HomeMy WebLinkAboutDTS-08-187 - Traffic Calming - Vanier Dr/Traynor AveT~HE~E
Development &
Technical Services
REPORT
Report To: Development and Technical Services Committee
Date of Meeting: 2008 November 17
Submitted By: John McBride, Director, Transportation Planning
Prepared By: Jeramie Lewis, Traffic Technologist
Ward(s~ Involved: Fairway-Gateway Ward ~3}
Date of Report: 2008 November 4
Report No.: DTS-08-187
Subject: TRAFFIC CALMING - VANIER DRIVE / TRAYNOR AVENUE
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That five ~5} speed humps be installed on Traynor Avenue between Wilson Avenue and
Vanier Drive in Spring 2009; and further
That five ~5} speed humps be installed on Vanier Drive between Traynor Avenue and Walton
Avenue in conjunction with the completion of the road resurfacing in 2010 and upon the
review of the effectiveness of the Traynor Avenue Traffic Calming.
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 Vanier Drive and Traynor
Avenue Community on numerous occasions in the past to review the existing traffic conditions.
According to the concerns indicated, traffic using Vanier Drive and Traynor Avenue is speeding,
creating concerns regarding pedestrian safety.
In response to these requests, the City of Kitchener has reviewed the existing traffic conditions on both
Vanier Drive and Traynor Avenue and, in March 2007, a traffic calming review was initiated for Vanier
Drive and Traynor 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
Traynor Avenue runs from Wilson Avenue to Vanier Drive and Vanier Drive runs from Traynor
Avenue to the Expressway where it terminates as a Cul-de-sac. Both Vanier Drive and Traynor
Avenue are designated as minor collector roadways. The function of a typical minor collector
roadway is to collect and distribute traffic between local streets and other collector roadways. Minor
collector roadways are not generally intended to carry through traffic. The uniform unposted speed
limit is 50 km/h, as outlined within the City of Kitchener Uniform Traffic Control By-law 2007-138.
On June 7, 2007 our study team held its first public meeting to discuss traffic issues and concerns
on Vanier Drive / Traynor 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 Analysis
The collision history was reviewed for Vanier Drive/Traynor Avenue from the westerly end of Vanier
Drive to Wilson Avenue. There were twenty nine (29) reported collisions from January 2004 to
December 2006.
The collision history involved:
eight (8) loss of control collisions
• six (6) angle collisions
• six (6) rear end collisions
five (5) parked vehicle collisions
four (4) other collisions
This total number of collisions is not unusual for a roadway that is similar in length and with the high
number of intersecting roadways. Additionally, there are no distinct preventable collision patterns
occurring.
Automated Volume & Speed Studies
In 2006 volume and speed studies were conducted along Vanier Drive and Traynor Avenue at three
(3) separate locations within the study area. The following data was recorded:
Location
AADT 85 Percentile
Vanier Drive between Erie and______________________ __2879_veh/day__________ _55.7_km/hr
----------------------------------------------------------
--- -- ----- --
Massey (August 26.31_, 2006
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------
Vanier Drive between Shelley and________________ 3883 veh/day__________ Eastbound - 59.3 km/hr
------------------------------------------------------- - ----------------------- --------------------------------------------------
Siebert (August 26-31, 2006) Westbound - 60.1 km/hr
Traynor Avenue_between_________________________________ __5496_veh/day__________ _Northbound__-_52.5_km/hr
Reyburn and Belwood
(Aug. 26-31, 2006)
Southbound - 57.8 km/hr
Both Vanier Drive and Traynor Avenue are designated as minor collector roadways. The expected
AADT for a minor collector roadway is 2000 to 8000 vehicles/per day, therefore the traffic volumes
along this stretch of roadway are within the expected range for a minor collector roadway. The 85th
percentile speed is similar to other minor collector roadways with similar characteristics.
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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:
A series of ten (10) 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, five (5) traffic circles and one (1) roadway narrowing -
speed humps are vertical deflections in the roadway that force vehicles to slow down to
negotiate the humps, traffic circles are horizontal deflections and intersection control
measures that force vehicle to slow down to negotiate and yield to opposing traffic and a
roadway narrowing forces vehicles to slow down when negotiating the reduced effective
roadway width.
Remarking the roadway to incorporate bicycle lanes. -bicycle lanes provide designated
lanes that are 1.2 metres wide, which effectively narrows the travel lanes of the roadway
which cause the driver to slow down
A full closure at the 90 degree bend of Vanier Drive and Traynor Avenue - A full closure is a
barrier or cul-de-sac closing the roadway, which prohibits vehicles from continuing along the
roadway.
Do nothing.
A second public meeting was held on November 20, 2007 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.
On May 29, 2008, Transportation Planning mailed a survey to all residents/property owners that abut
or are adjacent to Vanier Drive and Traynor 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 153 properties surveyed within the boundaries of the study area. The results of
the survey are as follows:
In favour of the recommended plan 78 (86%)
Opposed to the recommended plan 13 (14%)
Total: 91 out of 153 responded (60%)
Therefore, the Vanier Drive and Traynor 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 Vanier Drive and Traynor Avenue can be considered good traffic engineering in
that they address the concerns regarding reducing speeds 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 Regional
3
Police Services, City of Kitchener Operations Services Emergency Medical Services, City of
Kitchener Fire Services and Grand River Transit. The following is a synopsis of their standard
comments regarding vertical measures used for traffic calming:
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.
Grand River Transit -Concerns about "Route 8 Courtland" schedule reliability due to delays
caused by the implementation of speed humps, also the speed humps will cause discomfort
to both the bus operator and passengers.
Grand River Transit (GRT) has concerns that the proposed series of ten (10) speed humps on
Vanier Drive and Traynor Avenue will have a negative impact on scheduling for Route 8, which
traverses Vanier Drive and Traynor Avenue between Wilson Avenue and Walton Avenue.
Accordingly, Grand River Transit conducted a schedule adherence of Route 22 Laurentian West
which operates along Greenbrook Drive where similar "speed humps" are currently installed. Based
on the study conducted by GRT, their findings suggest that each vertical measure causes an
average of 27 seconds delay. However, their study section was from Highland Hills Mall to the
intersection of Westmount Road at Greenbrook Drive. Transportation Planning and Grand River
Transit both acknowledge that other variables will have contributed to the increase in delay on transit
"Route 22 Laurentian West".
In order to address Grand River Transit's concerns, Transportation Planning conducted a "speed
and delay" study on September 10, 2008 to determine the actual lost time that can be attributed to a
series of speed humps. The study took into consideration two separate locations with similar
characteristics for comparison purposes, those locations are Greenbrook Drive and Kingswood
Drive. Based on Transportation Planning's data collection, the analysis from both locations is as
follows:
Average approach speed was 43.4 km/h
Average crossing speed was 30.1 km/h
Average speed between measures 42.9 km/h
Average decrease in speed between measures 10.9 km/h
Accordingly, based on the above data, Transportation Planning has determined the average delay to
be between 6-12 seconds per vertical measure.
In an effort to address GRT's concerns related to vertical measures ~i.e. speed humps) on transit
routes, a series of four speed humps of varying heights and lengths were constructed and tested on
November 21, 2006. Three of the humps had little or no impact on speeds, however, the speed
hump design that is currently utilized for traffic calming measures, slows regular vehicular traffic to
an 85th percentile speed of approximately 45 km/h. Comments from GRT, Emergency Medical
Services and Fire Services are as follows:
GRT -Buses can safely and comfortably drive over the humps at 30km/h
Emergency Medical Services -EMS is comfortable with the vertical deflection option
presented. While any deflection at all slows response times, the mandate for traffic calming
4
measures is understood and will continue to work towards a compromise that minimizes
vehicle wear and tear, enroute delay and crew/patient discomfort.
Fire services -both the Aerial truck and Pumper truck could comfortably drive over the hump
design at 30km/h. However, a higher rate of speed is too hard on the equipment.
While vertical deflections are not normally considered on major collector roadways as per the traffic
calming policy, Vanier Drive and Traynor Avenue are both minor collector roadways. As such,
Transportation Planning feels that the tested speed hump design will achieve the desired impact on
overall traffic patterns, while providing an acceptable solution for emergency services, in addition to
conforming to the City's Traffic Calming Policy.
Therefore, with concerns related to route scheduling, GRT has requested that only one-half of the
traffic calming measures ~5 speed humps instead of 10) be installed to reduce the impact of traffic
calming. In consideration of GRT's request, staff advise that the section of Vanier Drive between
Siebert Avenue and Shelley Drive that recently underwent a roadway reconstruction and currently
has the binder layer of asphalt only. The surface layer of asphalt will not be applied until 2010.
Accordingly, it is staff's intent to install the speed humps on the surface layer of asphalt in 2010.
In response to GRT's request, along with the condition of not being able to install speed humps on
Vanier Drive between Siebert Avenue and Shelley Drive, we are recommending that the series of
five (5) speed humps be installed on Traynor Avenue between Wilson Avenue and Vanier Drive in
spring 2009. This will initially reduce the overall impact on GRT, and allow staff to conduct follow up
studies to better determine the impact of the speed humps on GRT's schedule, before installing the
remaining five (5} speed humps on Vanier Drive between Traynor Avenue and Walton Avenue in
2010.
CONCLUSION:
Based on GRT's request, along with the conditions of the base asphalt existing in the reconstructed
section of Vanier Drive, it is recommended to install five (5) speed humps at strategic locations along
Traynor Avenue between Wilson Avenue and Vanier Drive in the spring of 2009. Furthermore, the
remaining five ~5) speed humps should be installed on Vanier Drive between Traynor Avenue and
Walton Avenue, in conjunction with the surface layer of asphalt being laid in 2010 on the section of
Vanier Drive between Sieben Avenue and Shelley Drive and following a review of the impacts of the
Traynor Avenue traffic calming on transit scheduling.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The cost to install ten (10) speed humps is approximately $40,000. This cost will be taken from the
existing traffic calming budget.
John McBride, Director Ken Carmichael, C.E.T.
Transportation Planning Supervisor of Traffic & Parking
Jeramie Lewis, Traffic Technologist
Transportation Planning
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Attach .
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Install Spring 2009
Install Spring 2010
Area of 2008 Reconstruction