HomeMy WebLinkAboutDTS-09-045 - Winter Parking - Chapel StI~TCx~~~
Development&
Techrrica~ Services
Report To: Development & Technical Services Committee
Date of Meeting: 2009 March 30
Submitted By: John McBride, Director of Transportation Planning
Prepared By: Cameron Bevers, Traffic Technician (741-2369)
Ward(s) Involved: Bridgeport-Centre (1)
Date of Report: 2009 March 13
Report No.: DTS-09-045
Subject: WINTER PARKING PROHIBITION -CHAPEL STREET
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That on-street parking be prohibited from January 1 St to March 31St of each year on the east
side of Chapel Street from a point 39 metres north of Lancaster Street East to Samuel
Street; and further,
That the Uniform Traffic By-law be amended accordingly.
BACKGROUND:
Transportation Planning has received a request from a local resident to review the existing on-
street parking regulations on Chapel Street between Lancaster Street East and Samuel Street.
Currently, on-street parking is prohibited at anytime on the west side of Chapel Street from
Lancaster Street East to Samuel Street. On-street parking is permitted on the east side of
Chapel Street from a point 39 metres north of Lancaster Street East to Samuel Street for a
maximum of two (2) consecutive hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. Parking is
permitted for a maximum of three (3) consecutive hours at all other times, as outlined in the City
of Kitchener Uniform Traffic By-law No. 2007-138. Chapel Street is designated as a local road
and has a roadway width of approximately 6.5 metres.
REPORT:
The presence of snow banks reduces the effective width of the roadway during the winter months,
which leaves less space on the road in which to safely accommodate two-way traffic, in addition to
on-street parking. According to the resident, some Chapel Street homeowners experience
difficulties accessing their own driveways due to vehicles parked on the street during the winter
months. The resident also expressed concerns about the general lack of snow clearing on the
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street due to chronic on-street parking and the potential risk of emergency response vehicles
being prevented from accessing the street, due to the presence of parked vehicles on Chapel
Street.
In order to take a proactive approach to improving public safety and addressing concerns that
are a direct result of vehicles parking on Chapel Street during winter, Transportation Planning
delivered questionnaires to the affected residents of Chapel Street in January 2009, requesting
their opinion regarding a proposal to prohibit on-street parking on the east side of Chapel Street
from Lancaster Street East to Samuel Street during the winter months from January 1 St to March
31St of each calendar year. The survey results are as follows:
Questionnaires delivered: 57
In favour 12 (55% of responses)
Opposed 10 (45% of responses)
TOTAL 22 (57 surveyed - 39% responded)
As indicated above, twelve (12} out of twenty-two (22} respondents, or 55%, are in favour of the
proposal to prohibit on-street parking at anytime on the east side of Chapel Street from
Lancaster Street East to Samuel Street during the winter from January 1St to March 31St of each
calendar year.
After reviewing the survey responses and comments, it was apparent that some residents
wanted more frequent snow clearing and snow loading on the street in order to restore the
maximum roadway width as quickly as possible after a snowfall. While this situation would
certainly be desirable from a traffic operations and on-street parking perspective, it is not
feasible from a cost perspective. Due to the high cost of providing snow loading operations, this
service is typically utilized for critical downtown streets which carry high volumes of vehicular
and pedestrian traffic. As a result, snow loading seldom occurs on minor side streets, since
critical downtown streets are of much higher priority and utilize most of the staff and equipment
that are available. Accordingly, it is not reasonable to consistently rely on snow loading to keep
Chapel Street clear of snow during the winter months. Furthermore, the presence of parked
vehicles can inhibit or prevent snow clearing and snow loading operations from taking place.
Transportation Planning has noted that the majority of Chapel Street residents who responded
to the survey are in favour of a winter parking prohibition. Therefore, in the interest of traffic and
public safety and to address the desires of the majority of local residents, Transportation
Planning recommends that vehicles be prohibited from parking at anytime on the east side of
Chapel Street from Lancaster Street East to Samuel Street during the winter from January 1St to
March 31St of each year and that the City of Kitchener Uniform Traffic By-law be amended
accordingly.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The approximate cost for signing including installation, for the roadway is $600 and will be taken
from the existing sign maintenance budget.
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~O~IIMUNIATE~N:
t~esidents of chapel street -provided direst input regarding this proposal far a inter parking
prahihitian through a resident surrey that eras conducted in January, ~Qg. The
recommenaiations of this report and the DT meeting date have been provided in ~rriting to all
affected residents on chapel street.
J n McBride, Director -
Tranportation Planning
Cameron Beers, Traffic Technician
Transportation Planning
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Attach
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Ken arr~ichael, Q.E.T.
upervisar of Traffic & Parking
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KITC~~R
Development & ~
Technical Servkes
Existing "No Parking Anytime" Regulation
~ ~ ~ ~ Existing "Two ~2) Hour Parking, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday"
Proposed "No Parking Anytime, January 1St -March 31St"Regulation
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