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Home My WebLink AboutEGD-06-02 , ~ ~- ~ Cl!1!il1glOn REPORT ENGINEERING SERVICES DEPARTMENT Report #: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE Resolution #:(:jf+~Dlq-D;J. By-law #: f![)(X) -II MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 2002 ~1 EGD-06-02 File #: D.02.25.02 Meeting: Date: Subject: TRAFFIC ON BLOOR STREET, COURTICE ROAD TO SOLlNA ROAD, DARLINGTON Recommendations: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Report EGD-06-02 be received; 2. THAT, based on the recommendations of the Clarington Traffic Management Advisory Committee, Durham Regional Police and staff, that the request to lower the speed limit on Bloor Street between Courtice Road (Regional Road 34) and Solina Road from 80 km/hr to 60 km/hr be denied; 3. THAT the request for a hidden entrance sign east of 1915 Bloor Street be denied; 4. THAT staff periodically monitor the area for increases in vehicle speeds, volumes or collisions; 5. THAT Durham Regional Police be requested to consider providing periodic police enforcement as they feel necessary; and 6. THAT Bill Paterson be advised of Council's decision. 4~. / / C:~1 Submitted by: / . {~ A.S. Cannella, CET., Director of Engineering Services '" ReviewedbQ ~ ~~ Franklin Wu Chief Administrative Officer RDB*ASC*ce 729 .::.... REPORT NO.: EGD.06-02 PAGE 2 1.0 BACKGROUND On October 15, 2001, Bill Paterson appeared as a delegation and submitted a petition from residents of Bloor Street from Courtice Road to Solina Road, requesting a speed reduction from 80 km/hr to 60 km/hr and that a hidden entrance driveway sign be installed to wam motorists of unexpected hazards. This matter was referred to the Director of Engineering Services and to the Clarington Traffic Management Advisory Committee. 2.0 COMMENTS 2.1 Review by Clarington Traffic Management Advisory Committee The traffic and speed concern presented by Bill Paterson was first reviewed with members of the Clarington Traffic Management Advisory Committee at their meeting of November 15, 2001. At that time, members were encouraged to visit the Bloor Street location and surrounding areas and bring their comments to the December meeting. The meeting of December 20, 2001 included representation from Durham Regional Police, Staff and seven of the eight voting members from the public. During the initial discussions there were a wide range of comments but a consensus was reached. 2.2 Speed Zone Legislation The Highway Traffic Act stipulates that rural areas are 80 km/hr and urban areas are 50 km/hr. The Act also provides a Municipality with the authority to create other speed zones such as 70 km/hr or 60 km/hr with the passing of a By-law. The section of Bloor Street between Courtice Road (Regional Road 34) and Solina Road is not included in the speed schedules of Clarington Traffic By-law 91-58 because it is considered rural and assumed to be 80 km/hr for enforcement purposes by Durham Regional Police. 730 -- '- REPORT NO.: EGD-06-02 PAGE 3 2.3 Traffic Speed Studies Staff conducted two speed sample studies in the area, which showed the following average speeds: Date Aug 20, 2001 Nov 28, 2001 AveraQe Speed 74.2 km/hr 73.0 km/hr Vehicle Sample Size 36 52 2.4 Posting of Speed Signs The Municipality of Clarington, like many other road authorities, does not generally post its rural or concession roads at 80 km/hr for a number of reasons: . the speed limit of 80 km/hr is enforceable under the Highway Traffic Act without signs being posted. . some motorists feel uncomfortable on rural concession roads and drive at slower speeds and that by posting a sign stating 80 km/hr, it will only encourage the slower motorists to speed up to the posted speed limit. The Highway Traffic Act considers all rural roadways to be 80 km/hr but from an engineering perspective, the posted speed should be 20 km/hr below the design speed. The design speeds of many rural and concession roads in Ontario are not 100 km/hr. The design speed can vary widely from road section to road section based on a number of factors including: traffic volumes, number of property access points, surface width, surface type, shoulder width, grade changes, sight distances, weather conditions and other hazards. Drivers are provided positive guidance with supplementary warning signs such as curves and advisory speed tabs, but it is the driver's responsibility to operate their vehicle in such a manner that they have care and control based on their surroundings. 731 '= REPORT NO.: EGD-06-02 PAGE 4 Although the average speeds were considered reasonable. there appeared to be a wide variation in speeds. The operating speeds ranged from the low 60's to the mid 80's with the fastest motorist observed at 104 km/hr. A wide variation of vehicle speeds on any roadway makes it more difficult for motorists entering traffic. Lowering the posted speed to 70 km/hr or 60 km/hr in this rural setting would not increase safety as the actual operating speeds would not likely be reduced unless there was frequent enforcement. Enforcement is difficult to obtain with ongoing complaints from other areas and the existing Durham Regional Police staffing levels. There was discussion among committee members about posting 80 km/hr signs but that would only encourage the slower drivers to increase speed. It was resolved to leave the area as an unposted 80 km/hr zone as per the Highway Traffic Act. A speed reduction on Bloor Street could also prompt further speed reduction requests in other similar rural areas stretching the police resources even more. 2.5 Posting of Hidden Intersections or Driveway Signs There was also a concern about a number of dips in the roadway and requests for hidden driveway signs. Measurements from driveways and intersections along the roadway showed that the entrance points were not considered hidden at an operating speed of 80 km/hr. These warning signs should be used sparingly to ensure effectiveness by installing them only at locations where motorists travelling at the legal speed limit would encounter very short sight distances and have insufficient time to stop or avoid a collision. 732 ..: REPORT NO.: EGD-06-02 PAGE 5 2.6 Motor Vehicle Collision History for Bloor Street from Courtice Road to Solina Road: Nov 10. 1998 Motorist hit two deer, which ran directly in front of the vehicle causing her to lose control and drive into the ditch. None in 1999 October 31, 2000 A mechanical failure disconnected the trailer from a tractor-trailer unit causing it to lose control then colliding with a hydro pole. March 11, 2001 Slippery road conditions, vehicle slipped into ditch and turned onto its side. 2.7 Bloor Street Characteristics The homes on Bloor Street are in a rural setting, outside of the Courtice urban boundaries, with structures built well back of the travelled portion of the roadway. Although there are 19 homes spread out along this 1.7km road section, there is also a large amount of rural farmland or open space between Courtice Road and Solina Road. This road section is constructed to rural standards with open ditches and narrow shoulder width. Reconstruction of the roadway to proper urban standards would not occur until urban development expanded into the area. Future improvements to increase pavement width and elevation changes to remove the dips will improve safety, but may also bring about higher vehicle speed as motorists would perceive the roadway to be safer. 733 '- REPORT NO.: EGD-06-02 PAGE 6 2.8 Comparison Between Bloor Street and Hancock Road Hancock Road, just north of Bloor Street, is posted at 60 kmlhr and a comparison between the two locations was reviewed with the following results: Item Contructed As Regulatory Speed Road Classification Road Length Number of Homes Bloor Street rural standards 80 km/hr unposted Arterial 1.7 km 19 170m Consecutive Length of Residential Frontage Changes to Residential Environment (Residential to Rural) 9 Hancock Road rural standards 60 km/hr posted local 1.6 km 27 770m o Hancock Road has a more consistent residential setting than Bloor Street which is more rural. More homes are placed consecutively on Hancock Road, giving a more residential setting to support the existing 60km/hr speed zone posting. The roadside environment on Bloor Street changes nine times between residential and rural, which does not provide a consistent residential setting. 3.0 CONCLUSION The physical characteristics of Bloor Street, roadside environment, density of homes, sight distances, collision history and average operating speeds, combined with observations of the Clarington Traffic Management Advisory Committee members, did not indicate that a serious problem existed to justify a speed reduction at this time. Attachments: Attachment 1 - Key Map Attachment 2 - Petition Presented to Council on October 15,2001 734 .~ REPORT NO.: EGD-06-02 PAGE 7 Interested parties to be advised of Council's decision: Mr. B. Paterson 1909 Bloor Street East Bowmanville, Ontario L 1 C 8S1 Durham Regional Police Constable Keith Richards 77 Centre Street North Oshawa, ON L 1G 4B7 CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON 40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L 1 C 3A6 T (905) 623.3379 F (905) 623-9282 735 ~- rr====~ ~ l/ . ------I l . JffiEHB r- I J _/ II It 1/ " ., " " " " Ii Ii II SUBJ SITE J ~ =---n-- , -----, ~ghw.- 'r~~~ f--- ~~ "0 I 0::1 "" u o u c. m J: , , , --1 I I .----( i ___J , , -----1 ---I I 'J I "0 0:: Q) u 1:: ::l o () I[ J I ; -'----' iE I BloorSI ~I! ~'I ~Jl ~ '" . " " o , #1682 I #1882 (22) \ (26) , _..I~_.__. II , II" ,I I =l r:::::' , !lllg I I I I I 1___________ ---------- I_LLL--.I l::::=:::--~____________ ---------- ~ ~n---, r-r- " l.J " 1 I I 1 LEGEND #1862 . Municipal house number II 1-- , I 1 J "0 0:: m .!: o rJl (22) - Distance in metres from house to road allowance II Ii ~- #1776 (18) L~ LJIT" '177' (17) ...... -.-- 'I _~I-I #17~ .,788 (20Z~I(.20) \ L' , . 4[-----,----r-\-r-i~ 11B53~ 7~"., \ ! . / \ \ J' ~ (32) X/ _ (23) I I~, '1H5 1787 fld21~'-135 '1849: I \ ) \ ")1(14)(9)~28)1I18.i#166Sl'189511!K!1'1SlO9 (13)/ (18) (21) ~_ (23) -~ / I ILJ !II_' 1RUtTOl ~~, ;11 ~ "II I! _...I BloorSt - ~ '" I -. Jl{ W~e 8 -~ - ~~= _l_J:."","'RJI ~~~~d~:= !ICI~,EY DRAWN BY: J.RM DATE: .i!\N._2002~j, I REPORT EGO.....'. ....~I I ATTACHMENT NO. 1 ~ B..'. ._._ j- " I MAP Ii 736 ... -'615&26 ~M 4:02:59 To: C1arington Municipal Council. Due to a lack of any posted 3F1ilID LlliRT in ll~OJ l"'''''~~dt)dl aJ.~ .wQ ~Wie OllIUUlerous yehicles trayeling at very excessive speeds. we the undersigned residents on BLOOR STREET between SOLIN A RD. and COURTICE RD. do hereby request that: :.1.:<;; f'f'\'I1:H.JTIQ ,. c..... !.:..~..... ,-:.'.".-., ,; ORfClMt. i" . A: A Speed Limit of 60 K.P.H. be established and posted .' "'__._. 1 COPIES T0, .-' r 1- B: A' HIDDEN ENTRANCES'sign be erected on the Nonh side well East of the driveymy _ at #1915 Bloor SUo be an efIective wamingofthese HAZARDS (refer to Ron Baker'sou-site .~..= 17- observauons Aug. 2001 ;:.~~... ..': ~L h7">f.:~' :.'- #/ _4~ . ---- :JCK. ay ...... ~ -* 141< 1.,<;/ 5 () L) /J A- f'.-'!:J /0 NAME l3v2i) / p' PHONE I 90 J- 436 ->>~ ;:7 737 y. '~JI,I ATTACHMENT NO.: 2 REPORT NO.: EGD'()6'()2