HomeMy WebLinkAboutDTS-07-064 - Traffic Calming - Homewood Avenuel
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Development &
Technical Services
REPORT
Report To: Development and Technical Services Committee
Date of Meeting: 2007 April 23
Submitted By: John McBride, Director of Transportation Planning
Prepared By: Barry Cronkite, Traffic Technologist (741-2738}
Ward(s~ Involved: West -Victoria Park Ward ~6}
Date of Report: 2007 April 11
Report No.: DTS 07-064
Subject: TRAFFIC CALMING - HOMEWOOD AVENUE
RECOMMENDATION:
That a series of three speed humps be installed strategically along Homewood Avenue.
BACKGROUND:
The existing City of Kitchener traffic calming policy 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.
In 2006, Homewood Avenue was scheduled for reconstruction. Transportation Planning, in
accordance with the traffic calming policy, conducted a comprehensive traffic calming review in
conjunction with the reconstruction project to address ongoing concerns received from area
residents regarding speeding and cut-through traffic.
Undertaking a traffic calming review for a project of this scale and nature is considered good
municipal planning and allows the City and stakeholders to understand all of the impacts,
constraints and opportunities associated with any traffic calming measures.
REPORT:
Homewood Avenue runs from Queen Street South to West Avenue and is designated as a local
roadway. The function of Homewood Avenue is to provide access to local residents within the
immediate area and is not generally intended to carry through traffic. The posted speed limit is
40 km/h as outlined within the City of Kitchener Uniform Traffic Control By-law 2000-159.
On April 12, 2006 our study team held its first public meeting to discuss traffic issues and
concerns on Homewood Avenue and possible approaches to developing solutions. Some
additional issues were identified, but traffic speeds and through traffic were the main concerns.
The existing traffic conditions as discussed in the first meeting are as follows:
Automated Volume & Speed Studies
From April 23rd to 29th, 2005 volume and speed studies were conducted on Homewood
Avenue. The following data was recorded:
Location AADT 85t Percentile
Eastbound 505 veh/day 43.2 km/hr
Homewood Avenue At #
102 Westbound 628 veh/da
y 43.8 km/hr
Total: 1133 vehlday
'~ AADT -Annual Average Daily Traffic
2' 85th Percentile - 85% of vehicles are traveling at or below this speed.
While volumes fall within the expected range for a local roadway, they are higher than
anticipated for a roadway of Homewood Avenue's characteristics. Additionally, speeds,
although within an acceptable range, are expected to increase with the reconstruction given the
poor condition of the roadway surface prior to its reconstruction.
Origin/Destination Study
An origin/destination study was conducted March 8, 2006 for Homewood Avenue, by which data
was collected at the following locations: the intersection of Homewood Avenue at West Avenue
and the intersection of Queen Street South at Homewood Avenue. Data was collected for the
following time periods, am peak 7:30 am to 9:00 am, mid-day traffic from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm
and the afternoon/evening peak 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. The study indicates the following through
traffic behaviors:
Through Traffic 7:30 am To 9:00 am
- 46 of 71 vehicles or 65% through from Queen Street South to West Avenue.
- 27 of 44 vehicles or 61 % through from West Avenue to Queen Street South.
- Through Traffic Total foram peak: 73 of 115 or 63%
Through Traffic 11:30 am To 1:30 pm
- 33 of 46 vehicles or 72% through from Queen Street South to West Avenue.
- 19 of 31 vehicles or 61 % through from West Avenue to Queen Street South.
- Through Traffic Total for mid-day peak: 52 of 77 or 68%
Through Traffic 4:00 pm To 6:00 pm
- 31 of 58 vehicles or 53% through from Queen Street South to West Avenue.
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- 36 of 67 vehicles or 54% through from West Avenue to Queen Street South.
- Through Traffic Total for pm peak: 68 of 125 or 54%
Collision Analysis
The collision history was reviewed (from 2001 - 2005) for the following locations as they relate
to the Homewood Avenue neighbourhood:
^ Homewood Avenue
^ Queen Street South at Homewood Avenue
^ West Avenue at Homewood Avenue
There were a total of eight collisions from 2001 to 2005. Of these eight collisions three were
intersection related two at West Avenue, one at Queen Street South} and five along
Homewood Avenue. However, there were no clear collision trends and, therefore, nothing
specific that could be addressed using traffic engineering principles.
Public Meetings
At the first public meeting on April 12, 2006 all of the traffic issues were identified and three
distinct methods of traffic calming (passive, moderate and restrictive measures) were outlined to
the residents of Homewood Avenue. Examples of these measures were also discussed.
Responses received from residents following the first public meeting indicated a moderate traffic
calming approach was widely preferred as the solution to traffic concerns on Homewood
Avenue.
Following the first public meeting, five potential alternatives comprised of a number of measures
of varying degree were considered, including "do nothing" (the "do nothing" alternative is
required as part of any fundamentally responsible traffic calming review) based on the analysis
of existing traffic, public input and the City of Kitchener's Traffic Calming Policy. These
alternatives were then evaluated by the project team based on a number of social, natural and
economic criteria to develop a preferred option.
A second public meeting was held on October 4, 2006 to present the alternatives, the
advantages and disadvantages of each alternative, and to present the preferred alternative as
determined by the project team. Attendees were asked to provide any comments before a
recommended plan was developed.
Recommended Plan
Several alternatives were considered to solve traffic issues on Homewood Avenue as follows:
Conversion to a "one-way" roadway
Installation of a series of three chicanes
Installation of a directional closure at Queen Street South
Installation of a series of three speed humps
Do nothing
After review of the alternatives based on social, environmental and economic factors (see the
attached chart for a complete breakdown of the evaluation), the installation of a series of three
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speed humps was chosen as the recommended plan. Speed humps are an effective solution to
concerns relating to speeds, collision rate and through traffic, while minimally impacting
residential access.
Community Support
On February 7, 2007, Transportation Planning mailed a survey to all residents/property owners
that abut or are adjacent to Homewood Avenue, as well as to any other parties that had
indicated interest in the study, outlining the recommended plan as developed by the project
team.
The intent of the survey was to determine if there is sufficient support for the implementation of
the recommended measures. As per the City of Kitchener Traffic Calming policy, a minimum of
50% of directly affected residents/property owners must respond to the survey and 60% of the
respondents must support the recommended plan, in order for any further consideration of the
plan.
There were a total of 82 properties surveyed within the boundaries of the study area. The
results of the survey are as follows:
In favour of the recommended plan 34 (65%)
Opposed to the recommended plan 18 (35%)
Total 52 out of 82 responded (63%)
Therefore the Homewood traffic calming study has been met with the minimum required
community support as outlined in the City of Kitchener Traffic Calming policy.
As part of the traffic calming study the recommended traffic calming plan was distributed to all
affected agencies for their comments/concerns. Responses were received from The Region of
Waterloo, Waterloo Regional Police Services, Grand River Transit and City of Kitchener
Operations Services. The following is a synopsis of their comments:
Waterloo Regional Police Services -No concerns.
Grand River Transit - No concerns
City of Kitchener Operations -Concerns with icing at the base of vertical deflections
which results in extra salting at the base of any vertical deflection.
Emergency Medical Services - No concerns.
City of Kitchener Fire Services -Opposed to any vertical deflection.
Grand River Conservation Area - Although a portion of Homewood Avenue falls within
their watershed, GRCA has no concerns
Should Council endorse the Recommended Plan it is anticipated that the installation of the
traffic calming measures will be completed within the 2007 construction season.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The cost to install three (3) speed humps is approximately $6,000. This cost will be taken from
the existing traffic calming budget.
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COMMUNICATIONS:
This project has had extensive public involvement and communication. It has included two
public meetings, newspaper notices, a comment form and a survey, as well as the use of web-
based communication through the City's website.
CONCLUSION:
The recommended plan, which proposes the installation of three (3) speed humps along
Homewood Avenue, provides the best technical solution to problems indicated through the
traffic calming review and is supported by the majority of residents along Homewood Avenue.
Transportation Planning feels that the recommendations will improve vehicular safety along
Homewood Avenue and therefore supports the recommended plan and the installation of
recommended measures.
John McBride
Director of Transportation Planning
Barry Cronkite
Traffic Technologist
BC
Attach.
Ken Carmichael, C.E.T.
Supervisor of Traffic and Parking
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HO~EWOOD AVENUE
APPROXIMATE LOCATION OF PROPOSED SPEED HUMPS
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