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Home My WebLink AboutEGD-015-11 Q rington rng�he Way REPORT ENGINEERING SERVICES DEPARTMENT Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE Date: Monday, March 21, 2011 Resolution #: GP13'P65- Report M EGD-015-11 File M By-law M Subject: CLARINGTON BOULEVARD AND STEVENS ROAD INTERSECTION - BOWMANVILLE Recommendations: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Report EGD-015-11 be received; 2. THAT Council approve the proposal for the construction of traffic signals at the intersection of Clarington Boulevard and Stevens Road; 3. THAT construction of the recommended traffic signals be completed in 2011; 4. THAT funding for the works be reallocated from the following completed projects from previous Capital Budget years: Baseline Road/Spry Avenue Signalization Project — account #110-32-330-83312-7401 ($56,000), Bloor Street Sidewalks — account #110-32-331-83343-7401 ($41,200), Prestonvale Road Sidewalks — account #110-32-331-83346-7401 ($47,800), and Courtice Road Sidewalks — account#110-32-331-83345-7401 ($55,000); and 5. THAT Council approve the proposal to remove the unwarranted all-way stop at the intersection of Clarington Boulevard and Uptown Avenue at the same time that traffic signals are installed at the intersection of Clarington Boulevard and Stevens Road. CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON 40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L1C 3A6 T 905-623-3379 F 905-623-9282 REPORT NO.: EGD-015-11 PAGE 2 Respectfully by, Sub itted"by: A.S. Cannella Nancy yIT roa B.B.A., C.A. Director of Engineering Services Director of Finance/Treasurer eviewed by: Franklin Wu Chief Administrative Officer ASC/jo February 16, 2011 REPORT NO.: EGD-015-11 PAGE 3 1.0 BACKGROUND 1.1 It has come to the attention of the municipality that a number of motor vehicle collisions have recently occurred at the intersection of Clarington Boulevard at Stevens Road in Bowmanville. The intersection has been studied and reviewed to determine if improvements or additional traffic controls are warranted. 1.2 The Clarington Central Secondary School, which may be referred to in this report as "the school', is located on the northwest corner of the intersection of Clarington Boulevard and Stevens Road. This proximity to the school generates a large amount of pedestrian and vehicular activity, particularly during the a.m. and p.m. peak school periods. 1.3 A review by staff of the following intersections showed: Clarinaton Boulevard at Stevens Road (see Attachment 1) • Multi-lane, four-leg; • Clarington Boulevard — 13-19m wide collector road designed as 2 lanes northbound and 2 lanes southbound; • Stevens Road — 9.5m wide local road with single-lane approaches; • Concrete median dividing south leg with painted median dividing the north leg of Clarington Boulevard; • Sidewalks provided except along undeveloped area east of the school; • Pavement markings delineating the multiple lanes north of Uptown Avenue intentionally absent to discourage multi-lane use; • Stop signs, stop bars and pedestrian lines on east/west approaches; • Street light illumination provided throughout area; • Sufficient sight lines (day lighting triangles) . REPORT NO.: EGD-015-11 PAGE 4 Clarington Boulevard at Uptown Avenue • Multi-lane, three leg: • Only 135m spacing between Stevens Road and Uptown Avenue and only 145m spacing between Uptown Avenue and Durham Highway 2; • The intersection would not meet warrants for an all-way stop due to the low side street volumes of the "T intersection with a driveway to Home Depot on the west side of Clarington Boulevard. 1.4 A number of site observations were made at Clarington Boulevard and Stevens Road, including: a) In general, the subject intersection operates at a good level of service (LOS) which is a function of vehicle delay; b) Traffic peaks from 7:50 a.m. to 8:50 a.m. with a higher concentration of vehicular and pedestrian traffic between 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.; c) Despite the width of Clarington Boulevard being sufficient for two travel lanes, it is typically used as one wide lane in each direction north of Uptown Avenue due to the intentional lack of lane pavement markings; d) A significant number of students cross both Clarington Boulevard and Stevens Road, with the majority crossing at mid-block locations often diagonally, rather than at the intersection, which often results in drivers having to slow or take some evasive action; e) Vehicles which exit the school driveway 30m north of Stevens Road and travel south often accelerate rapidly to reach the intersection quickly. 1.5 In addition to engineering staff reviewing the intersection, a new traffic count was performed on December 02, 2010 with an all-way stop and traffic signal warrant analysis undertaken. Stantec Consulting Ltd. was also retained to provide a traffic review of the intersections of Clarington Boulevard at both Stevens Road and Uptown Avenue to provide input to staff. Engineering staff also met with REPORT NO.: EGD-015-11 PAGE 5 representatives of Durham Regional Police to discuss the intersection related collisions which had occurred in 2010. 1.6 Traffic volumes on Stevens Road have increased within the last year with the opening of Wal-mart, located at the west end of Stevens Road at Green Road. Volumes are expected to continue to increase as other commercial businesses open and residential development occurs in the area. 1.7 Motor vehicle collisions at the intersection of Clarington Boulevard and Stevens, Road were reviewed for identifiable trends or patterns. Sight distance at this intersection is good and not considered a factor in the collision history or identifiable as a safety concern. This intersection is relatively new and Wal-mart opened in 2010. Records showed no collisions in 2008, none in 2009 and three in 2010. The three in 2010 showed a consistent trend and were all right angled collisions under wet conditions with eastbound motorists stopping but failing to yield to northbound traffic. Two of the collisions occurred at the peak a.m. period 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., with the third occurring closer to noon. The three collisions were attributable to driver errors such as misjudging, wet weather conditions, variations in vehicular speeds, vehicular spacing or right-of-way. The east bound drivers were charged with failing to yield the right-of-way. 1.8 Based on the traffic count of December 2, 2010, a review of the intersection traffic controls was undertaken. The need for higher form of traffic control at the subject intersection was analyzed using the procedures contained in the Ontario Traffic Manual (OTM). This involves comparing the recorded traffic and pedestrian volumes, and collision history, with the OTM justification levels (or warrants) for either all-way stop control or signalization. The most recent count shows that neither all-way stop control nor signalization is warranted as both the minimum volume entering and minor street volume thresholds are not met. REPORT NO.: EGD-015-11 PAGE 6 Additionally, the OTM also advises that all-way stop control should not be used at an intersection where any other traffic device controlling right-of-way is permanently in place within 250m (with the exception of a YIELD sign). The stop control at Uptown Avenue is only 135m to the south.. 1.9 With either all-way stop control, or traffic signal control all approaches would operate at good levels of service. However, installing an all-way stop control at a multi-laned intersection can be very confusing for drivers as vehicles approach from one direction at varying times. Right-of-way is not always clear. 1.10 While neither all-way stop control nor traffic signals are warranted at this time, staff are mindful that the Brookhill area and the Smart Centre commercial development are rapidly expanding. It is anticipated that traffic signals will be warranted in the relatively near future. In response to public concern and the eventual need for signals, staff recommend the installation of traffic signals at this time. Due to the proximity of the unwarranted all-way stop control at Uptown Avenue, it is recommended by staff and the traffic consultant that the stop control on Clarington Blvd. at Uptown Avenue be removed. 1.11 The report has been reviewed with the Finance Department and they concur with the recommendations as they pertain to the reallocation of funds. 2.0 CONCLUSION 2.1 The future commercial and residential growth in the Brookhill area will significantly increase traffic at the intersection of Clarington Boulevard and Stevens Road with the expectation that it will require traffic signals in the near future. As the installation of an all-way stop at multi-lane approaches combined with high pedestrian volumes can cause confusion for motorists, it is recommended to install signalization at the intersection in 2011 which would include countdown pedestrian signals at an estimated cost of $200,000.00. This REPORT NO.: EGD-015-11 PAGE 7 project may be funded from the reallocation of funds from the Baseline Road/Spry Avenue Signalization Project, Bloor Street Sidewalks, Prestonvale Road Sidewalks, and Courtice Road Sidewalks. All works required for these projects have been completed and as such have no further funding commitments. 2.2 The unwarranted all-way stop at the intersection of Clarington Boulevard and Uptown Avenue is too close to the existing traffic signal at Durham Highway 2 and too close to the proposed traffic signal at Stevens Road. This all-way stop control should be removed at the same time the new traffic signal is activated in conjunction with public announcements regarding the date of implementation. Attachments: Attachment 1 - Key Map �'' (: ''� �"f' �`.. jar•! 2 � � _ � Secondary w e mz p 3 k e �" � 5 EXISTING WESTBOUND g, �. R g, w, ��x �� x A. oval k `% 1 E A EXISTING EA STBOUND STOP CONTROL ERA�ISED)MEDI"AN' g g ��pf{ 1 Em L O �LLjj�p p� U Stevens o -L Rd. Upt-�ownn) v`e_ H y No.2 I � 1 � DRAWN BY: E.L. DATE: March 8,2011 - REPORT EGD-015-11 BOWMANVILLE / _ KEY MAC ATTACHMENT NO. 1 / r� GAAttachmentsUarington Blvd StevensRd.mxd