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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDTS-08-188 - Traffic Calming - Heritage DrT~HE~E Development & Technical Services REPORT Report To: Development and Technical Services Committee Date of Meeting: 2008 November 17 Submitted By: John McBride, Director of Transportation Planning Prepared By: Cameron Bevers, Traffic Technician Ward(s~ Involved: Chicopee-Grand River (2) Date of Report: 2008 November 3 Report No.: DTS 08-188 Subject: TRAFFIC CALMING -HERITAGE DRIVE RECOMMENDATIONS: That nine (9} speed humps be installed on Heritage Drive between Ottawa Street North and Halifax Drive, and further; That the existing curb extensions on Heritage Drive between Grand River Collegiate and Lorraine Avenue be removed and the roadway restored to its original width. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Transportation Planning has recently completed its traffic calming review for Heritage Drive and has established the recommendations outlined above in order to address concerns raised by neighbourhood residents about speeding and pedestrian safety on the street. Through this traffic calming review, the study team determined that these recommendations form the most practical and technically preferable solution to address these concerns. The traffic problems on Heritage Drive date back to the mid 1970s, when the development of new subdivisions adjacent to Heritage Drive resulted in increased traffic volumes on the existing road network. At that time, planners determined that a new adjacent arterial road would need to be built to service these communities. Furthermore, the planners recommended that Heritage Drive should be closed as soon as the new arterial road was opened. The proposed closure of Heritage Drive was indicated in the Official Plan in the 1970s and 1980s, and many residents purchased their homes in the neighbourhood on the understanding that Heritage Drive would one day be closed to through traffic. In 1990, the new arterial road, known as Lackner Boulevard, was completed and opened to traffic. This new arterial road caused an immediate decline in traffic volumes on Heritage Drive, since motorists were able to access Victoria Street and Ottawa Street directly. In 1992, the Heritage Drive closure issue was reviewed, and the Traffic and Parking Division recommended that Heritage Drive be closed on a trial basis for one year. The temporary one year closure of Heritage Drive at Oakhurst Crescent began on March 31,1993. Traffic volume studies conducted before and during the closure indicated that while traffic volumes declined on Heritage Drive in the vicinity of the road closure, traffic volumes increased on other streets in the neighbourhood. A survey was taken at a public meeting in 1994, and the majority of respondents indicated that they would like to have the road reopened. The Traffic and Parking Division recommended that Heritage Drive be reopened, since the closure was causing increased traffic volumes on other streets and causing unnecessary inconvenience to residents. Heritage Drive was officially reopened to traffic in 1994, but traffic calming measures were installed on the street in order to address concerns that were raised about speeding. A series of curb extensions and a centre median were installed on Heritage Drive shortly before the road reopened. The intention of these traffic calming measures was to discourage cut-through traffic and to moderate traffic speeds. However, these traffic calming measures have proven to be ineffective in changing driver behaviour. Accordingly, a new traffic calming review of Heritage Drive commenced in 2007. The traffic calming review included a series of studies to quantify traffic problems reported by residents, such as speeding and cut-through traffic. Recent traffic studies have shown that traffic volumes are still well below the levels measured on the street before Lackner Boulevard opened in 1990. However, vehicle speeds on the street are higher than what would normally be expected for a roadway of this design. In 2008, an origin-destination study was conducted to measure the amount of cut-through traffic on Heritage Drive. The study revealed that only 2.4% of all traffic on Heritage Drive was using the street to cut through the neighbourhood. The study proved that closing the road as indicated in older Official Plans would not be effective in reducing traffic volumes on Heritage Drive, since most of the traffic is local neighbourhood traffic. Residents were consulted throughout the traffic calming review process. Two public meetings and a design charrette were held to obtain direct input and feedback from residents. A preferred alternative was developed based on community response resulting from these three public meetings. The preferred alternative consists of the complete removal of all existing curb extensions and the installation of nine new speed humps. Following the public meetings and design charrette, a survey was mailed to all residents of Heritage Drive, Oakhurst Crescent, as well as residents who live on other streets who actively participated in the study process. The survey requested residents' feedback on the preferred traffic calming alternative. A total of 166 surveys were returned to Transportation Planning. Of these surveys, 145 respondents (or 87%} were in support of the recommended traffic calming plan, while 19 respondents for 11 %} were opposed to the recommended plan. The remaining 2 respondents for 1 %} were undecided. Affected agencies were also consulted regarding the recommended traffic calming plan. The City of Kitchener Fire Department raised specific concerns regarding the number of speed humps that are being proposed for Heritage Drive. Fire Services has cautioned that any vertical measures will result in increased emergency response times and requested that a maximum of five speed humps be installed along Heritage Drive. Transportation Planning has met with Fire Services regarding this issue. During the meeting, Fire Services advised that there are alternate emergency response routes into this neighbourhood available for their use, which would effectively limit the number of speed humps that emergency response vehicles would have to traverse on Heritage Drive. As well, staff explained the importance of frequent speed hump spacing and indicated that a reduction in the number of speed humps would significantly reduce their effectiveness at addressing speeding. 2 Transportation Planning feels that the recommended plan is the most effective and practical solution to the traffic problems on Heritage Drive. In addition, this recommended traffic calming plan has overall support from the community. Should Council approve the recommended traffic calming plan, in would be our intention to install the speed humps and remove the existing curb extensions along Heritage Drive in 2009. BACKGROUND: The City of Kitchener's traffic calming policy was adopted by Council in August 2004 ~DTS 04- 125). This traffic calming policy provides the framework needed to prioritize locations that are most in need of traffic calming from a traffic safety perspective. The policy also outlines the methodology and evaluation criteria required for staff to provide an unbiased and uniform traffic calming review for individual streets and communities where traffic calming is appropriate. In January 2007, Council approved DTS Report 07-011 - "Traffic Calming Priority - 2007", which recommended that a traffic calming review be conducted for several streets in the City of Kitchener including Heritage Drive. Transportation Planning has received numerous requests in the past to review the existing traffic conditions on Heritage Drive. According to the concerns indicated, traffic from outside the neighbourhood is using Heritage Drive as a short-cut between Ottawa Street North and Victoria Street North, and that this traffic is speeding, creating safety concerns for other motorists, cyclists and pedestrians using the roadway. In addition, many residents have expressed concerns about the safety and effectiveness of the existing curb extensions on Heritage Drive between Grand River Collegiate and Lorraine Avenue that were installed in 1994. In response to these requests, the City of Kitchener has reviewed the existing traffic conditions on Heritage Drive and initiated a formal traffic calming review. Undertaking a formal traffic calming review for a project of this scale and nature is considered good municipal planning. It allows the City and stakeholders to understand all of the impacts, benefits and opportunities associated with any proposed traffic calming measures which may be considered to address traffic issues on Heritage Drive. HISTORY: Heritage Drive has a rather unique history, which distinguishes it from other streets that have been evaluated through the neighbourhood traffic calming program thus far. When the neighbourhood was first being developed in the mid 1970s, Heritage Drive and Natchez Road served as the main access road to the subdivision and provided a connection between Ottawa Street and Victoria Street. Area residents expressed concerns about the traffic impacts of the new subdivision development, and the function that Heritage Drive and Natchez Road would assume in terms of the transportation requirements of the new subdivision. As part of this subdivision development, land was set aside for a new arterial road which roughly paralleled Heritage Drive. The intention of this new arterial road was to improve road access to Victoria Street and Ottawa Street from the new neighbourhoods that were being built adjacent to Heritage Drive. Planners 3 assumed that through traffic would no longer use Heritage Drive once the new arterial road was completed and that Heritage Drive could eventually be closed off between Indian Road and Ottawa Street. The Official Plan was modified to indicate that Heritage Drive would be closed to through traffic as soon as the new arterial road was constructed. Many neighbourhood residents purchased homes along Heritage Drive and other adjacent streets in the 1970s and 1980s based on the Official Plan that was in effect at that time, which indicated that Heritage Drive would ultimately be closed. Many of these residents have expressed ongoing concerns regarding traffic problems in the neighbourhood. Accordingly, City staff have been monitoring traffic patterns on Heritage Drive and other adjacent neighbourhood streets since 1982. By the early 1990s, most of the subdivisions being constructed adjacent to Heritage Drive had been completed. By 1990, traffic volumes on Heritage Drive ranged from approximately 3,500 to 4,500 vehicles per day, depending on the specific segment. In September 1990, the Regional Municipality of Waterloo opened the new regional arterial road between Victoria Street and Ottawa Street. This new arterial road, known as Lackner Boulevard, instantly relieved traffic congestion on Heritage Drive. Follow-up traffic studies performed on Heritage Drive in 1992 indicated that traffic volumes had dropped to approximately 3,300 vehicles per day. In 1992, the closure of Heritage Drive was reviewed by the City of Kitchener's Traffic and Parking Division. Initially, staff were opposed to the closure of Heritage Drive. The follow-up traffic studies indicated that Lackner Boulevard had significantly reduced traffic volumes on Heritage Drive. At the time, staff questioned whether a closure of Heritage Drive would bring any further benefits. However, in order to comply with the Official Plan and requests from residents, the Traffic and Parking Division recommended that Heritage Drive be temporarily closed at a point just east of Oakhurst Crescent for a one year trial. The temporary closure of Heritage Drive began on March 31,1993. Traffic volume studies were conducted on Heritage Drive, Lorraine Avenue, Montcalm Drive and Indian Road both before and during the road closure. As expected, traffic volumes dropped considerably on the sections of Heritage Drive adjacent to the closure point between Indian Road and Ottawa Street. However, traffic volumes on Lorraine Avenue, Montcalm Drive and Indian Road increased, as the traffic that previously utilized Heritage Drive began to utilize other streets instead. On March 8, 1994, a survey was taken at a public meeting to gauge residents' opinions about the effects of the Heritage Drive closure. Of the 139 comments received from meeting participants, 127 were in favour of reopening Heritage Drive, while 11 were in favour of leaving Heritage Drive closed permanently. In addition, City staff received a petition containing the names of 372 Grand River Collegiate students who were opposed to the road closure. Emergency services also expressed concerns about the closure, indicating that the closure was causing problems for emergency response vehicles. Following the public meeting in 1994, the Traffic and Parking Division recommended to reopen Heritage Drive at Oakhurst Crescent. Staff felt that traffic volumes on Heritage Drive had already declined considerably as a result of the completion of Lackner Boulevard and that the closure of Heritage Drive was causing unnecessary inconvenience to neighbourhood residents and increased traffic volumes on other streets. As a result, Council approved the reopening of Heritage Drive. In order to address the ongoing concerns of speeding, traffic calming measures were introduced on Heritage Drive in the summer of 1994. These horizontal deflection measures consisted of a series of curb extensions and road narrowings along Heritage Drive from Grand River Collegiate to Lorraine Avenue and a landscaped centre median on Heritage Drive between Ottawa Street 4 and Grand River Collegiate. The intention of these traffic calming measures was to moderate traffic speeds and discourage through traffic from using Heritage Drive by narrowing the width of the roadway. These measures have now been in place for fourteen years and have proven to be ineffective in addressing traffic speeds on Heritage Drive. Vehicle speeds on Heritage Drive are routinely above the posted speed limit. REPORT Heritage Drive is a minor collector roadway which runs from Halifax Drive to Ebydale Drive. The majority of Heritage Drive lies within the traffic calming study boundary. Generally, the function of Heritage Drive is to serve the abutting properties only, although it is intended to serve as an access road to other adjoining streets in the neighbourhood. Minor collector roadways are not intended to carry any significant volumes of through traffic. Land use along Heritage Drive is generally limited to single family homes, although there are some low-rise apartment blocks located along the street. There is one commercial shopping plaza located on Lorraine Avenue at the intersection of Heritage Drive. There is also a secondary school, an arena, a pool and a community recreation centre located near the eastern end of Heritage Drive near Ottawa Street North. The posted speed limit on Heritage Drive is 50 km/h between Halifax Drive and Lorraine Avenue and 40 km/h between Lorraine Avenue and Ottawa Street North, as outlined within the City of Kitchener Uniform Traffic Control By-law No. 2007-138. On June 27, 2007 our study team held its first public meeting to discuss traffic issues and concerns on Heritage Drive and possible approaches to developing solutions. Traffic speeds, traffic volumes, cut-through traffic, collision rates, pedestrian safety and the effectiveness and safety of the existing curb extensions were all identified by residents as their primary concerns. The existing traffic conditions as discussed in the first meeting are as follows: Automated Volume & Speed Studies From July 29 to August 4, 2006, volume and speed studies were conducted on Heritage Drive at three separate locations. The following data was recorded: . 85th Percentile Location AADT Speed Heritage Drive between Keewatin Ave & Lorraine 233$ Eastbound: 58.1 kmlh Ave veh/day Westbound: 58.4 km/h H D i kh it & I di Rd b t O t C 2273 Eastbound: 55.2 km/h r n er ve ween urs res. an age e a . veh/day Westbound: 53.7 km/h H i D i kh b O C & O S 2622 Eastbound: 60.0 km/h r er ve etween urst res. ttawa tage a t vehlday Westbound: 58.9 km/h 5 The AADT, or Annual Average Daily Traffic, is extrapolated from the actual traffic counts collected on the streets. The actual traffic counts are factored to account for slight monthly variations in traffic volumes. Therefore, these factored AADT figures are considered to be representative of normal daily traffic volumes on Heritage Drive. Traffic volumes are well within the expected range for a minor collector roadway. However, the 85th percentile speed, which is defined as the speed that 85% of vehicles are travelling at or below, is considerably higher than what would normally be expected for a roadway of this design. Some meeting participants expressed concerns about the validity of this traffic data, given that the counts were conducted in the middle of the summer when there were no classes running at the high school. While the AADT figures shown above were seasonally factored to approximate typical traffic volume conditions, staff agreed to do follow-up traffic counts in the spring and fall of 2008 to confirm the traffic volumes present on the street. The following traffic data was recorded during studies that were carried out in the spring and fall of 2008: . 85th Percentile Location AADT Speed H D i H lif A it D d K ti b t 2096 Eastbound: 53.5 kmlh r n er ve ween ax r. an eewa ve age e a veh/day Westbound: 52.2 km/h Heritage Drive between Keewatin Ave & Lorraine 2641 Eastbound: 59.7 kmlh Ave veh/day Westbound: 54.7 km/h H D i kh it & I di Rd b t O t C 2571 Eastbound: 52.8 kmlh n er r ve ween urs res. an age e a . veh/day Westbound: 51.7 kmlh H D i kh it b t O t C & Ott St 3425 Eastbound: 53.4 kmlh r er ve ween urs res. awa age e a veh/day Westbound: 50.9 km/h The 2008 traffic counts were conducted during the school term in September. These studies reveal that there has been a slight increase in overall traffic volumes since 2006, but an overall decrease in 85th percentile speeds. Origin-Destination Study Many residents have expressed concerns about cut-through traffic using Heritage Drive. In order to quantify and investigate these concerns, Transportation Planning conducted an origin- destination study on June 10, 2008. Approximately 7,000 vehicles were traced by their license plates in order to determine traffic patterns and circulation throughout the neighbourhood. The study found that a negligible amount of external traffic actually traversed the neighbourhood using Heritage Drive. Approximately 2.4 percent of all traffic entering the neighbourhood from Victoria Street (at Natchez Road), Lackner Boulevard (at Keewatin Avenue) and Ottawa Street 6 (at Heritage Drive) passed through the neighbourhood using Heritage Drive without an apparent local destination. The study confirms that there is a negligible amount of through traffic using Heritage Drive. The study also proves that there would be little benefit in closing Heritage Drive as indicated in older versions of the Official Plan in an attempt to deter through traffic, since the vast majority of the traffic on the street is local neighbourhood traffic. All-Wa,r~ Stop Controls Transportation Planning has received numerous requests for an all-way stop control to be installed at Heritage Drive and Keewatin Avenue. The City of Kitchener utilizes a warrant process to determine if an all-way stop control can be justified at a particular location. The warrant process used by the City of Kitchener is based on traffic engineering practices and guidelines that are in use by other municipalities and the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. In order to fulfil the requirements of the warrant, a significant amount of traffic must approach the intersection on the side street. Staff have conducted three intersection turning movement counts at Heritage Drive and Keewatin Avenue in 2007 and 2008, but the traffic volumes are not high enough to fulfil the minimum volume and directional split requirements of the warrant. Consequently, Transportation Planning is not recommending the installation of an all-way stop control at Heritage Drive and Keewatin Avenue at this time, but will continue to monitor traffic conditions at this location. Collision Analysis A vehicle collision analysis was conducted for Heritage Drive between Halifax Drive and Ottawa Street North. There were 16 reported collisions on Heritage Drive over the three year analysis period from January 2004 to December 2006. Collision types included right-angle collisions, loss of control collisions and collisions involving parked vehicles. This collision history does not show a clear, identifiable collision trend, although it should be noted that the majority of the collisions occurred at intersections. It is also important to note that one of the 2006 collisions on Heritage Drive resulted in a fatality. Community Response Community response received following the first public meeting indicated a preference for a restrictive traffic calming approach. Out of 63 responses received from area residents, 59% favoured a restrictive traffic calming approach to address speeding problems on Heritage Drive. Residents expressed concerns over the existing traffic calming measures and bicycle lanes, vehicle speeds, volume of traffic, collisions, street lighting, traffic noise, on-street parking and pedestrian safety. 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 following is a list of the alternatives considered: 7 Alternative #1 - A series of four speed humps between Halifax Drive and Lorraine Avenue and a full permanent road closure of Heritage Drive just east of Oakhurst Crescent. Speed humps are vertical deflections in the roadway that force vehicles to slow down to negotiate the humps. The road closure would be in approximately the same location as the previous temporary closure that was implemented in 1993, but would be built as a proper cul-de-sac to allow traffic to turn around. Alternative #2 - A series of seven speed humps and two raised crosswalks between Halifax Drive and Ottawa Street Noah. Raised crosswalks are vertical deflections in the roadway with curb extensions which narrow the road width and crossing distance for pedestrians. These vertical deflections force vehicles to slow down when negotiating the crosswalk. Alternative #3 - A series of nine speed humps from Halifax Drive to Ottawa Street North. Alternative #4 - A series of four speed humps from Halifax Drive and Lorraine Avenue and a partial road closure on Heritage Drive at Lorraine Avenue. A partial road closure prohibits traffic from using Heritage Drive in one direction only, while still permitting traffic in the opposing direction. Alternative #5 - Do nothing. A second public meeting was held on May 22, 2008 to present the alternatives, the advantages and disadvantages of each alternative, and to present the preferred alternative (Alternative #2} as determined by the steering committee. Attendees were asked to provide any comments before a recommended plan was developed. The preferred alternative was not endorsed by many of the meeting attendees. Some residents expressed their opposition to any type of road narrowing and rejected the concept of the raised pedestrian crosswalks proposed under the preferred alternative. In addition, many residents wanted to see the road closure option brought forward as the preferred alternative, citing that the City of Kitchener's Official Plan in the 1970s and 1980s indicated that Heritage Drive would be closed permanently between Indian Road and Ottawa Street North once Lackner Boulevard was opened to traffic. In light of the concerns raised at the second public meeting and lack of general approval of the preferred alternative, staff decided to conduct a public design charrette. A design charrette is a type of planning forum in which participants are grouped together and asked to develop their own traffic calming plans that could be used on the street. One staff member was assigned to each group to act as a moderator and to answer any technical questions that charrette participants may have about traffic calming devices or their applications. However, staff members do not dictate how their groups should design their plans. The design charrette was held on June 24, 2008. There were approximately 25 residents who participated in the Heritage Drive design charrette process. Through this process, residents were generally in agreement that speed humps were the most effective and practical option at addressing the speeding problems on Heritage Drive. The design charrette also confirmed to City staff that residents are staunchly opposed to any type of roadway narrowings that would normally be associated with the application of raised pedestrian crosswalks. 8 Heritage Drive -Centre Median Recently, some residents have expressed concerns about the City's intention to leave the existing centre median in place on Heritage Drive near Grand River Collegiate. According to the concerns raised, the lane widths are too narrow to allow motor vehicle traffic to pass bicycles. While the lane widths are somewhat narrower than drivers might normally be accustomed to on a City of Kitchener street, staff have checked the existing lane widths on Heritage Drive and found that they meet the minimum design standards recommended by the Transportation Association of Canada. In order to address these concerns, additional traffic signs were recently installed on Heritage Drive to indicate to drivers that they must share the road with cyclists. Removing the landscaped centre median will negatively affect the appearance of the streetscape. It may also result in higher operating speeds on this section of Heritage Drive, since the median acts as a traffic calming measure. The removal of the median could also lead to operational problems, due to the angled parking stalls situated along westbound Heritage Drive at Rosenberg Park. Removing the median could encourage vehicles to enter the angled parking stalls from the wrong direction. It would also result in an undesirable situation where drivers would be forced to back out of the angled parking stalls into two-way traffic. Accordingly, Transportation Planning is not recommending the removal of the centre median on Heritage Drive. CommunitvSurve On September 11, 2008, a final community survey was delivered to all residents of Heritage Drive and Oakhurst Crescent, as well as residents of other streets who participated in the study process. The intent of the survey was to determine if there is sufficient support for the implementation of the recommended traffic calming 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. Residents were invited to express their opinion on a new preferred alternative. This new preferred alternative, which was identified as Alternative #3 at the public meeting in May 2008, consists of nine speed humps and no raised crosswalks. While the project steering committee ranked Alternative #3 as being slightly less preferable than Alternative #2, it was decided to bring Alternative #3 forward as the preferred alternative based on resident feedback received at the second public meeting and at the design charrette. A total of 165 properties were surveyed within the boundaries of the study area. This consisted of 8multi-storey apartment buildings and 157 single detached and semi-detached homes. The results of the survey were separated by street, since residents of both Heritage Drive and Oakhurst Crescent participated in the survey. The results of the Heritage Drive and Oakhurst Crescent surveys are as follows: 9 Herita a Drive Sin le Famil Homes Sin le Famil Nomes in Favour: 57 90.5% Sin le Famil Nomes t~ osed: 6 9.5% Total Single Family Home Surveys Returned: 63 100.0% Single Family Home Surveys Mailed Out: 95 Percentage of Surveys Returned 66.3% Oakhurst Crescent Sin le Famil Homes Sin le Famil Nomes in Favour: 28 82.4% Sin le Famil Nomes t~ osed: 6 17.6% Total Single Famil Home Surve s Returned: 34 100.0% Single Famil Home Surve s Mailed Out: 62 Percentage of Surve s Returned 54.8% Surveys were also mailed to each of the high-rise apartment properties located within the study boundary. In addition, surveys were mailed to residents who live on other streets, and who actively participated in the study process. A artments & Residents of Other Streets A artments in Favour: 60 89.6% Apartments apposed: 7 10.4% Total Apartment Surveys Returned: 67 100.0% Apartment Surve s Mailed Out: 382 Percentage of Surve s Returned 17.5% In total, Transportation Planning received 166 returned surveys. Of these surveys, 145 respondents (or 87%} were in support of the recommended traffic calming plan Alternative #3). There were 19 respondents (or 11%} that were opposed to the recommended plan and 2 respondents for 1 %) that were undecided. The total final survey results are summarized in the table below: Herita a Drive Final Surve Summar g v v Overall in Favour: 145 87.3% Overall Opposed: 19 11.4% Overall Undecided: 2 1.2% Overall Returned: 166 100.0% Overall Mailed Out: 550 Returned 30.2% 10 Therefore, the Heritage Drive traffic calming study has not met the minimum required community support as outlined in the City of Kitchener Traffic Calming policy. However, a significant portion of the residents in this area live in higher density rental properties, where turnover is typically much greater and residents tend to take less "ownership" of the municipal issues in their neighbourhood. Many of the surveys sent to the high density apartments were returned to City Hall by the post office as being undeliverable, due to the large number of vacant apartments. There are 95 single detached and semi-detached homes along Heritage Drive. These properties are far more likely to be owner-occupied than renter-occupied. An analysis of the response rates from these 95 single and semi-detached homes indicate a strong support for the recommended traffic calming plan, with 57 responses in favour and 6 opposed to the plan. Therefore, out of the 95 single detached and semi-detached homes along Heritage Drive, a response rate of 66% was achieved, through which 91 % were in favour of the traffic calming plan and only 9% were opposed. A similar analysis was conducted for the 62 single detached homes on Oakhurst Crescent. Out of the 34 responses received, 28 were in favour to the plan and 6 were opposed to the plan. Therefore, out of the 62 single detached and semi-detached homes along Heritage Drive, a response rate of 55% was achieved, through which 82% were in favour of the traffic calming plan and only 18% were opposed. The measures recommended for Heritage 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 this process, staff recommends that the proposed speed humps be implemented on Heritage Drive. Agency Response As part of the traffic calming study, the recommended traffic calming plan was distributed to all affected agencies for their comments/concerns. While we have received general comments about the traffic calming program in the past from The Region of Waterloo, Waterloo Regional Police Services, Grand River Transit and City of Kitchener Operations Services, the only response received that was specific to the Heritage Drive traffic calming review was from the City of Kitchener Fire Department. The following is a synopsis of the general agency comments pertaining to traffic calming: Waterloo Regional Police Services - No concerns. Grand River Transit -Concerns with impact of vertical deflection measures on adherence to bus schedules and potential for discomfort to the driver and passengers. 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. The curb extensions are difficult to plough around and will slow ploughing in the area. 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 Department -Indicated the specific concerns discussed below. In a letter dated October 8, 2008, the Kitchener Fire Department indicated a preference for a reduced number of speed humps on Heritage Drive. Fire Services cautioned that any vertical 11 deflections will increase emergency response times, and requested the installation of a maximum of 5 speed humps as opposed to the 9 currently proposed by Transportation Planning. This reduction in the number of speed humps would cut any increases in emergency response times by one half. He added that the Fire Department does have alternate response routes available to them, via Lorraine Avenue, Lackner Boulevard, Montcalm Drive, Indian Road and Keewatin Avenue. Transportation Planning staff met with the Fire Chief in October, 2008 to discuss the Heritage Drive traffic calming plan. Staff explained that the proper spacing of 125-150 metres between speed humps is absolutely essential to address speeding and that a reduction in the number of speed humps may negate the effectiveness of the remaining speed humps. Should Council endorse the Recommended Plan, the installation of all proposed traffic calming measures and the removal of the existing curb extensions will take place in the spring of 2009. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: The cost to install the nine (9) speed humps and remove the existing curb extensions is approximately $85,000. Out of this total cost, $35,000 will be taken from the existing annual traffic calming budget, while $50,000 will be obtained from funds identified in the capital construction budget for the removal of the existing traffic calming measures. COMMUNICATIONS: Public involvement in this project has been extensive. Through the review process, there have been two public information centres, a design charrette, comment forms, surveys as well as direct mailings and electronic correspondence. Residents have been informed in writing of the Development and Technical Services meeting date and invited to appear as a delegation if they wish to support or oppose the recommendations outlined in this report. In addition, residents have been invited to review this DTS report on the City's website, or to contact staff to request a paper copy of the report if their household does not have Internet access. CONCLUSION: The recommended plan, which prescribes the installation of nine ~9} new speed humps, provides the most desirable technical solution to the problems investigated through the traffic calming study. The removal of the existing curb extensions will also ease residents' concerns regarding the safety and effectiveness of these old traffic calming measures. While 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 will improve traffic conditions on Heritage Drive, reduce speeding and improving pedestrian safety in this neighbourhood. 12 John McBride, Director Transportation Planning Cameron Revers, Traffic Technician Transportation Planning CB Attach. Ken Carmichael, C.E.T. Supervisor of Traffic and Parking 13 HERITAGE DRIVE -RECOMMENDED TRAFFIC CALMING PLAN PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE -NINE (9) SPEED HUMPS CROSS SECTION OF PROPOSED SPEED HUMPS 2.Om 3.Om 2.Om 180mm NOTE: THIS DIAGRAM IS NOT TO SCALE ,. 9 NEW SPEED HUMPS ._ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~~ ~ ~ ' ~ ~ APPROXIMATE LOCATION ~~ ~ ~ ~, ~ ~ ~~vz~ ~ ~~ OF HUMPS SHOWN BY y ~ ~{5F {} 1 E ~ +r l e h.. 5 5~5 ~ .. •~--y 4~ tt;" ~f ~.4 ' +1J ... ,~ s. ~ 5 ' F'fir ~F ll I~''y~ ,< 1 r ,~ .v •~ L ~ ., e .z'~ ~f r~y} „ ` ~' f~ ~ y ~ ~r i - {. ~ . .~ _ ~ ;; r~~ ~f~i ~ .r ~ 5~ f - }1 ~~~ } r~ rf +.k n 5 ~ ~ ; ~ ~ a 1 ~+~ F , {J~.'' ,. . V 1 ~ ' 4 y . "k D .., L~ 4 ' .~ ~~ , , { ~r ~ ~ ~ ,,fib ~ Y~4 L f ~} ^ h.~ v-' r ~ .. r n ~ I. - m +{' .b 3 .. ,: ~' .,' ~` r~a ;~ ~ ~" ~~~ ~ ~ ~ ~~# ,tip ~• ~_ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ EXISTING ALL-WAY STOP ~ ~~~E. ~ -~ ~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~ ~ ~~A ~~~ ~~ h ~~ ~ ~ ~~ . CONTROL AT LORRAINE AVE ,. ~ ~ . ~ t ~ ~~ ~~~ ~ . ~.~ : r;~, ~. ~ ~ ~, , ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~. , ~ ~~ ~~{ { ~ ry ;. ~ ..' 6 _ ~ ~, ; ~ ~. 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