HomeMy WebLinkAboutDTS-08-100 - traffic calming - old carriage driveT~HE~E
Development &
Technical Services
REPORT
Report To: Development and Technical Services Committee
Date of Meeting: 2008 June 16
Submitted By: John McBride, Director of Transportation Planning
Prepared By: Ken Carmichael, Supervisor of Traffic and Parking
Ward(s~ Involved: Fairway-Gateway -Ward 3
Date of Report: 2008 May 28
Report No.: DTS-08-100
Subject: TRAFFIC CALMING -OLD CARRIAGE DRIVE
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That a series of four ~4~ speed humps be installed on Old Carriage Drive, and further;
That a pedestrian refuge island be installed on Pioneer Drive approximately 50 metres
north of Old Carriage Drive.
BACKGROUND:
The existing City of Kitchener traffic calming policy was adopted by Council in August 2004
(DTS O4-125). This policy outlines a number of evaluation criteria that provide a fair and
consistent review of streets and communities, while defining and prioritizing the individual
streets that are most in need of traffic calming, from a traffic safety perspective.
In January 2007, Council approved DTS Report 07-011 - "Traffic Calming Priority - 2007",
which recommended that a traffic calming study be conducted for Old Carriage Drive, as well as
for Kinzie Drive, Clark Avenue and Vanier Drive / Traynor Avenue.
Transportation Planning has received requests from residents of Old Carriage Drive on
numerous occasions in the past to review the existing traffic conditions. According to the
concerns indicated, traffic is using Old Carriage Drive as a short-cut to avoid congestion at the
Pioneer Drive -Homer Watson Boulevard intersection, and that this traffic is speeding, creating
concerns regarding pedestrian safety.
In response to these requests, the City of Kitchener has reviewed the existing traffic conditions on
Old Carriage Drive and initiated a formal Traffic Calming Review. 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
Old Carriage Drive runs from Pioneer Drive to Homer Watson Boulevard and is designated as a
local roadway. The function of Old Carriage Drive is to generally serve only the abutting
properties and is not intended to carry through traffic. Old Carriage Drive provides direct access
to the approximately 70 single family homes, three (3) apartment buildings, as well as Pioneer
Park Plaza. The unposted speed limit is 50 km/h as outlined within the City of Kitchener
Uniform Traffic Control By-law 2007-138.
On May 16, 2007 our study team held its first public meeting to discuss traffic issues and
concerns on Old Carriage Drive and possible approaches to developing solutions. Traffic speed
and volumes were identified as the main concerns. The existing traffic conditions as discussed
in the first meeting are as follows:
Automated Volume & Speed Studies
From May 31 -June 5, 2005, and from June 3 - 8, 2006, volume and speed studies were
conducted on Old Carriage Drive at two separate locations. The following data was recorded:
Location AADT 85t Percentile
I rri Dr w n
0 d Ca age bet ee Eastbound 58.2 km/hr
Pioneer Dr & Old Carria
e Crt 4039 veh/da
y
g
Westbound 58.8 km/hr
Old Carriage Dr between Old Eastbound 58.0 Km/hr
Carriage Crt & Homer Watson 3135 veh/day
Blvd Westbound 57.4 km/hr
Traffic volumes are above the expected range for a local roadway, however Old Carriage Drive
does provide a significant element of high density residential uses, along with direct access to
Pioneer Park Plaza, that can generate significant traffic volumes. Speeds are higher than
anticipated for a roadway with similar geometrics.
Throe h Traffic
An origin /destination study was conducted for Old Carriage Drive on Wednesday, May 2, 2007.
This licence plate trace study was conducted during the time periods of 6:30 am to 8:30 am and
4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. This study determined the following through traffic results:
AM peak period -16% through traffic (64 of 391 vehicles)
PM peak period -19% through traffic (180 of 971 vehicles}
These through traffic percentages can be attributed to the congestion that is experienced at the
intersection of Homer Watson Boulevard and Pioneer Drive. Discussions with Region of
Waterloo staff have determined that the signal timing for this intersection has been reviewed
and that no further timing changes can be made to address the congestions issues without
creating greater overall congestion at the intersection.
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Through analysis of this traffic calming review, the possibility of developing a full median on
Homer Watson Boulevard at Old Carriage Drive, to restrict traffic movements to right in, right out
only, was investigated. Accordingly, the Region is not prepared to entertain this proposal at this
time due to these intersection congestion issues.
Collision Anal
The collision history was reviewed for Old Carriage Drive. There were 15 reported collisions on
Old Carriage Drive in the four (4} year period from January 2003 to December 2006. Collision
types included failure to yield right-of-way, rear end impact, improper/illegal turn, loss of control,
parked vehicles, as well as two collisions involving pedestrians/cyclists. This collision history
does not show a clear, identifiable collision trend.
Community Response
Response received following the first public meeting indicated that a clear majority of residents
supported some form of moderate traffic calming approach for Old Carriage Drive. Of the
responses that were received from area residents, issues identified included speed of vehicles,
volume of traffic, along with children/pedestrian safety and congestion at the Homer Watson
Boulevard -Pioneer Drive intersection.
Based on the analysis of existing traffic, public input and the City of Kitchener's Traffic Calming
Policy, 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 formal
traffic calming review). These alternatives were then evaluated by the project team based on a
number of social, natural and economic criteria to develop a preferred option. The attached
chart outlines the evaluation of the criteria. The following is a list of the alternatives considered:
A series of four ~4} speed humps -speed humps are vertical deflections in the roadway
that force vehicles to slow down to negotiate the humps.
A series of four ~4} speed humps, along with a new median on Homer Watson Boulevard
at Old Carriage Drive, limiting movements to right in /right out.
A series of three ~3} speed humps, one ~1}traffic circle at Old Carriage Court, along with
a new median on Homer Watson Boulevard at Old Carriage Drive, limiting movements to
right in /right out.
Anew median on Homer Watson Boulevard at Old Carriage Drive, limiting movements
to rig ht i n / rig ht out.
Do nothing.
In an effort to address concerns for pedestrian safety related to crossing Pioneer Drive between
Pioneer Park Plaza and Southwest Optimist Ball Fields, all alternatives have included the
proposed installation of a pedestrian refuge island on Pioneer Drive, approximately 50 metres
north of Old Carriage Drive. This pedestrian refuge island will allow for safer pedestrian
crossings in this highly-utilized area.
A second public meeting was held on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 to present the alternatives,
the advantages and disadvantages of each alternative, and to present the preferred alternative
as determined by the steering committee. Attendees were asked to provide any comments
before a recommended plan was developed.
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On May 1, 2008, Transportation Planning mailed a survey to all residents/property owners that
abut or are adjacent to Old Carriage Drive, as well as to any other parties that had indicated
interest in the study, outlining the recommended plan.
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 are a total of 70 single family homes, along with 268 apartment units, that were surveyed
within the boundaries of the study area. The results of the survey are as follows:
Single Family Homes
In favour of the recommended plan 35 X95%)
Opposed to the recommended plan 2 (5%}
Single family home response rate - 53% X37 of 70}
Apartment Units
In favour of the recommended plan 30 X82%)
Opposed to the recommended plan 7 (18%}
Apartment response rate -14% X37 of 268}
Therefore the Old Carriage Drive traffic calming study, for single family homes, has met the
minimum required community support as outlined in the City of Kitchener Traffic Calming policy
(minimum 50% response rate, with minimum 60% support}. However, for the higher density
rental properties, where turnover is typically much greater and residents tend to take less
"ownership" of the municipal issues in their neighbourhood, the 50% minimum response rate
has not been met.
The measures recommended for Old Carriage Drive can be considered good traffic engineering
in that they address the concerns regarding speeding traffic and pedestrian safety. Therefore,
while the minimum public input requirement was not met through for the apartment portion of
Old Carriage Drive, support for the preferred alternative is quite evident from those that
responded to the final survey. As a result, staff recommends that the proposed speed humps
be implemented on Old Carriage Drive, along with the pedestrian refuge island on Pioneer
Drive.
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, City of Kitchener Operations
Services and City of Kitchener Fire Services. The following is a synopsis of their comments:
Waterloo Regional Police Services - No concerns.
Grand River Transit -While the Region generally supports measures to calm traffic,
some physical measures used to achieve traffic calming can also greatly impact the
operation of GRT vehicles. For example, speed humps and raised intersections can
place unnecessary stress on vehicles and increase frequency and cost of servicing, as
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well as impacting the comfort of the passengers. Physical traffic calming measures
should also be placed such that they do not negatively impact transit stops.
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.
Region of Waterloo Emergency Medical Services - No concerns.
City of Kitchener Fire Services -Opposed to any vertical deflection due to increased
response times and concerns regarding vehicle maintenance.
Should Council endorse the Recommended Plan, all proposed traffic calming measures are
expected to be installed in the summer/fall of 2008.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The cost to install the four (4) speed humps and pedestrian refuge island is approximately
$15,000. This cost will be taken from the existing traffic calming budget.
COMMUNICATIONS:
This project has had extensive public involvement and communication. It has included two
public information centres, 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 recommends the installation of four ~4) speed humps and one
pedestrian refuge island, provides the best technical solution to problems indicated through the
traffic calming study. While the rental apartment aspect of the resident input did not meet the
minimum policy requirement, those that did respond are in majority support of our proposal.
Transportation Planning feels that the recommendations improve general traffic conditions, as
well as improved pedestrian safety, for all users of Old Carriage Drive.
John McBride
Director of Transportation Planning
KC
Attacks.
Ken Carmichael, C.E.T.
Supervisor of Traffic and Parking
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OLD CARRIAGE DRIVE -PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE
SPEED HUMPS
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