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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDTS-07-011 - Traffic Calming Priority - 20071 h~TC~NER Development & Technical Services . , . Report To: Development and Technical Services Committee Date of Meeting: 2007 January 29 Submitted By: John McBride, Director of Transportation Planning Prepared By: Barry Cronkite, Traffic Technologist (741-2738} Ward(s) Involved: ALL WARDS Date of Report: 2007 January 16 Report No.: DTS 07-011 Subject: TRAFFIC CALMING PRIORITY - 2007 RECOMMENDATION: That the 2007 traffic calming program include the completion of traffic calming studies for Vanier Drive/Traynor Avenue, Kinzie Avenue, Old Carriage Drive and Clark Avenue. BACKGROUND: The existing City of Kitchener traffic calming policy and annual traffic calming budget was adopted by Council in August 2004 (DTS O4-125}. The traffic calming policy outlines a number of evaluation criteria that provides a fair and consistent review of streets and communities while defining and prioritizing the individual streets and/or communities that are most in need of traffic calming, from a traffic safety perspective. The annual budget allows for Transportation Planning to implement a limited number of traffic calming measures on these streets. There are a total of four traffic calming studies ongoing at various levels within the City of Kitchener as a result of the new traffic calming policy and traffic calming budget. The streets currently under review are Chopin Drive, Chandler Drive, Homewood Avenue and Bradley Drive. These reviews, while currently ongoing, are expected to be completed shortly. REPORT: The intent of traffic calming is to reduce vehicle speeds, deter non-residential traffic from the area and reduce the incidence of collisions, thereby increasing safety for all users within the right-of-way. The types of traffic calming chosen depend on the issues being addressed and the function of the road. Over the past year we have received a number of requests, either directly from the public or through the Ward Councillor to review traffic conditions on a number of streets. This is in addition to the priority listing that had carried over from 2005. These streets were reviewed as per the approved Traffic Calming Policy with respect to speed, volumes, collisions and safety factors. Attached is the traffic calming priority listing for local, minor collector and major collector/secondary arterial roadways. UNWARRANTED ROADWAYS While Transportation Planning receives numerous requests on a yearly basis for traffic calming, not all roadways that are reviewed warrant consideration for traffic calming. Therefore, in order to concentrate on those roadways that do potentially warrant traffic calming, any streets that have received fewer than 30 points have been removed from the traffic calming priority rating. There are three main categories within the priority rating system for traffic calming warrants; collisions, volumes and speed, each category being worth a maximum of 20 points each. The 30 point cut-off was determined by taking the median of all three of the major categories. While typically this would not indicate a major cause for concern, it does provide for a good base of comparison. This will help to clearly define roadways that do have a significant traffic issue and do warrant consideration for traffic calming at some point in the future. We will continue to monitor speeds, volumes and collisions on both warranted and unwarranted streets on a yearly basis, as any change in traffic conditions could cause a change in priority ranking. Additionally, if a roadway is scheduled for reconstruction, consideration will be given at that time for a review of traffic calming. LOCAL ROADWAYS Old Carriage Road is the highest ranked local roadway of those reviewed for traffic calming with 42 points. On Old Carriage Road there is evidence of speeding and cut-through traffic which makes it an ideal candidate for traffic calming. In this regard we are recommending that a traffic calming study be conducted for Old Carriage Road. Sydney Street South is the second ranked local roadway with 37 points. The primary issue related to Sydney Street South is the significant amount of speeding traffic that is avoiding congestion on Ottawa Street South. However, the Region of Waterloo has scheduled the reconstruction of Ottawa Street South for 2009. This impending reconstruction could potentially alter traffic patterns, therefore it is recommended that no traffic calming study be conducted for Sydney Street South until traffic patterns can be re-evaluated following the reconstruction of Ottawa Street South. Although Clark Avenue isn't high on the priority listing, Transportation Planning has received numerous complaints in the past. Therefore, as Clark Avenue is due for reconstruction in 2007, a traffic calming study is being incorporated into the project and is being conducted by the roadway design and construction consultant. MINOR COLLECTOR ROADWAYS Vanier Drive/Traynor Avenue are ranked first and third respectively (47 points -Vanier Drive, 42 points -Traynor Avenue}. Given that the streets are connected and function as a singular roadway within the same neighbourhood, it is recommended that a traffic calming study be conducted that reviews both Vanier Drive and Traynor Avenue. Additionally, Vanier Drive is scheduled for rehabilitation work in 2008, allowing for potential cost savings for the implementation of any resulting recommended traffic calming measures. Kinzie Avenue is ranked second on the minor collector priority ranking list with 44 points. There is evidence of through traffic and collisions on Kinzie Avenue, therefore it is recommended that a traffic calming study be conducted for Kinzie Avenue as well. MAJOR COLLECTOR/SECONDARY ARTERIAL ROADWAYS Strasburg Road is the highest ranked secondary arterial roadway and Westheights Drive is the highest ranked major collector roadway on the priority ranking list. As indicated by their designation, these streets are intended to carry large volumes of traffic. While undoubtedly there is some speeding and collisions we must be careful to protect the integrity of the arterial and major collector road system. In addition, the Greenbrook Drive traffic calming project is nearing completion. It is recommended that the effectiveness of traffic calming on Greenbrook Drive be reviewed prior to undertaking any additional traffic calming studies on other major collector/arterial roadways. CLASS B ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS FOR TRAFFIC CALMING In January 2000, the Environmental Assessment Act required that a Class B Environmental Assessment be conducted for any traffic calming measures. This meant that all traffic calming studies had to follow a multiple phase process outlined by the Ministry of the Environment, which included filing all projects with the Ministry upon commencement and completion for their review. In January 2007, the requirement to conduct a Class B Environmental Assessment for traffic calming was removed from the Environmental Assessment Act. In addition, any current traffic calming projects that had been initiated under the Environmental Assessment process are no longer required to be completed under the Environmental Assessment Act. Traffic calming studies that are impacted by these changes include: • Kingswood Drive • Homewood Avenue • Chandler Drive • Chopin Drive • Bradley Drive While the completion of an Environmental Assessment is no longer required, the basis by which these studies are conducted is based on a sound engineering process, and therefore Transportation Planning will continue to follow a similar process when conducting traffic calming studies. This will include, but not be limited to, advertising, in depth traffic reviews and extensive public input. Council will, however, have the final approval over all recommendations resulting from traffic calming studies. There will no longer be the provision for individuals to request a "bump up" to the Ministry of the Environment. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the traffic calming priority listings, and sound engineering judgement, it is recommended that traffic calming reviews be conducted for Vanier Drive/Traynor Avenue, Kinzie Avenue, Old Carriage Drive and Clark Avenue. In all three instances, the priority ranking system indicated that these streets were in much greater need of traffic calming than other roadways. Because of their residential nature, these streets are ideal for traffic calming initiatives. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: Transportation Planning will conduct the studies for Vanier Drive/Traynor Avenue, Kinzie Avenue and Old Carriage Road. The traffic calming study for Clark Avenue will be included as part of the duties of the design and construction consultant and included in their project costs. This will allow for the bulk of the $100 000 in available funding to be used specifically for the installation of applicable traffic calming measures. John McBride Ken Carmichael, C.E.T. Director of Transportation Planning Supervisor of Traffic and Parking Barry Cronkite Traffic Technologist BC Attach: traffic calming priority ranking charts maps