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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDTS-06-155 - Traffic Control - Biehn Drive/Carynddale Drive ) Report To: DTS Committee Date of Meeting: 2006 October 23 Submitted By: Prepared By: Ward(s) Involved: John McBride Barry Cronkite South Ward - 4 Date of Report: Report No.: Subject: 2006 October 11 DTS 06-155 TRAFFIC CONTROL - BIEHN DRIVE/CARYNDDALE DRIVE RECOMMENDATIONS: That an all-way stop be installed at the intersection of Biehn Drive and Caryndale Drive, and further; That the Uniform Traffic By-law be amended accordingly. BACKGROUND: Transportation Planning is in receipt of a request from the Brigadoon Public School Council to review pedestrian safety at the intersection of Biehn Drive and Caryndale Drive. At present there is a student safety patrol assisted school crossing at this location. Students cross the east and south legs of the intersection exclusively. Staff attended a meeting at the school in May 2006 to discuss this and other related issues. As a result of that meeting traffic counts were conducted, gap studies were undertaken and compliance studies completed. Also, as a result of this meeting no stopping signs in front of the school were upgraded and a school crossing established on Caryndale Drive in front of the school. Extensive residential development is occurring throughout the community which will have significant impacts on the operation of the intersection of Biehn Drive and Caryndale Drive. In particular when Biehn Drive is connected to Strasburg Road, a substantial increase in traffic on Biehn Drive is anticipated. This, however, is not scheduled to take place in the immediate future. REPORT: According to City of Kitchener's Municipal Plan, Biehn Drive is designated as a major collector roadway and Caryndale Drive is considered minor collector roadway. The function of a major collector roadway is to collect and distribute traffic between local streets, other collector roads and the arterial road system, with the primary purpose being to carry through traffic between neighbourhoods. When Biehn Drive is extended to Strasburg Road it will function as a major collector road. However, at this point in time both Biehn Drive and Caryndale Drive are primarily residential streets carrying residential traffic within the Community, and act more as minor collector roadways than major collector roadways. Brigadoon Public School is located on Caryndale Drive. Concerns regarding school pedestrian safety at the intersection of Biehn Drive and Caryndale Drive were raised by the parent Council at the school. Numerous studies have been conducted at this location over the past several years as it is recognized as an area that is expanding in terms of residential development. The most recent gap study, which is a key component in determining the adult crossing guard warrant, was conducted on September 6, 2006. As in all previous studies, an adult crossing guard is not warranted at this location. The vast majority of students cross the south leg of the intersection, where there is very little traffic. This is the leg of the intersection that leads to the cul-de-sac. Gap Study Location: Biehn Drive & Caryndale Drive Date: Se tember 6, 2006 Required Gaps 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 GAP STUDY Time Periods 8:30 a.m. 8:35 a.m. 8:40 a.m. 8:45 a.m. 8:50 a.m. 8:55 a.m. 9:00 a.m. Recorded Gaps 8 10 9 13 6 Children: Biehn Drive Vehicles Children: Caryndale o o o 16 8 6 6 o o o o 12 18 22 14 27 24 24 7 1 4 9 3 9:05 a.m. I Total a.m.: 3:25 p.m. 5 7 3 0 29 3:30 .m. 5 9 0 0 21 3:35 .m. 5 7 4 0 26 3:40 .m. 5 4 32 3 38 3:45 p.m. 5 6 15 0 29 3:50 p.m. 5 13 0 0 15 I Total p.m.: 130 146 154 13 1158 It must be noted that the bell times have changed at Brigadoon Public School which always have significant impacts on crossing conditions. For 2005-06 the morning bell was at 9:00 a.m. and the afternoon bell at 3:30 p.m. for 06-07 the morning bell is at 9:10a.m. and the afternoon bell remains at 3:30 p.m. 2 This has had a positive impact on crossing safety. The number of gaps available throughout the entire morning study period is now at 70, previous studies showed the number of available gaps at 57. The required number of gaps is 40. In the afternoon the number of available gaps remained at 46, similar to previous study dates. The required number of gaps is 30. There was a change in the crossing patterns of the school children. Previously the number of children crossing Caryndale was in the 18-20 range per study period. Now only between 3 - 8 children cross this leg of the intersection each study period. The number of children crossing Biehn is up significantly in the morning and about the same in the afternoon. In the morning 38 children cross Biehn compared to 25 during the past study. In the afternoon 54 children cross compared to 45 previously. All students and parents were able to cross without any difficulties. ALL-WAY STOP WARRANT At the meeting in May with members of the Brigadoon Public School Parent Council the possibility of the installation of an all-way stop at the intersection of Biehn Drive and Caryndale Drive was raised. Transportation Planning staff who attended the meeting indicated that this would be investigated. The following is the result of this investigation. A traffic study was conducted for the intersection in April 2006. The results of the traffic study were then compared to both the City of Kitchener major collector and local/ minor collector roadway all- way stop warrant, which are guidelines based on the all-way stop warrants established by the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) and the Ministry of Transportation. For the purposes of determining the existing warrant, the traffic count is being compared to the local/minor collector roadway warrant as opposed to the major collector to be representative of roadway operating characteristics. It should be noted that these operating characteristics will change significantly when Biehn Drive is extended to Strasburg Road. The results of the studies are as follows: Biehn Drive/Caryndale Drive All-Way Stop Intersection Analysis Local/Minor Collector Warrant Results (Min. Requirements) 350 334 Highest Hour Volume 0/0 Split on Minor Roadway 250/0 460/0 OR Avg. Hourly Volume(AII 250 240 Approaches) Avg. Hourly % Split on Minor 250/0 460/0 Roadway A vg. Yearly Collision History 3/yr. . 33/yr . All-Way Stop Warranted? NO 3 Transportation Planning has reviewed the intersection, and although the warrant was not met based on overall volume, the study does indicate that it was within 50/0 of being warranted based on minor collector standards. Therefore, as a result of the traffic studies performed, Transportation Planning is recommending that an all-way stop be installed at the intersection of Biehn Drive and Caryndale Drive. Once Biehn Drive is extended to Strasburg Road, volumes will undoubtedly increase, and an all-way stop at this intersection will help to maintain traffic safety, and maintain traffic flow to/from Caryndale Drive. After the installation of the all-way stop at the intersection, the location will be studied once again in terms of the impact on school pedestrian safety. Any adjustments will be recommended at that time. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: The approximate cost for signage, including installation, for the roadway is $750 and will be taken from the existing sign maintenance budget. COMMUNICATIONS: Pending the approval of the all-way stop by Council, Brigadoon Public School, as well as the Transportation and Planning Department of the Waterloo District School Board will be notified of the impending change as well as the approximate installation date. Safety Patrols at the intersection will be instructed on how to effectively manage the school pedestrian traffic at that location. John McBride, Director Transportation Planning Ken Carmichael, C.E. T. Supervisor of Traffic & Parking Barry Cronkite, Traffic Technologist Transportation Planning 4 5