auburn traffic calming plan approved feb. 25, 2013 waterloo on city council

7/27/2019 Auburn Traffic Calming Plan Approved Feb. 25, 2013 Waterloo on City Council

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B. Financial Implications:

There is currently capital funding for various traffic calming measures approved in the

2012-2014 capital budget as amended and approved by Council on December 10,2012. Staff is recommending various traffic calming measures be implemented in 2013-2014 which are all within the existing approved capital budgets.

C. Technology Implications

There are no technology implications with this report.

D. Legal Considerations

There are no legal considerations with this report.

E. Link to Strategic Plan

Vibrant Neighbourhoods:Enhance Vibrant Neighbourhoods, Healthy and Safe Community:

x Promote the creation of complete and integrated communities andneighbourhoods by developing safe roads for commuting and recreational

purposes.

Getting Around:

x Encourage and support the safe use of all forms of transportation

F. Other ConsiderationsEconomic Vitality

Traffic calming has the potential not only to lessen the direct negative impacts of road

traffic, but to foster urban environments which are more human and interactive, more

beautiful, and more economically successful due to greater social vitality.

G. Previous Reports on this Topic

N/A

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TransportationAuburn-University Neighbourhood Traffic Study

PWS2013-017

Section 1 Background

In 2005 the Auburn University Neighbourhood Traffic Study was put on hold pending theoutcome of the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the widening of University Avenue.

The EA reviewed future traffic and transportation needs due to planned area growth andthe road was widened to 4 lanes between Bridge Street and Lexington Road. In 2012, anew study was undertaken to review and assess previous study data andrecommendations, existing and future traffic conditions, walking and cyclingconnectivity, general traffic management and traffic safety related issues with input fromthe community.

Consultation on this study included two (2) public information centres and a stakeholderteam (incl. Waterloo Fire Rescue, neighbourhood association, area schools and theRegion of Waterloo). Information has been available on the city website throughout theduration of this study.

Section 2 Study Area

The Auburn-University neighbourhood is predominantly low rise residential dwellingswith some existing and under construction medium density south of University Avenue.The study area is essentially bounded by Bridge Street, a Regional arterial road on thewest, Colonial Creek on the north, Grand River to the east and Woolwich Street/Cityboundary to the south. The portion of University Avenue within the study area is a cityarterial road. The street layout of the study area provides multiple access/egress pointsto the arterial network. Two (2) schools are located within the study area, with a third

just outside the city boundary in Kitchener, creating additional traffic pressures in themornings and afternoons. Given its location, St. Matthew School draws pedestrianactivity both from within and external to the study area. Grand River Transit (GRT)operate within the neighbourhood and on the adjacent arterial network.

Traffic volumes for the internal streets are within those thresholds expected, whereastraffic speeds on some streets are cause for concern, particularly along Auburn Drive in

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the vicinity of St. Matthew School where there is pedestrian activity. Between 2006 and2010 there were 32 documented collisions of varying type within the study area.

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Section 3 Key Concerns Raised

The following capture key areas of concern raised by residents and stakeholders duringthis study:

x Woolwich Street and its futurex Increased development and traffic volumesx Speeding on Auburn Drivex Access to University Avenuex Bridge Street pedestrian crossings at Crimson and Bechtel Parkx Missing sidewalk on east side of Bridge Street (between plaza and Kitchener)

Section 4 Recommendations

Given Woolwich Street is in the citys capital program to undergo an Environmental

Assessment, targeted for commencing in 2013 - the following provides comments forconsideration to that study:

x The approved Transportation Master Plan identified a multi-use trail on WoolwichStreet. If progressed, the trail would cross Woolwich Street near the intersectionof Auburn Drive and connect to Bridge Street via old Woolwich Street. It isrecommended that this crossing be flagged for further review as part of theWoolwich Street Class Environmental Assessment.

x Future vehicular access and pedestrian crossings of University Avenue at theWoolwich Street intersection should be reviewed in context of the future

Woolwich Street Class EA.

University Avenue was widened in 2011 and accommodates the planned area growth,and intersections in the study area are generally working to good levels of service.

The Region of Waterloo is currently reviewing opportunity for an island at the BechtelPark entrance and the missing east side sidewalk during the re-design andreconstruction of Bridge Street.

Based on the feedback received from residents and stakeholders and being cognizantof limited budget, the recommendations are focused around the school areas and wherepedestrians, principally children, are moving through the neighbourhood to accessschools and recreational areas. It is recommended that the City first pursue the PrimaryPriority Area shown in Appendix 1, based on their potential to address one or moreissues. Waterloo Fire Rescue has no objections to the study recommendations.

While the overall plan identifies additional measures over several phases, for 2013/2014implementation purposes, the following are the priorities of this study (refer to figure 2 inthe attached memorandum):

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Appendix 1 To Report PWS2013-017

Auburn-University Neighbourhood Traffic Study

This attached PDF contains elements that are inaccessible. If another format would

work better for you, please contact the City of Waterloo at 519-747-8737,[email protected] or TTTY at 1-866-786-3941.

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FILE: 120020

TO: CHRIS HODGSON,CITY OFWATERLOO

FROM: JIM MALLETT,PARADIGM TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS LIMITED

DATE: JANUARY16,2013

RE: AUBURN-UNIVERSITYNEIGHBOURHOOD TRAFFIC STUDYMEMORANDUM #5IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

Based on the feedback received at the two PIC events held for this project,as well as stakeholder input and a review of the technical information thathas been developed for use in this study, we have developed animplementation plan for the Citys consideration. (Figure 1) The planreflects the desires of the neighbourhood to provide safe routes to and from

the area schools, reduce speeds identified in the key areas and be cognizantof a traffic calming budget that has to address needs on a city-wide basis.

The implementation plan has been broken into three groupings: primary,secondary and tertiary priority areas. It is important to note that thesegroupings are clustered geographically as this is a key feature in ensuringthat the maximum benefits arise from the plan. The following describes theplan in more detail.

Primary Priority Area

The primary priority area (Figure 2) is focused around St. Matthew Schooland supporting the pedestrian routes to and from it, along with reducing thetraffic speeds on Auburn Drive. Specific actions include:

The plan calls for improvement to the existing pedestrian refuge onBridge Street that was constructed by the Region of Waterloo.Comments received at the Public Information Centres (PIC) indicatedthat the island is too small and is having little benefit in reducingspeed. Field investigations support the notion that the island couldbe increased in width to support a larger staging area forpedestrians.

To support pedestrian crossings of Auburn Drive, three raisedcrosswalks are recommended. The first is located at the rear of St.Matthew School south of Crimson Drive, the second is located justwest of Jefferson Court and the third located on Pastern Trail in linewith the community walkway. These connect to the off-road

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pedestrian/cyclist trail system that traverses the neighbourhood.

To reduce traffic speeds further on Auburn Drive a neighbourhood traffic circle isrecommended at Carene Court / Strawberry Crescent intersection with Auburn Drive. Inaddition, a second neighbourhood traffic circle is recommended at the intersection ofDansbury Drive and Auburn Drive.

Secondary Priority Area

The secondary priority area is focussed around University Downs Park and supporting thepedestrian routes to and from it, along with reducing the traffic speeds on Auburn Drive. Specificactions include:

The plan calls for implementation of a suitable pedestrian refuge on Bridge Street at theBechtel Park entrance. Given that comments received at the PIC indicated that the islandnorth of University Avenue is too small and is having little benefit in reducing speed, it isrecommended that the City work with the Region to maximize the size of this island to the

greatest extent possible, and be constructed at time of the Bridge Street reconstructionin 2017.

To support pedestrian and cyclist crossings of Auburn Drive, the plan calls forimplementation of a pedestrian refuge on Auburn Drive South, near University Downs Park.This will connect to the off-road pedestrian/cyclist trail system that traverses theneighbourhood. The island should be constructed to current City standards and maximizepedestrian staging areas on the island.

In addition, to reduce speed in advance of the above pedestrian crossings, the planrecommends that speed cushions be placed in both travel lanes on Auburn Drive between

150 m and 200 m of the southerly pedestrian island and north of the Pastern Trailintersection.

The plan also calls for a single pedestrian refuge on Pastern Trail, near University DownsPark, at the trailhead location. This island should be constructed to current City standardsand maximize pedestrian staging areas on the island.

It should be noted that the City has identified in its Transportation Master Plan that a multi-usetrail will be implemented on Woolwich Street over time and the this trail will cross WoolwichStreet near the intersection of Auburn Drive and connect to Bridge Street via old WoolwichStreet. However, the details of this crossing are not identifiable at this time. This project

recognizes the importance of this crossing and recommends that this location be flagged forfurther review as part of the Woolwich Street Class Environmental Assessment.

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Tertiary Priority Area

It should be noted that City of Waterloo is reviewing potential sidewalks on Lexington andMeadowvale roads as part of the Lexington Road project. The tertiary priority area is focusedaround Wintermayer Park and supporting the pedestrian routes to and from it and Lexington

Public School along with the planned Lexington Road improvements. Specific actions include:The plan calls for implementation of a suitable pedestrian refuge on Lexington Road east ofMeadowvale Road and on Meadowvale Road, south of Running Brook Place. This islandshould be incorporated into the Lexington Road project, constructed to current Citystandards and maximize pedestrian staging areas on the island.

To support pedestrian and cyclist crossings of Forestlawn Road, the plan calls forimplementation of a suitable pedestrian refuge on Forestlawn Road south of WoolwichStreet. This also requires the relocation of the current trailhead to the south side of theintersection. This will provide a continuous east-west linkage via the off-roadpedestrian/cyclist trail system that traverses the neighbourhood and links to UniversityAvenue.

Future vehicular access and pedestrian crossings of University Avenue at the WoolwichStreet intersection should be reviewed in context of the future Woolwich Street Class EA.

Costs

The estimated cost of the implementation plan (Figure 3) is in the order of $48,000-$116,000with about $22,000-$58,000 being identified within the Primary Priority Area, $16,000-$28,000in the Secondary Priority Area and $10,000-$30,000 in the Tertiary Priority Area.

We would be pleased to discuss in this memorandum, at your convenience.

Yours very truly,PARADIGM TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS LIMITED

James J.L. Mallett

M.A.Sc., P.Eng., PTOE

Vice President

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Figure 1

Paradigmwww.ptsl.com

Auburn-University Transportation Study

Preferred Implementation Plan

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Figure 2



Primary Priority Area Detail

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Figure 3



Implementation Plan Cost Estimate

Low High Low High Low High

Traffic Circle 2 $5,000 $20,000 $10,000 $40,000

Raised Pedestrian X-Walk 3 $4,000 $6,000 $12,000 $18,000 $22,000 $58,000

Pedestrian Refuge Island 2 $5,000 $10,000 $10,000 $20,000

Speed Cushions 1 $6,000 $8,000 $6,000 $8,000 $16,000 $28,000

Traffic Circle 1 $5,000 $20,000 $5,000 $20,000

Pedestrian Refuge Island 1 $5,000 $10,000 $5,000 $10,000 $10,000 $30,000

Total 10 $48,000 $116,000

Sub-total Total

PrimaryPriorityArea

SecondaryPriorityArea

TertiaryPriorityArea

Area DeviceNumber

Required

Unit Cost

auburn traffic calming plan approved feb. 25, 2013 waterloo on city council

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