HomeMy WebLinkAboutEGD-31-02
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REPORT
ENGINEERING SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Meeting:
EGD-31-02
1101
0.02.28.04
By-law #:
Date:
Report #:
File#:
Subject:
NASH ROAD EAST OF REGIONAL ROAD 34, COURTICE
SIDEWALK AND PEDESTRIAN CONCERNS
Recommendations:
It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee
recommend to Council the following:
1. THAT Report EGD-31-02 be received;
2. THAT sidewalks not be constructed on the south side of Nash Road east of
Courtice Road until this section of roadway is reconstructed to urban standards in
conjunction with future development or other roadworks; and
3. THAT Mrs. Hartman, the Clarington Traffic Management Committee, the Region
of Durham, and the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board be advised of
Council's decision.
Submitted by: ~
A.S. Cannella, C.E.T.
Director of Engineering Services
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Reviewed by: U - - vLSL-r..
Franklin Wu
Chief Administrative Officer
RDB/ASC*ce
28/05/02
115
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REPORT NO.: EGD-31-02
PAGE 2
1.0 BACKGROUND
1.1 At a meeting held on March 18, 2002, the Council of the Municipality of
Clarington considered Item D-33, which was a letter e-mailed March 5, 2002 from
Christine Hartman of 39 Moulton Court requesting modifications to improve
safety and reduce walking distance to school (Attachment 1), and referred the
matter to the Director of Engineering Services, the Clarington Traffic
Management Advisory Committee and the Regional Works Department.
2.0 REVIEW
2.1 Existing Conditions
An adult crossing guard has been located at Courtice Road and Moyse Drive
since September 1998 to assist children attending Courtice North Public School.
There is a sidewalk on the west side of Courtice Road from Durham Highway No.
2 up to Nash Road to provide a route for students to reach Courtice North Public
School. Nash Road, east of Courtice Road, is built to a rural standard, with an
open ditch, no sidewalks, narrow shoulders and local traffic volumes of under
1000 vehicles per day. Nash Road reconstruction is not in the 5 year Capital
Budget and Four Year Forecast.
2.2 Review of Existing Conditions
2.2.1 ReQion of Durham:
The Region of Durham reviewed the items which fall under their jurisdiction at the
regional intersection of Regional Road 34 (Courtice Road) and Nash Road and
have responded in writing to Mrs Hartman in a letter dated April 22, 2002
(Attachment 2). In summation, the collision rate is relatively low and traffic
volumes are too low to warrant the installation of traffic signals.
2.2.2 Municipality of ClarinQton:
The safety of younger children is provided for by the placement of the adult
crossing guard at Courtice Road and Moyse Drive which should be used by
students who do not qualify for school bus privileges. To provide a shortened
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REPORT NO.: EGD-31-02
PAGE 3
walking distance from 1.3 km down to .785 km, from 39 Moulton Court to
Courtice North Public School as requested by Mrs Hartman, a sidewalk would
need to be constructed on the east side of Courtice Road from Moyse Drive up to
Nash Road. The adult crossing guard with signs and markings would need to be
relocated from Moyse Drive to Nash Road. In order to accommodate the
construction of a sidewalk on Nash Road from Courtice Road easterly to the end
of the subdivision, the roadway must be reconstructed to urban standards at the
same time to address width and drainage concerns.
Volume of Traffic:
Staff reviewed Nash Road for vehicle speeds and volumes during the periods
when school children would be present and recorded the following results:
. April 12, 2002 - 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.; combined average speed of 63.3
km/hr, 72 cars, 6 buses, 1 truck=79 vehicles; 4 adults, 10 teens, 1
child=15 pedestrians
. April 12, 2002 - 2:45 p.m. - 3:35 p.m.; combined average speed of 60.8
km/hr, 75 cars, 7 buses, 1 truck=83 vehicles; 1 adult, 6 teens, 1 child= 8
pedestrians
The children recorded during the moming and afternoon survey were
accompanied by an adult. The existing combination of traffic volumes and level
of pedestrian activity do not appear to be a major safety issue. Although the
roadway is posted at 50 km/hr, an average operating speed of 60-63 km/hr is not
uncommon for a rural roadway with limited residential frontage. The speeds
recorded during the survey with use of a radar gun were less than the speed
estimates provided by Mrs. Hartman. The average speeds recorded during this
survey were not considered dangerous on this recently asphalted roadway. The
provision of sidewalks can not be feasibly considered for Nash Road until the
roadway is reconstructed to urban standards. The urbanization of Nash Road
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REPORT NO.: EGD-31-02
PAGE 4
will be driven by development proposed on the north side. When this
urbanization occurs, sidewalks would be constructed on both sides of Nash Road
east of Courtice Road. Until these sidewalks are constructed, parents and
elementary students currently have a safe route to school via the existing
sidewalk network and crossing guard located at Courtice Road and Moyse Drive.
2.2.4 Kawartha Pine Ridoe District School Board:
Roy Wierenga, Transportation Manager of the Kawartha Pine Ridge District
School Board, was forwarded a copy of the letter from Mrs. Hartman by
Engineering Services and asked to comment. The school policy is that students
in junior and senior kindergarten are required to walk up to 1 km while those in
Grades 1 through 8 must walk up to 1.6 km. On May 16, 2002 the Board
reviewed the location and agreed to contact Mrs Hartman to advise her that she
does qualify for school bus privileges until her child reaches Grade 1.
2.2.5 Clarinoton Traffic Manaoement Advisory Committee:
The Committee reviewed the information at its meeting on May 16, 2002. Since
the School Board had reviewed Mrs. Hartman's situation and determined that
she does qualify for bussing until her child reaches Grade 1, the matter is
resolved until that time. Until additional sidewalks can be constructed in the
future in conjunction with other roadworks, the existing safe walking route to
school should be used by students by crossing Courtice Road at Moyse Drive.
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Key Map
Attachment 2 - Correspondence from Christine Hartman
Attachment 3- Correspondence from Region of Durham dated April 22, 2002
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REPORT NO.: EGD-31-02
PAGE 5
Interested parties to be advised of Council's decision:
Clarington Traffic Management
Advisory Committee
Clayton Morgan, Chair
31 Parkway Crescent
Bowmanville, ON
L 1 C 1 B9
Kawartha Pine Ridge District School
Board
Roy Wierenga, Manager of
Transportation
1994 Fisher Drive, P.O. Box 719
Peterborough, ON
K9J 7A1
Christine Hartman
39 Mouton Court
Courtice, ON
L 1 E 2W4
Regional Municipality of Durham
Martin Petersons, Senior Traffic
Engineering Analyst
105 Consumers Drive, Box 623
Whitby, ON
L1N 6A3
CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON
40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L 1 C 3A6 T (905) 623-3379 F (905) 623-9282
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ATTACHMENT NO.: 2
REPORT NO.: EGD-31-02
Proposal Re: Traffic lights/Sidewalk
Submitted by Christine Hartman; 39 Moulton Crt. Courtice
Submission of a proposal for the erection of traffic lights at the corner of Nash Rd and Courtice Rd.
Also a request for the construction of sidewalks along Nash Rd. to the end of the existing subdivision.
There are several issues that need to be addressed with regards to these two matters.
1. The newly renovated Nash Rd. pavement is a grand sight, however this stretch of road has now become a
freeway. The previous speed limit of 50 km/hr (or less with potholes) has now become a minimum of
80km/hr for every vehicle from motorcycles to 5 tonne dump trucks from various landscaping companies.
2. There is currently no sidewalk on this stretch of Nash Rd., however there is extensive foot traffic coming
and going from the newly renovated Faith United Church, as well as the high school students. This poses a
safety issue for the pedestrians using this roadway.
3. The Northumberland District School Board has advised the parents of students at Courtice North Public
School that any Jr. Kindergarten students should have to walk no furtherthartl km to school. However, since
there is no sidewalk or lights at the intersection of Nash and Courtice Rd's, the children are forced to walk
through the subdivision to the crosswalk at the Counice Community Centre where there is a crossing guard,
back up to Nash Rd. and across to the school for a total of 1.38 km. If this is going to continue then perhaps
the school bus should be brought back to this subdivision.
4. The intersection at Nash and Courtice Rd's is also a traffic hazard as if a vehicle is crossing Courtice Rd. on
Nash going Eastbound, the vehicle needs to be in the middle of Courtice Rd to see traffic coming South on
Courtice Rd. This has resulted in many vehicle accidents as well as pedestrians being struck by cars. The
sound of screeching brakes is a daily occurrence at this intersection.
5. Not only would traffic lights at this intersection be a great safety solution it would also slow down the traffic
along these roadways. The volume of vehicle and foot traffic is immense after the high school lets out, and the
young drivers are squealing around the corners to impress one another.
These issues need to be addressed now, as waiting will result in possible injury. There should not have to be a
death to have something done about these problems as it did in the instance of the Counice and Bloor 5t
intersection. The problem will only become worse as more subdivisions are erected and the population
increases. If we solve these issues now OUf community will be a far more attractive option for future home and
business owners.
cc: Mayor John Mutton
Councilor Jane Rowe
Chief Admin. Officer- F. Wu
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D.Crome - Planning
F.Horvath- Operations
S.Vokes - Engineering
Clarington Traffic Management Advisory Committee
D. Malowney - Director: Kawartha Pineridge Public School Board
122
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The Regional
MunicIpality
of Durham
Works
Department
BOX 623
105 CONSUMERS DR.
WHITBY ON L1 N 6A3
CANADA
(905) 668-7721
Fax: (905) 668-2051
E-mail:
works@region.durham.on.ca
www.rwion.durham.~n.ca
J.R. McCorkell, P.Eng.
Commissioner
of Works
Please quote our ref:
"SERVICE exCELLENCE
fo~ o~, COMMUNITY"
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April 22, 2002
ATTACHMENT NO.: 3
REPORT NO.: EGD-31-02
Ms. Christine Hartman
39 Moulton Court
Courtice, Ontario
L 1 E 2W4
Dear Ms. Hartman
RE: REQUEST FOR TRAFFIC SIGNALS AT THE INTERSECTION OF
COURTICE ROAD (R.R. 34S) AND NASH ROAD AND
CONSTRUCTION OF SIDEWALK ALONG NASH ROAD EAST OF
COURTICE ROAD .
OUR FILE: TRA.RR34-8IG ' .
We are in receipt of your correspondence dated March 7, 2002. As the
intersection of Courtice R.oad and Nash Road is under Regional jurisdiction, the
Municipality of Clarington forwarded your request for traffic signals to us fo'r
comment. Your other concems with regard to sidewalks, designated school
crossing and busing are local issues and should be addressed by the
Municipality of Clarington.
In response to your enquiry, staff conducted an investigation of existing road
conditions, reviewed traffic volume counts, traffic signal requirements and the
intersection's collision history. Based on our review, the following information is
provided.
General
Courtice Road is classified as a minor arterial roadway. In the vicinity of Nash
Road, it is built to a two lane rural standard. Traffic volumes to the north and
south of Nash Road are approximately 4,500 and 6,900 vehicles per day
respectively. Nash Road is classified as a collector road under the jurisdiction
of the Municipa~ty of Clarington. West of Courtice Road, it is built to urban
standards complete with sidewalks, curb and gutter, carrying approximately
4,500 vehicles per day; however, east of Courtice Road, it is built to a rural
standard and the traffic volume drops substantially to approximately 1,000
vehicles per day. These traffic volumes are relatively low, well within capacity
for these roadways. As this area has been built out for the lasHen years, there
has been little growth in traffic volumes during our mos! recent counts.
Collision EXDerience
Since 1998, there have been six collisions reported at this intersection. Four of
these involved eastbound motorists failing to yield right-of-way to traffic along
Courtice Road. One involved a northbound driver,. following too close, rear
ending another vehicle stopped waiting to turn left onto Nash Road, and one
involved a school-aged child running out onto the road in front of a southbound
vehicle.' . ,
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Although the collisions occurring at this intersection are of concem to us, six collisions over a
three year period are not considered unusual for an arterial intersection through which close to
8,500 vehicles pass daily. It should be noted that the number of incidents reported over this
period represents a relatively low collision rate and is not atypical of other similar intersections
in the Region.
In your correspondence, you identified' two trees on the intersection's northwest corner as a
sight obstruction to eastbound motorists. Although we do acknowledge that these trees do
restrict visibility, they do not appear to be a contributing factor in the collisions occurring at this
intersection. .. .
Need for Traffic Sianals
The need for traffic control signals is determjned by guidelines and warrants established by the
Ministry. of Transportation of Ontario and endorsed by' Regional Council. Generally, these
guidelines provide that traffic control devices are used under the appropriate conditions,
otherwise they may create more hazardous conditions than which may currently exist. These
guidelines consider safe vehicle approach speeds, intersection configuration, collision history,
proximity of other'signals, street classification, vehicular and pedestrian volumes, side street
delay and driver visibility. .
Based on our findings, none of the minimum warrant criteria for traffic signals are satisfied at
this location. At. this time, due primarily to the relatively low traffic volumes along both Courtice
Road and Nash Road, this intersection only meets 69% of the traffic volume, and 47% of the
delay components of the minimum warrant requirements for the installation of traffic signals. .
Staff observations also identified that there are a number. of high school students crossing
Courtice Road at this intersection and randomly mid-block both to the north and south of Nash:
Road. When doing so, .they tend to take the most direct route, using the available gaps iQ
traffic along Courtice Road. Implementation of traffic signals would require these students to
wait for the walk cycle. Given the relatively low traffic volume along Courtice Road, most of
these students will consider this delay unacceptable and without extensive police enforcement
will not wait for the traffic signal to cycle continuing to cross at will. It is unlikely that these
crossings can be discouraged but until such time as sidewalks are provided along the east
side .of Courtice Road and along Nash Road east of Courtice Road, we do not want to
encourage additional crossings at this intersection by the installation of traffic signals.
It is a common misconception that traffic signals will make every intersection safer. Although
traffic control signals are effective in reducing broadside collisions, they usually increase rear- .
end type collisions. Due to the lower severity of the latter, it is considered an appropriate trade
. off.
. Also it is important to note, that the installation of a non-warranted traffic signal at this location
would increase delay to all traffic whether on Courtice Road or on Nash Road. Motorists
becOme aware. of unwarranted traffic controls, which leads to driver frustration, contempt for,
and non-compliance with the traffic signals, hence decreased overall safety. .
...3
124
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Traffic signals are ineffective as speed control devices and may actually have the opposite.
effect, as drivers attempt to beat the light or as they sub-consciously attempt to make up fOr
lost time after having had to wait for a red signal. Likewise the squealing of tires is likely to
increase, as motorists brake for, or accelerate away from, the signals.
Although our' answer is not supportive of your request, I trust the information provided'
addresses your concems and explains the methodology followed in establishing requiremen~
. for implementing traffic control signals. We share your interest in traffic safety and thank you
for expressing your concemsand bringing this matter to our attention.
Should you have any further questions, or require additional information, please feel free to'
contact me at 905-668-7721. Ext. 5333.
Yours truly,
d~
Martin Petersons
Senior Traffic Engineering Analyst
MDP/ps
cc: B. Szwarz, Manager, Traffic Engineering and Operations
R. Baker, Traffic Co-ordinator. Municipality of Clarin'gton
Ref.: C Hartman
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