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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEGD-047-07 Report tI7 Clm:.i1Jgton REPORT ENGINEERING SERVICES DEPARTMENT Meeting: COUNCIL Report #: EGD-047-07 File #: Resolution #:C-3fJo-o7 By-Iaw#: J..0tJ1-/bfo Date: Monday June 25, 2007 Subject: HEAVY TRAFFIC - VEHICLE WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS Recommendations: It is respectfully recommended that: 1. THAT Report EGD-047-07 be received; 2. THAT the Director of Engineering Services be authorized to designate temporary permissive TRUCK ROUTES and authorize the erection of temporary prohibitive NO HEAVY TRUCK signs; 3. THAT Schedule XXV HEAVY TRAFFIC PROHIBITED of Traffic By-law 91-58 be updated and amended; 4. THAT Schedule XXVI HIGHWAYS EXEMPT FROM WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS of Traffic By-law 91-58 be updated and amended; and 5. THAT the proposed by-law attached to Report EGD-047-07 be approved by Council. Respectfully by, ~ Submitted by: A. S. Cannella, C.E.r. Director of Engineering Services ~ 'ewed by: Franklin Wu Chief Administrative Officer ~ ASC/RDB/jo June 21,2007 CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON 40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L 1C 3A6 T 905-623-3379 F 905-623-9282 Report #EGD-047-07 Page 2 1.0 BACKGROUND 1.1 Due to increasing concerns from residents regarding heavy truck traffic infiltrating established residential neighbourhoods to access construction areas, the Engineering Services Department has reviewed the heavy truck traffic sections of Traffic By-law 91-58 and is recommending minor updates and amendments to schedules XXV and XXVI. 2.0 COMMENT 2.1 Temporary Truck Routes and Heavy Truck Prohibitions With the unprecedented construction growth in Clarington, staff have received numerous concerns about truck traffic infiltrating occupied residential areas to reach adjacent areas under construction. Engineering staff have often worked successfully with developers requesting that construction truck traffic use specific routes. Due to longer travel times the suggested truck routes are often ignored by truck operators and are presently unenforceable. The purpose of establishing truck routes near areas under construction is to reduce the potential of truck conflicts with residents and to maintain the integrity/cleanliness of the roadway in the established areas. In response to concerns staff are proposing an amendment to Traffic By-law 91- 58 which would authorize the Director of Engineering Services to officially designate temporary permissive Truck Routes and approve the posting of NO HEAVY TRUCK signs as required. This temporary signing would be in effect during development construction phases and if required adjusted as new phases are initiated and earlier phases are occupied. During late 2007, Toronto Street which is presently the suggested truck route into the Port of Newcastle, will be under construction requiring signing and route changes for heavy traffic as work progresses. This proposed amendment would enable quick action by the Director of Engineering Services if established roadways are under construction and temporary heavy truck prohibitions are Report #EGD-047-07 Page 3 required to keep heavy vehicles out of adjacent residential areas, by forcing trucks to use designated routes. This is a progressive step which could be used by the Director of Engineering Services to assist residents if suitable alternate routes are available. The designation of the routes could be in effect for up to one year and renewable at the discretion of the Director of Engineering Services. Schedule XXV HEAVY TRAFFIC PROHIBITED would only be used where Council has authorized a permanent or long term prohibition of heavy traffic on a roadway. By officially designating truck routes into a construction site, the Municipality and the developer have more control over truck movements which would now be enforceable by Durham Regional Police and Municipal Enforcement Staff. The proposed by-law amendment controlling truck traffic is a further improvement to Traffic By-law 91-58 which already provides the Director of Engineering Services the authority to quickly restrict a municipal roadway to 5 tonnes per axle to prevent further roadway damage. 2.2 Schedule XXV HEAVY TRAFFIC PROHIBITED The locations previously listed in the schedule are no longer required as bridge or road repairs have eliminated the hazards. In some locations advance bridge weight signs have been installed rather than prohibiting trucks. Staff are recommending that the outdated contents of the schedule be cleared. 2.3 Schedule XXVI HIGHWAYS EXEMPT FROM WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS The purpose of this schedule is to exempt certain industrial roads from the annual spring load restrictions. When reviewing this schedule it was observed that three industrial streets in Courtice (Courtice Court, Cigas Road, Hancock Road) were not previously listed with the adjacent exempt industrial streets. These minor additions have been included in this proposed amendment. 3.0 CONCLUSION 3.1The minor amendments to Schedules XXV and XXVI will bring them up to date. The provision of the Director of Engineering Services being able to authorize and Report #EGD-047-07 Page 4 designate temporary permissive Truck Routes and Truck Prohibitions will enable quick and enforceable action to restrict the movement of heavy vehicles and reduce residents concerns.The proposed by-law amendment is attached for Council’s consideration. Attachments: Attachment 1 – Proposed Amending By-law ATTACHMENT NO.:1 REPORT NO.: EGD-047-07 THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON BY -LAW 2007-xx Being a By-law to amend By-law 91-58, as amended, being a By-law to Regulate Traffic on Highways, Municipal and Private Property in the Municipality of Clarington. WHEREAS the Council of the Corporation of the Municipality of Clarington deems it desirable to amend By-law 91-58; NOW THEREFORE the Council of the Corporation of the Municipality of Clarington hereby enacts as follows: 1) Schedule 'XXV "HEAVY TRAFFIC PROHIBITED" OF BY-LAW 91-58 is amended by: A) Deleting the contents of the schedule in its entirety: 2) Schedule 'XXVI "HIGHWAYS EXEMPT FROM WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS" OF BY-LAW 91-58 is amended by A) Deleting the following reference: Column 1 Hiqhwav Column 2 From Column 3 To McKnight Road (Darlington) South limit of Baseline Road South limit of Courtice Court B) Adding the following references: Column 1 Hiqhwav Column 2 From Column 3 To Cigas Road East limit of Trulls Road North limit of Baseline Road McKnight Road South limit of Baseline Road South limit of McKnight Road Courtice Court West limit of Courtice Court West limit of McKnight Road Hancock Road North limit of Baseline Road 300 m north of Baseline Road 3) General Provisions of traffic by-law 91-58 Section 19 HEAVY TRAFFIC is amended by deleting it in its entirety and replacing it with the following: HEAVY TRAFFIC Section 19 19. (1) Where official signs to that effect are displayed, heavy traffic is prohibited on the highways or parts of highways set out in Column 1 of Schedule XXV HEAVY TRAFFIC PROHIBITED to this by-law between the limits set out in Column 2 of the said Schedule during the times or days set out in Column 3 of the said Schedule. (2) Where official signs to that effect are displayed and subject to Section 122 of the Highway Traffic Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.HB, as amended, there shall be a reduced load period in effect from the 1st day of January to the 31st day of December, inclusive, in each and every year and no person shall on any highway or part of a highway affected, operate or draw any vehicle having a weight which is in contravention of the Highway Traffic Act R.S.O. 1990, c.HB, as amended. The Director of Engineering Services is authorized to establish the specific time periods, place, erect, maintain, or remove such official signs as are required to give effect to the provisions of this subsection. (3) Notwithstanding Section 19(2), heavy traffic may use the highways or parts of highways set out in Column 1 of Schedule XXVI HIGHWAYS EXEMPT FROM WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS to this By-law between the limits set out respectively in Columns 2 and 3 of the said Schedule at any time. (4) The Director of Engineering Services is authorized to designate temporary permissive TRUCK ROUTES and authorize the erection of temporary prohibitive NO HEAVY TRUCK signs. Restricting heavy traffic to the designated roads will be in effect where official signs to that effect are displayed. (a) The Director of Engineering Services is authorized to place, erect, maintain, or remove such official signs as are required to give effect to the provisions of this subsection. (b) The temporary designations can be in effect for up to 12 months from date of designation and are renewable at the discretion of the Director of Engineering Services. (5) No person shall operate a commercial motor vehicle with a registered gross weight in excess of 5 tonnes on any street in contravention of a restriction order issued by the Director of Engineering Services pursuant to subsection 19(4). (6) No owner of a commercial motor vehicle with a registered gross weight in excess of 5 tonnes shall permit said vehicle to be operated on any street in contravention of a restriction order issued by the Director of Engineering Services pursuant to subsection 19(4). (7) The provisions of this Section shall not extend to: (a) Public Transit or a school purposes bus unless otherwise specified, (b) a private vehicle driven to or from the owner's residence, (c) vehicles operated by or on behalf of a municipality or other authority having jurisdiction and control of a highway, where the vehicles are engaged in highway maintenance, including the carriage and application of abrasives or chemicals to the highway, the stockpiling of abrasives or chemicals for use on a highway, or the removal of snow from a highway; (d) vehicles used exclusively for the transportation of milk; (e) fire apparatus; (f) vehicles operated by or on behalf of a municipality transporting waste; or (g) public utility emergency vehicles. (8) The provisions of subsections 19(4) to 19(6) shall not extend to the use of said highways or parts of highways for deliveries to or removals from any premises abutting thereon where no other access or route exists. 4) General Provisions of Traffic By-law 91-58 Section 3 (2)(A) is deleted and replaced with the following (2) (A) The Director of Engineering Services is authorized to issue permits for the movement on highways under the jurisdiction of the Municipality of Clarington of heavy vehicles, loads, objects or structures which are in excess of the dimensional limits set out in Sections 109 or 122, or the weight limits set out in Part VII of the Highway Traffic Act, R.S.O., 1990, c.HB 5) This By-law shall come into force and take effect on the date approved by Council. BY-LAW read a first and second time this 25th day of June, 2007. BY-LAW read a third time and finally passed this 25th day of June, 2007. Jim Abernethy, Mayor Patti L. Barrie, Municipal Clerk