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Home My WebLink AboutDTS-09-123 - Traffic Calming - Laurentian DrJ I~~c~~R Qevefopment & Technical 5ervrces REPORT TO: Development & Technical Services Committee DATE OF MEETING: September 14, 2009 SUBMITTED BY: John McBride, Director of Transportation Planning PREPARED BY: Jeramie Lewis, Traffic Technologist WARD(S) INVOLVED: Ward 4 DATE OF REPORT: August 5, 2009 REPORT NO.: DTS-09-123 SUBJECT: TRAFFIC CALMING - LAURENTIAN DRIVE RECOMMENDATION: That five (5) speed humps and two (2) raised crosswalks be installed on Laurentian Drive between Block Line Road and Westmount Road. 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 Laurentian Drive Community on numerous occasions in the past to review the existing traffic conditions on Laurentian Drive. According to the concerns indicated, traffic using Laurentian Drive is speeding, creating concerns regarding pedestrian safety. In response to these requests, the City of Kitchener has reviewed the existing traffic conditions on Laurentian Drive and in January 2008, a traffic calming review was initiated 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: Laurentian Drive runs from Block Line Road to Westmount Road and is designated as a minor collector roadway. 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. 2-1 On April 10, 2008 our study team held its first public meeting to discuss traffic issues and concerns on Laurentian Drive 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 Laurentian Drive from Westmount Road and Block Line Road. There were twelve (12) reported collisions from January 2005 to December 2007. The collision history involved four (4) angle collisions, four (4) rear end collisions, two (2) loss of control collisions and two (2) parked vehicle collisions. This number of collisions is not unusual for a roadway of similar in nature to Laurentian Drive. Additionally, while there are collisions, there are no distinct preventable collision patterns occurring. Automated Volume & Speed Studies Volume and speed studies were conducted along Laurentian Drive both in front of Trillium Public School and east of Dunsmere Drive. The following data was recorded: Location Laurentian Drive in front of Trillium Public School Auaust 12-17. 2008 AADT ~~ 85t" Percentile 2103 veh/day ~~ Eastbound - 56.1 km/hr Westbound - 58.3 km/hr Laurentian Drive east of Dunsmere 3106 veh/day Northbound - 53.6 km/hr Drive August 12-17 2008 Southbound - 54.3 km/hr Laurentian Drive is designated as a minor collector roadway. The expected AADT for a typical 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. 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 five (5) speed humps and two (2) raised crosswalks -speed humps are vertical deflections in the roadway that force vehicles to slow down to negotiate the humps, and raised crosswalks are vertical deflections in the roadway, along with a narrowed roadway, that forces vehicles to slow down when negotiating the crosswalk. A series of three (3) traffic circles and three (3) raised crosswalks -traffic circles are horizontal deflections and intersection control measures that force vehicles to slow down to 2- 2 negotiate and yield to opposing traffic and raised crosswalks are vertical deflections in the roadway, along with a narrowed roadway, that forces vehicles to slow down when negotiating the crosswalk. A series of seven (7) roadway narrowings -narrowings force vehicles to slow down when negotiating the reduced effective roadway width. A series of four (4) traffic circles and two (2) refuge islands -traffic circles are horizontal deflections and intersection control measures that force vehicles to slow down to negotiate and yield to opposing traffic and refuge islands are medians in the roadway at crosswalk locations that provide a place of refuge for pedestrians crossing. Do nothing. A second public meeting was held on May 26, 2009 to present the alternatives that were developed based on resident input and the traffic issues at hand, 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, 2009, Transportation Planning mailed a survey to all residents/property owners that abut or are adjacent to Laurentian Drive, 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 107 properties surveyed within the boundaries of the study area. The results of the survey are as follows: In favour of the recommended plan 47 (82%) Opposed to the recommended plan 10 (18%) Total: 57 out of 107 responded (53%) Therefore, the Laurentian Drive traffic calming study has met the minimum required community support as outlined in the City of Kitchener Traffic Calming policy. The measures recommended for Laurentian Drive can be considered good traffic engineering in that they address the concerns regarding reducing speeds, non residential traffic on Laurentian Drive 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 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. 2-3 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 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. However, will work with staff to identify appropriate `near side' bus stop locations for installation of vertical measures. Should Council endorse the Recommended Plan, all proposed traffic calming measures are expected to be installed on Laurentian Drive late fall 2009 and/or early spring 2010. COMMUNICATIONS: This project has had extensive public involvement and communication. It has included two public information centres, 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 and two (2) raised crosswalks, 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 Laurentian Drive. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: The cost to install five (5) speed humps and two (2) raised crosswalks is approximately $40,000. This cost will be taken from the existing traffic calming budget. ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Jeff Willmer, Interim General Manager Development and Technical Services Department 2-4 L~ltlT'~eTIC1GlI7 ~I'14'e F~r~~pc7s~~l 'Tr~lt`Fic C~a1Tr~irr~~ 11~1etlsurc~s ~ ~~ ~~y~ i Fa < ~R dry, n V> r ti~~ L ~R~ ~g ~y4 f Js,~~` .4 ~~ Le~~enil ~ Speed Huir~la freci} ~ Rt~isetl C_'rn~s~~~all: {.l_~lue} 2-5