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Home My WebLink AboutDTS-08-143-1 - Traffic Calming - Clark AvenueT~HE~E Development & Technical Services REPORT Report To: Development and Technical Services Committee Date of Meeting: 2008 September 29 Submitted By: John McBride, Director, Transportation Planning Prepared By: Jeramie Lewis, Traffic Technologist Ward(s~ Involved: Fairway-Gateway Ward ~3} Date of Report: 2008 September 3 Report No.: DTS-08-143 Subject: TRAFFIC CALMING -CLARK AVENUE RECOMMENDATIONS: That five (5) speed humps be installed on Clark Avenue between Wilson Avenue and Siebert Avenue. BACKGROUND: Traffic volume and speeding are significant safety related issues frequently raised by residents of affected neighbourhoods in the City of Kitchener. In response to these issues, Kitchener City Council adopted a Traffic Calming Policy in 2004 and established an annual budget to address traffic management issues in residential neighbourhoods. The traffic calming 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 and/or communities that are most in need of traffic calming, from a traffic safety perspective. Transportation Planning has received requests from residents of the Clark Avenue Community on numerous occasions in the past to review the existing traffic conditions on Clark Avenue. According to the concerns indicated, traffic using Clark Avenue is speeding, creating concerns regarding pedestrian safety. In response to these requests, the City of Kitchener has reviewed the existing traffic conditions on Clark Avenue and in March 2007, a traffic calming review was initiated for Clark Avenue with the intent 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. REPORT Clark Avenue runs from Wilson Avenue to Siebert Avenue and is designated as a local roadway. The function of a local roadway is to generally serve only the abutting properties and is not 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 March 7, 2007 our study team held its first public meeting to discuss traffic issues and concerns on Clark Avenue and possible approaches to developing solutions. Traffic volume, traffic speeds and pedestrian safety were identified as the main concerns. The existing traffic conditions as discussed in the first meeting are as follows: Collision Anal The collision history was reviewed for Clark Avenue from Wilson Avenue to Siebert Avenue. There were seven (7) reported collisions, all property damage only, on Clark Avenue from January 2002 to December 2006. While there have been collisions on Clark Avenue, the collisions have been minor, with parked cars being hit in 4 of the instances, resulting in minor damage. Automated Volume & Speed Studies In 2005 and 2006 volume and speed studies were conducted on Clark Avenue from Wilson Avenue to Siebert Avenue at two separate locations. The following data was recorded: Location AADT 85t Percentile -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clark Avenue btwn Broadmoor &_____________ ------------------------------------------------------------------- -- __ ------------------------------------- _____2166 veh/day____ - ---------------------------- _ Northbound - ---------------------------- ------------------------- 55.9 km/hr ------------------------- Harber ~Au~ust 26.31, 2006 ---------------- ------ -------------- --------------------- -- ------------------------------------- Southbound - ---------------------------- - 57.8 km/hr ------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clark Avenue btwn Siebert Avenue -- ------------------------------------- 1 786 veh/day - ---------------------------- Northbound - ------------------------- 58.0 km/hr -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ~Au~ust_26.31,_2006~_ - -- - -- -- ------------------------------------ -- -- . ____ ____ - ------------------------------------- _ ---------------------------- Southbound - ---------------------------- ------------------------- -57.9 km/hr ------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clark Avenue btwn Broadmoor &_____________ ------------------------------------------------------------------- -- __ ------------------------------------- _____2080 veh/day____ - ---------------------------- _ Northbound - ---------------------------- ------------------------- 58.6 km/hr ------------------------- Harber ~Au~__ 31_ _Sept__5,_2005~_ ---------------- ------ - - - -- ---------------- -- ------------------------------------- Southbound - ---------------------------- - 60.5 km/hr ------------------------- Clark_Avenue_btwn_Siebert_Avenue________ -- ---- ----- ---- --- -------- -- --- ----- ____1.843_veh/day____ --- --- -- _ _Northbound_- -------- --- 56.8_km/hr_ ------ --- -- ~August_31 _Sept_ 5,_2005__________________ _______ _ Southbound - 56.2 km/hr Clark Avenue is designated as a local roadway. The expected AADT for a local roadway is 2000 vehicles/per day, therefore the traffic volumes along this stretch of roadway are within the expected range for a local roadway. The 85th percentile speed is similar to other local roadways with similar characteristics. Community Response Based on the analysis of existing traffic, public input and the City of Kitchener's Traffic Calming Policy, five ~5) 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 following is a list of the alternatives considered: 2 • A series of five (5) speed humps -speed humps are vertical deflections in the roadway that force vehicles to slow down to negotiate the humps. • A series of three (3) speed humps and two (2) roadway narrowings -speed humps are vertical deflections in the roadway that force vehicles to slow down to negotiate the humps and roadway narrowings force vehicles to slow down when negotiating the reduced effective roadway width. • A partial closure at the intersection of Wilson Avenue and Clark Avenue - A partial closure is a barrier or curb extension extending to the centreline of the roadway, which obstructs one direction of the roadway prohibiting vehicles from continuing along the roadway. • A series of four (4) roadway narrowings and one (1) speed hump -speed humps are vertical deflections in the roadway that force vehicles to slow down to negotiate the humps and roadway narrowings force vehicles to slow down when negotiating the reduced effective roadway width. • Do nothing. A second public meeting was held on May 7, 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. The study team acknowledges the future closure of the Patrick Doherty arena on Wilson Avenue and its potential to alleviate some of the traffic concerns along Clark Avenue. However, the study team does not anticipate any significant changes in traffic patterns as a result of the closure of the arena, since the intention is to convert the facility to a community centre, along with the continued use of the sports fields. On May 29, 2008, Transportation Planning mailed a survey to all residents/property owners that abut or are adjacent to Clark Avenue, 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 were a total of 86 properties surveyed within the boundaries of the study area. The results of the survey are as follows: In favour of the recommended plan 58 (77%) Opposed to the recommended plan 17 (23%) Total: 75 out of 86 responded (87%) Therefore, the Clark Avenue traffic calming study has met the minimum required community support as outlined in the City of Kitchener Traffic Calming policy. The measures recommended for Clark Avenue can be considered good traffic engineering in that they address the concerns regarding reducing speeds, non residential traffic on Clark Avenue and pedestrian safety. 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 Waterloo 3 Regional Police Services, 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. 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. This extra attention required will add to the cost and time taken to conduct winter maintenance. 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. Additionally, Fire advises that all roadways be designed to meet the requirements of the OBC Ontario Building Code) and the City of Kitchener Urban Design Guideline Manual. Should Council endorse the Recommended Plan, all proposed traffic calming measures are expected to be installed after the completion of paving the surface asphalt on Clark Avenue. With the complete replacement of underground services currently underway this roadway will be paved to a layer of base asphalt in 2008. In order to allow for the appropriate settling of the roadway, the surface asphalt is expected to be laid in early 2010. The installation of speed humps will follow immediately thereafter. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: The cost to install five (5) speed humps is approximately $12,500. 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 five (5) speed humps, provides the best technical solution to problems indicated through the traffic calming study. Transportation Planning feels that the recommendations improve general traffic conditions, as well as improved pedestrian safety, for users of Clark Avenue. John McBride, Director Transportation Planning Jeramie Lewis, Traffic Technologist Transportation Planning JL Attach. Ken Carmichael, C.E.T. Supervisor of Traffic & Parking 4 1 K:~TCH~.N~;R Development& Technical Services CLARK AVENUE TRAFFIC CALMING PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE ~•. ~ - m ,~; ~:: ~_ ~ ~~ -m ~; ~ _ ~ m ~ -~, -m • J•' m TAI ;•J II±I - II I -~~ ~_ ~~ - - ; ~__ ~ __ I:-- ~-- 111 ~' ~ -. I --_ .1 i - -~ ._ 'S:'~ i _.+ _ ' •~~T ~,1 • • _ I~ , i ~I '1. II .~ ` .1 •,I .,' .' .~T ,'•1 _ ''.C' y ~ ~1 ~'Li .III ~ I .' 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