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Home My WebLink About2004-03-18 Minutes WAPR13 AN MINUTES COUNCIL INFORMATION I-2 Clarington Traffic Management Advisory Committee Thursday,March 18, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. Location: Committee Room 1C Access via Library, 163 Church Street Bowmanville Library 40 Temperance Street, Bowmanville Present Andrew Kozak, Gord Lee, Clayton Morgan, Brendon Nightinga eC, (Voting Dave Rickard, Glenn Wallis, David Duffie. a,PM3 Members) V�.nyfc9e....aa....m.eyp..+{�� COPIES fl4.•� Present Ron Baker, Tony Cannella, Stuart McAllister,Don MacArthur, (Non-Voting Keith Richards. Q G Members) ° Regrets: Dirk Zinner, Ross Libbey, Leslie Benson ; vf4 imG Absent: Glenda Baker, Wayne Godwin, Teresa Williams Secretary: Jenny Bilenduke 1) Minutes of previous meeting (February 19, 2004) Moved by Andrew Kozak; Seconded by Gord Lee that the minutes of the meeting of February 19, 2004 be approved without changes. CARRIED 2) Items for information a) Road Watch/Traffic Watch update Ron Radcliffe advised that there were no reports available for this meeting. b) Highway 407 update Ross Libbey was not in attendance at the March 18, 2004 CTMAC meeting. Tony Cannella advised the members that he will speak,with Leslie Benson and if she has information of any significance to share with the group it will be made available prior to the next meeting. Clayton advised the members that there was an informative article discussing the potential impacts of the 407 in the GTA section of the Toronto Star on March 18, 2004. Page 2 of 5 CTMAC Minutes Thursday, March 18, 2004 C) Bowmanville Community Improvement Plan update Brendon Nightingale attended a committee briefing this week and learned that the logo and name for the BIA has been changed to the HDB (Historic Downtown Bowmanville). The members went on to review the proposed streetscape plan for downtown Bowmanville and learned that Totten Sims Hubicki will be overseeing the project which will be completed in stages. Replacement of lighting and some landscaping will begin this summer. d) Other information Newcastle Public School traffic concerns Ron Baker reported that he, By-Law Enforcement Staff, Constable Keith Richards, along with Councillor Gord Robinson met with the Principal of the Newcastle Public School, its School Council and School Board Trustee on March 2, 2004 to discuss traffic concerns in the area. Prior to this meeting Ron obtained new traffic counts around the school and noted that there are approximately 200 cars taking children to and from school each day. While volume is definitely a concern, speeds in the area are well below the legal speed limits due to congestion. As a result of the meeting the following solutions were proposed: • A "Kiss `n Go"program will be introduced on school property whereby parents can pull their vehicle up to a designated area and volunteers will assist the children into the school. This will eliminate much of the congestion that results from parents who must park their car to take younger children safely into the building. • Pavement markings and various signs will be placed in designated areas to provide positive vehicular and pedestrian guidance. • The crossing guard at Edward Street and Beaver Street will be re- located to Edward Street and Glass Court to accommodate new pedestrian activity generated from new development north of Glass Court. • A report will be taken to the General Purpose and Administration Committee on March 29, 2004 recommending that an All-way Stop be installed at the intersection of Glass Court and Bridges Drive along with the other recommendations. Ron explained that there is no ideal solution to the traffic problems around the school because the school location at the end of a court is less than ideal. However, By-Law will enforce the new rules with the support of the Durham Regional Police. Page 3 of 5 CTMAC Minutes Thursday, March 18, 2004 Several people raised the question about whether it might be possible to connect Glass Court and Beaver Street on the south side of the school so that vehicles do not have to travel back in the direction from which they came. Tony felt that although the school board has considered this idea before it would be worthwhile the Municipality discussing this with them as a possibility again. In the meantime the proposed changes as outlined above will proceed as agreed. Roenigk Intersection Project Tony displayed a copy of a design drawing for the Roenigk intersection signalization project and agreed to make a copy of this drawing available to the members at the next meeting. Tony advised that Council will award the contract on Monday and the physical road works in the field are expected to start sometime in May 2004, dependant on weather conditions. King Street E. —Bowmanville Mall Access Tony advised the members that a public information centre was hosted recently to gather input about possible construction and signalization of a new entrance to the Bowmanville Mall from King Street East and the possible alteration of the westerly entrance to the Mall from King Street East and other improvements. Important input and comments were provided by members of the public including the accessibility committee who cautioned us to think about where the crossing will place people once they travel from the north side of King St. to the south side. If lights are placed directly in front of the Strathaven Nursing Home, pedestrians crossing north to south, would be in potential conflict with vehicular movements within the parking lot. It may be very difficult for a person with a mobility impairment to navigate through the parking lot to reach the entrance to the mall. Tony talked about how important it is to go beyond the traffic manuals when designing the signalization of an intersection because in each case the design must consider the unique needs of those who will use it most frequently. People traveling by car to visit family members in Strathaven may in some cases have special needs that require special consideration in terms of traffic light timing. Also, the walking public, who are residents of Strathaven, may require longer perception and reaction times than might otherwise be the case. Page 4 of 5 CTMAC Minutes Thursday, March 18, 2004 There was a brief discussion of the concept of traffic islands and the refuge they are able to provide to someone who may be unable to cross all lanes of traffic at one time. Tony also talked about countdown signals and traffic calming and the significance of all the improvements proposed in the area as being a total transportation solution. Tony explained that the proposed improvements are integral to the OPA and zoning issues that have been referred to the OMB. Discussion on them is continuing with the stakeholders. 3) Agenda items for discussion a) Hampton Citizen Group The members were provided with a copy of a letter dated December 17, 2004 in which Engineering Services responded to a letter from the Hampton Citizens Association. The letter Engineering sent as a response was made available because it provided a good opportunity for learning. The letter clearly explained the reasoning behind Community Safety Zones, all-way stops, parking, sightlines, speed concerns and Road Watch. The letter also outlined proposed traffic improvements for 2004/05. Ron Baker informed the group that he spoke to one of the residents after they received the letter and that so far no further concerns have been expressed. David Duffie advised that he visited the area to look at the issues outlined and had some questions about sightlines, line paint colours, parking and stop signs. Ron explained that there will be changes made in the spring, in the area of the liquor store but that we need to wait until the weather improves. Stu McAllister advised the group that yellow road lines are used to separate traffic that is traveling in opposing directions. A number of members familiar with the location suggested the removal of the only parking space in front of the general store. b) Report EDG-05-04 Traffic By-law 91-58,Amendments to Convert Numerous Yield Signs to Stop Signs (report attached) The members reviewed report EGD-05-04 which has received Council approval to pass a by-law allowing the conversion of approximately 30 Yield Signs to Stop Signs. These changes were proposed as a means of improving public safety. Page 5 of 5 CTMAC Minutes Thursday, March 18, 2004 There were some questions raised about the recommendation that the Yield sign at Concession Road 7 in Tyrone remain as it is. Ron explained that in some situations, such as this one, momentum of the vehicle has an impact on safety and in this case it is safer if the vehicle does not move into the intersection from a dead stop. A suggestion was made that this intersection may be safer if some of the scrub and brush is removed on the west side of Liberty St., near the intersection. 4) New Business a) Farm Safety Awareness Event The Farm Safety Awareness Event has been scheduled for April 3, 2004 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is being hosted by the CAAC. This event will feature safety discussions related to slow moving vehicles. Anyone who would like further information about the event is free to contact Clayton Morgan. 5) Next Meeting date: April 15, 2004—7:00 p.m. Room 1C 6) Adjournment