HomeMy WebLinkAboutDTS-08-152 - Block Line Rd - Temporary School Bus Loading ZoneREPORT
Report To: Development and Technical Services Committee
Date of Meeting: September 29, 2008
Submitted By: John McBride, Director, Transportation Planning
Prepared By: Ken Carmichael, Supervisor of Traffic and Parking
Ward(s~ Involved: Fairview-Gateway -Ward 3
Date of Report: September 19, 2008
Report No.: DTS 08-152
Subject: BLOCK LINE RD -TEMPORARY SCHOOL BUS LOADING
ZONE
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That a temporary School Bus Loading Zone be established on the west side of Block Line
Road from a point 18 metres south of Hanover Street to a point 65 metres south thereof;
and,
That the Uniform Traffic Bylaw be amended accordingly.
BACKGROUND:
Engineering Services is currently managing the construction of the extension of Lennox Lewis
Way formerly Hanson Avenue), from its current easterly terminus, to the proposed extension of
Block Line Road. The extension of Lennox Lewis Way will be completed in 2008. In 2009,
Block Line Road is scheduled to be extended, providing a new roadway link between Hanover
Street and Courtland Avenue.
St. Mary's High School is located on Block Line Road at Hanover Street. Both the school board
and Grand River Transit ~GRT} service this high school with 17 daily buses, utilizing 13 separate
bus stops. Currently, these buses load and unload passengers along the private driveway to
the rear of the school, which connects Lennox Lewis Way through to the front of the school and
Block Line Road.
REPORT:
The construction of the extension of Lennox Lewis Way will result in the closure of the current
driveway that services St. Mary's High School. Currently, school board and GRT buses utilize
this driveway for dropping off and picking up students to the school. As this new municipal
roadway is being developed within this private driveway area, construction will require that this
private driveway be closed for approximately 5-6 weeks, commencing in early October, 2008.
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In order to address the bus loading/unloading requirements for St. Mary's High School, alternate
drop off and pick up areas will be required. In this regard, meetings have taken place involving
the school board, GRT, St. Mary's High School and the new Twin Pad Arena. It has been
determined that buses to/from St. Mary's High School will be addressed as follows:
GRT School Bus Specials
Eight (8) bus stops can be established within the new Twin Pad Arena parking lot. Concrete
jersey barriers will be utilized to provide a safe storage location for students awaiting their bus.
All bus movements can be accommodated within this new parking lot. A temporary trail, which
is intended to be upgraded to permanent status, has been provided, providing a pedestrian link
between the arena parking lot and the rear of the school.
All arrangements made for this temporary bus loading and unloading area have been conducted
in conjunction with Twin Pad Arena staff.
The Twin Pad Arena parking lot can only accommodate these eight ~8} bus stop locations. As a
result, the school board buses require alternate arrangements.
School Board Buses
Five (5) bus stops, to be located within a temporary designated School Bus Loading Zone
(SBLZ), are recommended to be provided on the west side of Block Line Road, immediately
south of Hanover Street.
In order to allow school bus drop offs and pick ups without having to engage the buses' flashing
lights, a legal School Bus Loading Zone must be established. In this regard, it is recommended
that the section on the west side of Block Line Road from a point 18 metres south of Hanover
Street to a point 65 metres south thereof be designated as a School Bus Loading Zone.
By establishing this area as a legal School Bus Loading Zone, the bus operators will be
permitted to load and unload school students without engaging the flashing lights that require
traffic in both directions to stop. Loading and unloading students in this area with the use of the
flashing lights would create significant congestion issues in this area as traffic servicing the
school is quite busy during school opening and closing times. This congestion would,
undoubtedly, encourage erratic driver behaviour which would compromise the safety of all users
in this area.
Block Line Road is a four-lane cross-section that currently terminates at Hanover Street. As a
result of this roadway not yet connecting to Courtland Avenue, traffic volumes are low enough to
allow for the provision of a School Bus Loading Zone within the curb lane, without negatively
affecting traffic capacity on the roadway. Additionally, this loading zone will be set back from
Hanover Street, providing safe sight lines for traffic negotiating this intersection.
The expected time period for the closure of the existing driveway, resulting in the requirement
for the temporary school bus loading zone on Block Line Road, is the 1St week of October
through the middle of November, 2008. Upon completion of the new municipal roadway
(Lennox Lewis Way), school bus operations will then be accommodated within this new
roadway. Accordingly, bus lay-bys have been incorporated into this new roadway's design.
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FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The cost to revise signing in the field will be approximately $500 and will be taken from the
capital account for the construction of the Lennox Lewis Way extension.
COMMUNICATIONS:
St. Mary's High School, the Transportation Department of the Waterloo District School Board,
Grand River Transit and the Twin Pad Arena were all directly involved in the decision-making
process for accommodating school buses to St. Mary's High School during construction.
These temporary alternate bussing arrangements for St. Mary's High School students will be
communicated through school announcements, the school's website, as well as display boards
to be posted within the school.
CONCLUSION:
The installation of a School Bus Loading Zone on Block Line Road will permit construction
activity for the extension of Lennox Lewis Way to continue, while safely accommodating school
bus drop offs and pick ups for St. Mary's High School.
Ken Carmichael, C.E.T.
Supervisor of Traffic and Parking
Transportation Planning
John P. McBride, Director
Transportation Planning
KC
Attach.
DTS-08-152
Block Line Road -Temporary School Bus Loading Zone
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Temporary School Bus Loading Zone