HomeMy WebLinkAboutDTS-07-127 - Traffic Control - Copper Leaf St/Cotton Grass St1
K KR
Development&
Technical Services
REPORT
Report To: Development and Technical Services Committee
Date of Meeting: 2007 August 13
Submitted By: John McBride, Director of Transportation Planning
Prepared By: Barry Cronkite, Traffic Technologist (741-2738}
Wards} Involved: South Ward (4}
Date of Report: 2007 July 24
Report No.: DTS 07-127
Subject: TRAFFIC CONTROL-COPPER LEAF STREET/COTTON
GRASS STREET
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That an all-way stop be installed at the intersection of Copper Leaf Street and Cotton
Grass Street; and further,
That the Uniform Traffic Control By-law be amended accordingly.
BACKGROUND:
With the continued development of the Laurentian West Community, Transportation Planning
has received requests to review traffic control at the intersection of Copper Leaf Street and
Cotton Grass Street. At the present time, Copper Leaf Street is a through roadway from Activa
Avenue to Max Becker Drive as outlined in the City of Kitchener Uniform Traffic By-law No. 2000-
159. The speed limit on Copper Leaf Street is posted at 50km/h, the uniform speed limit for urban
roadways.
REPORT:
According to the City of Kitchener's Official Plan, both Copper Leaf Street and Cotton Grass
Street are considered local roadways. The function of a local roadway is to generally service only
the abutting properties. In the case of both Copper Leaf Street and Cotton Grass Street, while
they do service the abutting properties, they also carry an element of traffic destined elsewhere
within the Laurentian West Community.
The 85th percentile speed (the speed at or below which 85% of the vehicles are moving) of
vehicles travelling westbound along Copper Leaf Street is 58 km/h and 57km/h in the eastbound
direction A traffic study was initially conducted for the intersection of Copper Leaf Drive and
Cotton Grass Street on June 15, 2006, as a result of traffic control and speed related concerns
that were voiced regarding the intersection. The results of the traffic study were then compared
to the City of Kitchener all-way stop warrant, which is a set of guidelines based on the all-way
stop warrants established by the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) and the Ministry of
Transportation. The results are as follows:
All-Way Stop Intersection Analysis
Local/Minor Collector
Warrant
(Min.
Re uirements} Results
Highest Hour Volume 350 318
Split on Minor Roadway 25% 34%
OR
Avg. Hourly Volume(AIl
Approaches} 250 107
Avg. Hourly % Split on Minor
Roadway 25% 43%
Avg. Yearly Collision Hisfory 3lyr. Olyr.
All-Way Sfop Warranted?
NO
As indicated, an all-way stop was not warranted at that time based on the warrant analysis for a
local/minor collector roadway.
However, to further quantify the traffic conditions at the intersection, sight lines were measured,
and the overall safety of the intersection was analyzed. Immediately to the west of the
intersection there is a curve in Copper Leaf Street which restricts sight lines from Cotton Grass
Street, providing only 68m of clear visibility. With operating speeds at approximately 60 km/h,
119m of visibility is required in order to allow the side street traffic to safely clear the intersection
according to TAC (Transportation Association of Canada) guidelines. Therefore, sight lines at
the intersection are insufficient, creating safety concerns for pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
Pedestrian safety, in particular, is of concern with the opening of Williamsburg Public School in
September 2007.
With the installation of an all-way stop, traffic would be forced to stop at all legs of the
intersection and visibility restraints should no longer be a concern. Be advised that, despite the
curve on Copper Leaf Street, new stop control signs will be visible to drivers from an approach
distance that allows for safe stopping.
Based on the geometrics of Copper Leaf Street, Transportation Planning is recommending that
an all-way stop be installed at the intersection of Copper Leaf Street and Cotton Grass Street.
This will address the concerns that have been raised by residents of the Laurentian West
Community.
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FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The approximate cost for signage, including installation, is $1000 and will be taken from the
existing sign maintenance budget.
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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KEY MAP OF AREA