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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWD-58-98 THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON REPORT Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE File Date: NOVEMBER 16, 1998 Report No.: WD-58-98 By-Law# Subject: REQUESTS FOR TRAFFIC SIGNALS Recommendations: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Report WD-58-98 be received for information; and 2. THAT Olive Simpson and Evylin Stroud be advised of Council's decision. REPORT 1.0 ATTACHMENTS No 1: Key Maps for Courtice(l A) and Bowmanville(113) No 2: Correspondence dated August 21, 1998 from Olive Simpson No 3: Correspondence dated August 24, 1998 from Evylin Stroud No 4: Preliminary correspondence sent to Evylin Stroud, dated September 2, 1998 (prior to September 14, 1998 Council Meeting) No 5: Correspondence from Region of Durham dated October 5, 1998, results of signal studies . III REPORT NO.: WD-58-98 PAGE 2 2.0 BACKGROUND 2.1 At a meeting held on September 14, 1998, the Council of the Municipality of Clarington passed the following resolution: "THAT the correspondence dated August 21, 1998 from Olive Simpson requesting the installation of traffic lights at the intersection of Highway #2 and Roenigk Drive be received; THAT the correspondence be referred to the Director of Public Works for review and preparation of a report to be submitted to the General Purpose and Administration Committee; and THAT Olive Simpson be advised of Council's decision." 2.2 A letter dated August 24, 1998 was received from Evylin Stroud also requesting consideration of traffic signals at the intersection of Roenigk Drive and Highway#2. 3.0 REVIEW AND COMMENT 3.1 The Region of Durham, which maintains the Municipality's traffic signal system, was requested to study a total of three intersections where traffic signals were being requested. The warrant criterion, as established by the Ministry of Transportation, is based on overall volume of traffic, delay to side street traffic, vehicles and pedestrians crossing the streets, intersection geometry, intersection spacing and the collision experience over a three year period. The installation of non-warranted signals can increase delay to all traffic movements, including those the signal was intended to benefit. 3.2 Roenigk Drive and King Street(Highway No. 2)Bowmanville Study results from the Region of Durham show that the warrant values are not met for this intersection. Only one collision out of seven was applicable to the warrant calculation and REPORT NO.: WD-58-98 PAGE 3 the remaining six collisions would not have been prevented by the presence of a traffic control signal. There is a concern that, due to the proximity of the signal at Scugog Street, any future signal at Roenigk Drive may cause traffic to queue back to the east intersection during peak conditions, resulting in increased congestion in the downtown core. It was determined that the railway bridge to the west of the intersection does not pose a visibility problem based on a 60 km/hr operating speed(posted at 50 km/hr). Based on this information, staff is not recommending any changes to the intersection at the present time,but suggests that an additional study be performed again in two or three years. The residential development to the south is complete and staff would not anticipate any substantial increase in pedestrian crossings or northbound Roenigk Drive traffic wishing to turn left. The existing wide painted median on the west leg of the intersection is adequate to assist the small number of pedestrians crossing King street to the Go-Bus stop by providing a refuge area until they can cross the second half of the roadway. 3.3 Ontario Street and King Street(Hwy#2)Bowmanville This intersection is well below the minimum criteria for volume and delay to traffic. Accident records only show one accident in three years, which does not indicate an existing problem at this intersection. Sight lines are adequate. 3.4 Nash Road and Trulls Road,Courtice Although the intersection volume is high through this all-way stop intersection, the side street delay does not meet the minimum criteria to satisfy the signal warrant. A number of minor collisions have been recorded at this intersection but would not impact on the combination warrant. 4.0 CONCLUSION 4.1 From the above, it is concluded that traffic signals not be recommended at any of the three reviewed intersections. REPORT NO.: WD-58-98 PAGE 4 Respectfully submitted, Reviewed by, Stephen A. Vokes,P. Eng., rie Marano,H.B.Sc., A.M.C.T., Director of Public Works Acting Chief Administrative Officer RDB/SAV/ce 06/11/98 Pc: Olive Simpson 45 McCrimmon Crescent Bowmanville, ON L1 C 4N3 Evylin Stroud 89 Little Avenue Bowmanville, ON L1C U9 i M O W C O O >, O O O O O I— N -O U_ (U C O O O INS Nash Road jj�L �FtE B�Ck I— Highway No. 2 CREEk D o Q ortt ,e � d 0 otraffic signal study location j ioX It o r o J� U (—� ash d F aHI9 Y DRAWN BY:IR.M DATE:NOV. 1998 0 ��a O REPORT WD-58-98 KEY MAP ATTACHMENT NO. 1A �Q C1 a� a� rn King Street 0, U) qj LO �c a R0 eri�9k 0 o c tD rn N 0 U) a o le U ect o 4 O traffic signal study location a7 9 U N - & O D�QC a o DRAWN BY:J.WM --][DATE:NOV. 1998 E L—--7%**ft l WD-58-98 71 KEY MAP ATTACHMENT NO. 1 B 1122 45 McCRIMMON CRESCENT BOWMANVILLE, ON „u Z1 i2 46 PM =9$ L1C 4N3 A i7'E MUtNCIPAUTY OF t�irw i irk August 21, 1998 1i'l CLARM13TON Discuss Witty RECEIVED Please Answer AU6 2 5 1998 Note&Return to me Mayor&Members of Council 1.0sgO Invest!gate&Report c/o. Ms. Patti L. Barrie PUULIC WORKS Take Appropriate Action Municipal Clerk DEPT. IFite Corporation of the Municipality of Clarington 40 Temperance Street BOWMANVILLE, On L1C 3K6 Re: Traffic Lights—Hwy#2 &Roenick Drive I request that the Mayor and Members of Council consider the possibility of having traffic lights installed at the intersection of Highway#2 and Roenick Drive, Bowmanville. My family and I have lived in the Waverley Gardens area for 26 years and have discovered that over the years the traffic has increased dramatically in that time. It is extremely difficult to make a left turn onto Highway#2 from Roenick Drive at almost any time of the day but particularly during rush hour. When returning home from downtown Bowmanville it can sometime be quite dangerous trying to turn into Roenick from the highway. As a pedestrian it is very nerve-wracking trying to cross the road to walk either up the hill to Waverley Road or walk up the pathway to Old King Street West as traffic can be coming at you from all sides. I hope that you will please consider putting this proposition to the appropriate authorities before a very serious accident occurs. -°"°"'°"�”"" ""-`�' Thank you. Y , ACS. BY Yours truly, tJR1uiNAL Olive Simpson i ATTAWI T ' 23 -FWD-58-98 MS EVYLIN STROUO 89 LITTLE AVENUE BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO LIC 1 J9 (905) 623-6149 August 24 , 1998 Stephen A . V o kes A I.- � `1? "�t .t r "OF -A F-Yy-,,,,---r.— �O Director of Public Works •M-.-�,:,<.a��? Municipality of Clarington _ - "-` f-'[t; ltr'_D [tscvssWith 40 Temperance 5t . A savor Bowmanvi l le , Ontario AUG 2 5 o,' 1998 tv'''&Peturn to , j L1C 3A6 Im�;st�,:atc�F;e!ort f Dear Steve; Pl 'l.l ;,�� � r"'- Fil I hope you are enjoying your break from Council and CPA meetings and that you were able to have some vacation time at the cottage with your family . I have two concerns that I would like to bring to your attention . With all the new commercial development at the west end of town, the increased traffic from that direction will come as no surprise to anyone . I live in the Waverly. subdivision . For a couple of years now the other residents on my street have tried to persuade me to go to Council to ask for a traffic light at Roegnick and Hwy #2 because of the trouble they have sometimes in turning left . I have refused to do so ( which did not exactly make me Ms popularity ) because I feel we already have enough unnecessary traffic lights in town . These lights generate idling which contributes to our air pollution and the greenhouse effect on our ozone level . I have resisted the installation of this particular traffic light -- even though I have been personally inconvenienced -- and sometimes late for work , while I wait to make a left turn onto Hwy #2 . I was willing to make the small sacrifice to avoid unnecessary pollution of our atmosphere . However , others are not willing to make that sacrifice and I 'm afraid that with the increased traffic we will probably meet the warrant for a light at Roegnick in the near future . When that happens , I wanted to be assured that the light could have a sensor in the pavement that caused it to be activated when people needed to turn left . There are a few hours in some days that a light for turning left might be needed . But there are many more hours where a light is not necessary and I want to avoid lowering our air quality any further . Can you assure me that the traffic light would be installed to be activated by cars in a left turn lane? My second concern involves the grassland on either side of Roegnick between Waverly Rd . and Hwy #2 . I had always thought that a private contractor had cut that grass but more recently I have seen town vehicles and staff taking care of it . Unfortunately , however , I wish they wouldn 't cut the grass because it. always looks worse after they have finished . This is because , instead of dDWNPNO.:•3 L A REPORT NO.: WD-58-98 2 the garbage that some slobs leave behind before they cut the grass , they just mow over it and spread it around. I realize that town staff should not have to pick up after our citizens that are too lazy to do so themselves . However , there are always at least 2 or more staff that come in the trucks to cut the grass . If each of them took a garbage bag and spent 10 minutes , the garbage could be easily picked up before the mowing . I would appreciate it if you could give my suggestion serious consideration. Thank you . Sincerely , Evylin Stroud MUNICIPALITY OF �arington ONTARIO September 2, 1998 Ms Evylin Stroud 89 Little Avenue Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 1J9 Dear Ms. Stroud: Thank you for your letter of August 24, received the same day as another request dated August 21 from Olive Simpson, suggesting traffic signals at the intersection of Roenigk Drive and King Street Bowmanville. This location was reviewed a few years ago but as noted in both letters recent commercial and residential development justifies another look at the situation. The Region of Durham maintains the Municipality's traffic signal system and I have requested them to undertake a traffic signal warrant study at this location when the count program begins near the end of September. Your suggestion of a loop sensor for the left hand turning movement to activate the lights and prevent unnecessary traffic delays and idling is a good point. The installation of an exclusive left hand turn lane would require widening of Roenigk Drive near the intersection. In addition to the traffic and pedestrian volumes to determined if traffic signals are warranted, it must also be determined if signals could function effectively at this location. This location is affected by the proximity of signals at Scugog Street and the railway overpass to the west. You will be advised of the results of the intersection review when it is completed. Your second concern involved the grassland near Roenigk Drive. The contractor is responsible for picking up garbage prior to cutting the grass on both sides of Roenigk Drive, except for the guide posts on the east side. Municipal staff were trimming the guide rails and attention to picking up the garbage should have been made. Thank you for bringing this to the Municipality's attention. Sincerely Ronald D. Baker Traffic Co-ordinator pc Steven Vokes, Director of Public Works Don Patterson, Manager of Operations Grant Ashton, operations technician Olive Simpson F'j- r CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON TTACHMENTNO.• 40 TEMPERANCE STREET • BOWMANVILLE •ONTARIQ • L1C 3A6 • (905) 623-3379 - FAX 23-416 ICVCLFnP- I �) REPORT NO.: WD-58-98 October 5, 1998 Mr.Ron Baker,Traffic Co-ordinator ' The Regional Municipality of Clarington• Municipality of Durham Public Works Department .works 40 Temperance.Street Department Bowmanville Ontario Box 623 L1C 3A6 105 Consumers Dr. Whitby; Ontario , Canada L1 N 6A3 Dear Mr.-Baker: (905)668-7721 Fax:(905)668-2051 RE: Request for Signal Warrant Data and Suitability at V.A. Sissione P.Eng. Hi hwa 2 and Roeni Drive Commissioner. g Y gk of works Highway 2 and Ontario Street Please.quote.our ref: Nash Road and Trulls•Road Please quote our ref. TRA-CZAR-SIG On August 27, 1998, we received a fax request for a traffic study to determine the need for a traffic control signal at the above noted locations, in the Municipality of Clarington: Further to our verbal response We.offer the following results/comments. As you.may know,road authorities must study a number of conditions prior to the installation of traffic control signals. The warrant criterion; as established by the Ministry of Transportation,is based on overall,volume of traffic, delay to side street traffic,vehicles and pedestri ans crossing Highway 2,intersection geometry,spacing . and.the collision experience over a three year period. Based on traffic data collected between September 15 and September 17, 1998, our record shows the minimum warrant criteria for a traffic control signal was not satisfied at the subject intersections. Warrant values are as follows, Warrant Sections 1 2 3 4 Traffic Side St. Accidents CombinationWarranted Volume Delay Warrant Highway 2 at Roenigak Drive Value % 80 65 0 0 NO Highway 2 at Ontario Street Value % 32 31 0* 0* NO* Nash Road at'Trulls Road Value % 91 55 0* 0* NO* *values are unconfirmed due to the unavailability of Clarington accident reports at time of study ATTACHMENT240.:. 5 i l REPORT NO.: WD-58-98 100%Post Consumer -2 - Observations Highway 2 at Roenigk.Drive . Only`one collision out of the seven.collision records submitted were potentially. applicable to the Warrant 3 calculation. The remaining records concluded the installation of traffic control signals would not have improved the intersection to prevent the occurrence of the collisions. Due to the proximity of the intersection, the installation of a traffic control signal may cause traffic to queue back to the easterly adjacent intersection during peak conditions. This will result in an increase of congestion through the downtown core. Sight lines are adequate and the railway bridge to the west does not pose a visibility problem based on a 60 km/h operating speed. ' Highway2 at Ontario Street Volume and delay values would have to increase substantially to fulfill the minimum criteria for a traffic control signal. Accident statistics should be reviewed by Clarington staff to determine if any are applicable to the warrant 3 calculation(accident frequency). Sight lines should also be reviewed by Clarington staff for inadequacies. Nash Road at Trulls Road Though the intersection volume is high the side street delay does not meet the minimum. criteria required to satisfy the sign:al warrant. Accident statistics.should be reviewed by Clarington staff to determine if any are applicable to the warrant 3 calculation(accident frequency). Sight lines and left turn lane lengths should also be reviewed by Clarington staff for inadequacies. The need and justification for a traffic control signal is not based on projected needs or convenience to the motoring public. They are intended to control and alternate the right- 7 of-way between conflicting movements with maximum efficiency. Non-warranted signals can increase delay to all movements,including those the signal was intended to benefit. They also increase driver frustration and violation.of traffic laws. .I trust that this information is satisfactory. Yours truly, D:Dankmeyer . Senior Traffic Engineering Analyst /dd cc: B. Szwarz G. Borchuk