming Update DTS 06-157). · Lowering of the speed limit - Studies have proven that drivers will drive to their comfort level, and that lowering the speed limit on a municipal roadway has little to no impact on overall operating conditions. · Speed humps - While speed humps are a viable form of traffic calming, the City of Kitchener Traffic Calming Policy states that no vertical deflections can be installed on major collector roadways or transit routes. This is primarily based on previous communication with Grand River Transit and Emergency Services. Alternative Options While the majority of suggestions made by residents are dependant on enforcement and not sustainable in the long term, speed humps are a viable solution recommended by many of the residents of the Forest Hill Community. In an attempt to address the need to calm traffic, and to satisfy concerns of Grand River Transit and Emergency Services, several alternative speed hump designs were tested by the City of Kitchener in conjunction with GRT, Emergency Medical Services, Fire Services and Operations, to develop a design that can be used on major collector roadways and transit routes as an alternative to sinusoidal humps, and other alternative designs that have been employed within the City of Kitchener. A series of four speed humps of varying heights and lengths were constructed and tested on November 21, 2006. Three of the humps had little or no impact on speeds, however, it is anticipated that the design of the fourth hump will slow vehicular traffic to an 85th percentile speed of approximately 45 - 50 km/h and larger GRT and Emergency Response Vehicles to 30 - 35 km/h. Comments from GRT, Emergency Medical Services and Fire Services are as follows: · GRT - Buses can safely and comfortably drive over the humps at 30km/h · Emergency Medical Services - EMS is comfortable with the vertical deflection option presented. While any deflection at all slows response times, the mandate for traffic calming measures is understood and will continue to work towards a compromise that minimizes vehicle wear and tear, enroute delay and crew/patient discomfort. · Fire services - both the Aerial truck and Pumper truck could comfortably drive over the hump design at 35km/h. However, a higher rate of speed is too hard on the equipment. While, as per the traffic calming policy, vertical deflections are not to be installed on Greenbrook Drive, Transportation Planning feels that the tested alternate speed hump design will achieve the desired impact on overall traffic patterns, while providing an acceptable solution for emergency services. Because of the design, more measures can be employed along the street, which will allow us to slow speeds midblock as well. To achieve uniform traffic calming along Greenbrook Drive, it is recommended that a series of 8 speed humps be installed strategically along the roadway. An Open House will be held to outline Transportation Planning's proposal to the Forest Hill Community. It is anticipated that the measures will be installed during the 2007 construction season. The installation of speed humps should address most of the concerns indicated by those that were not in support of the chicanes. It is also proposed that a survey of Greenbrook Drive residents as well as the greater community be undertaken six months after the installation of the speed humps to gauge the community support for this type of measure and that the results be presented to Council. While the residents do not support the existing traffic calming measures (predominantly the chicanes), Transportation Planning also recommends that the intersection narrowing on Greenbrook Drive at Birchcliff Avenue be installed on a permanent basis as well, as it reduces the overall crossing distance for pedestrians crossing the roadway. It also will allow for greater visibility on the east side of Greenbrook Drive as the intersection is on a curve. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: The approximate cost for the installation of a series of speed humps on Greenbrook Drive is as follows: CONSTRUCTION COST Unit Cost Item (app.) Quantity Total Intersection NarrowinQ $ 15,000.00 1 $ 15,000.00 Speed hump $ 2,000.00 8 $ 16,000.00 Total $ 31,000.00 Should Council approve the installation of these measures on a permanent basis, the measures will be funded from the existing Traffic Calming budget. Permanent measures are anticipated to be installed in 2007, to be coordinated with other traffic calming initiatives or with scheduled road work. COMMUNICATIONS: As part of the resident survey conducted in October 2006, participants were asked to identify whether they wanted to be mailed a copy of our report to the DTS Committee and advised of the date when it would be considered. Approximately 200 respondents indicated they wished to be kept informed and were mailed a copy of this report and advised of the DTS meeting on December 11, 2006. John McBride, Director Transportation Planning Ken Carmichael, C.E.T. Supervisor of Traffic and Parking Barry Cronkite Traffic Technologist BC Attached