Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutDTS-09-047 - On Street Parking - Forwell DrI~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: Chicopee-Grand River ~2) Date of Report: 2009 March 12 Report No.: DTS-09-047 Subject: ON STREET PARKING - FORWELL ROAD RECOMMENDATIONS: That on-street parking be prohibited at anytime on the north side of Forwell Road from a point 408 metres east of Centennial Road to its easterly limit; That on-street parking be permitted for up to three (3) consecutive hours on the south side of Forwell Road, from a point 340 metres east of Centennial Road to a point 70 metres east thereof; and further, That the Uniform Traffic By-law be amended accordingly. BACKGROUND: Transportation Planning recently received a request from the owner of 31 Forwell Road to review the parking regulations and signage on the street. The resident expressed concerns about the number of vehicles parking on Forwell Road near the Walter Bean Trailhead. According to the resident, these parked vehicles impede access to the driveway at 31 Forwell Road and occasionally block Forwell Road itself. Forwell Road is designated as a local roadway. From Victoria Street North to a point approximately 425 metres east of Centennial Road, Forwell Road is a paved industrial access road, with a pavement width of approximately 9 metres. From this point to Forwell Road's easterly limit, Forwell Road narrows into agravel-surfaced rural laneway, with an average road width of approximately 4.5 metres. The Walter Bean Trail also utilizes the right-of-way of Forwell Road, between Centennial Road and its easterly limit. Currently, on-street parking is prohibited on the south side of Forwell Road, from a point 44 metres east of Centennial Road to its easterly limit. However, parking is permitted for up to 3-1 three (3) consecutive hours on the north side of Forwell Road, as outlined in the City of Kitchener Uniform Traffic By-law No. 2007-138. REPORT: Transportation Planning staff have investigated these concerns, and found that the presence of any vehicles parked within 175 metres of the eastern terminus of Forwell Road can effectively block the roadway and prohibit access to the residence at 31 Forwell Road. However, staff have also noted that on-street parking in the area is rather limited, and that any further parking prohibitions along Forwell Road may encourage Walter Bean Trail users to park illegally. However, parking should be prohibited at anytime on either side of Forwell Road within 175 metres of the eastern terminus of the road, due to the narrow 4.5 metre width of the roadway. Staff have identified a section of Forwell Road which could accommodate parking on the road's shoulder without causing any interference to traffic on the roadway or inhibit access to 31 Forwell Road. By providing a designated shoulder parking area further down Forwell Road, it will hopefully encourage trail users to park their vehicles safely on the shoulder, rather than block Forwell Road near the Walter Bean Trailhead. The proposed shoulder parking area on Forwell Road is currently designated as a No Parking Anytime zone under the City of Kitchener Uniform Traffic By-law No. 2007-138. This area was designated as a No Parking Anytime zone in 2001 (see CSD Report #01-136) over concerns that parked vehicles along the shoulder of Forwell Road could potentially block access to the Walter Bean Trail, which utilizes the road's shoulder. However, field investigations have revealed that the shoulder width in this location is approximately 5 metres, which is wide enough to accommodate both parallel-parked vehicles and pedestrian traffic. In order to ensure safe trail operations, staff will investigate possible measures to be installed in the field to reinforce the separation between the trail and this proposed parking area. Staff feel that by designating a legal shoulder parking area on Forwell Road, it will encourage Walter Bean Trail users to park their vehicles away from the eastern terminus of Forwell Road where they would be blocking traffic and access to 31 Forwell Road. It is recommended that parking be permitted for up to three (3) consecutive hours, in recognition of the fact that many Walter Bean Trail users may choose to walk the entire developed length of the trail (down to Zeller Drive) and will therefore require long-term parking. Transportation Planning recommends that on-street parking be prohibited on the north side of Forwell Road from a point 408 metres east of Centennial Road to its easterly limit and that on- street parking be permitted for up to three (3) consecutive hours on the south side of Forwell Road, from a point 340 metres east of Centennial Road to a point 70 metres east thereof; and that the City of Kitchener Uniform Traffic By-law #2007-138 be amended accordingly. COMMUNICATIONS: The only Forwell Road resident who will be affected by these proposed amendments to the parking regulations is fully supportive of our recommendations. The affected resident is also the initial proponent of these parking regulation changes. The owner of the property has been provided a copy of this DTS report and has been notified of the meeting date. Z 3-2 FINANCIAL IMPLIATI~N: The approximate cost to install new regulatory signs an Farwell Road i ~ ,SDQ, which will be taken from the existing sign maintenance hu~get. J n McBride, Director Transportation Planning ~~: . ~a~meron Havers, Traffic Technician Transportation Planning Attach. ~ ' ~~ ~- i~en Carmichael, ,~,T. upervisar of Traffic Parking 3 3-3 ~ ~ KITC~~R Development & Technical Servkes .a PROPOSED 3 HOUR PARKING AREA ~ ~ :;.~~,~,_ (CURRENTLY "NO PARKING ANYTIME" AREA) ~'° ~~~~~ ; 4~ a ~ .,p~ ~ . R ,,. .;~ r • •• ru~ • • ~ _ e . ~~ • • . • • ,.~R •• ~~ • ~ ~~r ~° ~,~ +~~~ li ~ +.~ q,. ~J ~ s 3 ~' ~: ~~ ~ R' ~ ~ ~~ s ~~. ~. _ e. a ~~~^~ rir .. n ~ .. ~ "fig _ d ~ ~° ~" r ~ • ~~ ~x ~.'. r? + ,~ , \ ~ _ i ~. ~~ y . , ,e _ ~ ~ ~ ~~ . ~ ~ 8 yy ~ Y ~ ~ XI ~ Q ~y ~ ~~ f ° {~ ~ " k ~ ^ 4 :~ ~ ~ °~~ ~~,~~• y ~~ a ~y, k Q,:. ~~ ~~~~ R hi i ~ c gb ~ s" ~ "~ ~ , r a ui r E _ u f ,, t ~ "tg` ~., ~ _. '} ~ ~k4 5~ ~ ~ ~ i A i 7 " ~ ~ ~ ~ ~, ~k: ar-~y . ~~ ~:~-~~ .~ SwF ~'`~ ~~ ~ .. a :{ ~ e ~ ~o ~, ,~ ~ ~ °~ h..y, ~1 F ~ 4 . . 7 ~ 1 r 5 ~, ,~ _.,„ ~ ~ ° ~ ~ Y ' Proposed "No Parking Anytime" Regulation ~ ^ ^ ^ ^ Current "No Parking Anytime" Regulation • • • • • Proposed "Three ~3~ Hour Parking" Regulation 4 3-4