Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutEGD-01-04 . Cl~-mgron REPORT ENGINEERING SERVICES DEPARTMENT Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE '105 Report #: EGD-01-04 File#: Resolution #: ('~Ct-ol() -o'f By-law #: Date: MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2004 Subject: TRAFFIC WATCH PROGRAM - STATUS REPORT Recommendations: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Report EGD-01-04 be received for information. . I} Submitted by: dffa?1."'J...~ / Anthony Cannella, C.E.T. Director of Engineering Services Reviewed b~ ~ ~- Franklin Wu Chief Administrative Officer ASC/RDB/jw December 10, 2003 /01 REPORT NO.: EGD-01-04 PAGE 2 1.0 BACKGROUND 1.1 At a meeting held on December 9, 2002, the Council of the Municipality of Clarington approved recommendation #GPA-482-02 providing that Staff pursue the development of a Radar Message Board Educational Program in cooperation with Durham Regional Police, Road Watch Committee, and the Clarington Traffic Management Advisory Committee and that funds be provided in the 2003 current budget. Funding was approved, a program was developed, a qualified person was hired and the program began to operate on May 6, 2003. 1.2 The new program developed and implemented in 2003 is referred to as "Traffic Watch" which compliments and builds upon the successful Road Watch Program, established in 1999. The existing Road Watch program provides a venue for the public to record the licence plate numbers of aggressive drivers and report them through the program to Durham Regional Police. The reported incidents of aggressive driving prompts action from Durham Regional Police, with the first complaint generating a letter, the second complaint generating a stronger letter plus a phone call, and the third complaint generating a stronger letter plus a visit. The basis of the new Traffic Watch Program was to use the existing Radar Message Board and hire a person to operate it in areas of frequent speed complaints. The individual would record licence plate numbers of offenders and report them through the Road Watch Program. The municipality was fortunate to be able to hire a well qualified individual who was a retired police officer. This provided both knowledge of radar equipment and public relations. 1.3 The purpose of the Traffic Watch program is to: respond to residents speeding concerns by visiting the area with the Radar Message Board. This provides a visual presence and an opportunity for residents to visually see the displayed operating speeds of vehicles and ask questions In" , , ut. REPORT NO.: EGD-01-04 PAGE 3 provide licence plate numbers and actual operating speeds through "Road Watch" report forms to generate letters to the offending drivers provide data to staff to determine if speeding is an actual or perceived problem provide police with confirmation of where they should direct resources serve as a visual deterrent to all drivers especially those who are operating above the posted speed limit provide a traffic management tool to assist staff, the Clarington Traffic Management Advisory Committee and the public 1.4 The Traffic Watch Program has proven very successful during 2003 with many residents pleased that their areas have been selected as part of the speed monitoring area. Some residents have been surprised to discover that traffic was not operating as fast as they original thought. Other residents now feel validated that their speeding concerns have been confirmed and that the Traffic Watch Program has returned to the area a number of times in conjunction with periodic radar enforcement by Durham Regional Police. 1.5 The program has proven so successful that a meeting was held on November 25 with staff, Durham Regional Police and the Road Watch Committee to review methods of streamlining the system to ensure that sufficient man power exists to produce the number of letters being generated by the Traffic Watch Program in a timely fashion. The average number of Road Watch complaints per month has increased from approximately 40 to 200. Staff and other stakeholders are pleased with the overall performance and accuracy of the Traffic Watch Program. The program has received support from Durham Regional Police, Road Watch Committee, Clarington Traffic Management Advisory Committee and the public. Engineering Services strongly supports the continuation of this program and will be submitting it for consideration during the 2004 Current Budget Review Process. i r,-:' / 'J) REPORT NO.: EGD-01-04 PAGE 4 Attachments: Attachment #1 - Letter of support from Road Watch Committee Dated Nov 2, 2003 Ii' :,) ~ ATTACHMENT NO.: 1 REPORT NO.: EGD-01-04 iLL ROAD WATCtr Clarington Road Watch 40 Temperance Street, Bowmanvllle, ON L1C 3A6 Phone: (905) 623-3379 Nov. 2 /03 Tony Cannella Director of Engineering Services Municipality of Clarington Tony, On behalf of the Municipality ofClarington Road Watch Committee, I would like to thank you and members of council for steps taken in hiring Dennis Rudman to operate the Radar Message Board. Through increased visibility of the radar message board, we are raising public awareness of the Road Watch program and the speeding concerns of the community. More importantly, it also acts as a visual deterrent to those who are always in a hurry. For Road Watch. it has meant an increase of mailings (an average of 200 per month) to citizens of the community. This translates to more than 200 people a month becoming aware of the Road Watch community based program through reported first offence letters. Over the past 2 years, we have had an average of one-second offence letter per year. Since the inception of Road Watch in 1999, we have yet to send out a third offence letter. With results like these, recipients of the offence letters are obviously checking their driving habits. Councils support for community-based programs of this nature is important to the community. All would appreciate continued usage of the Radar Message Board in this manner. Thank-you ~~~# R . Radcliffe . Chair of the Municipality ofClarington Road Watch Committee. /i) MUN!C!P.AUTY OF \..J/a ring ton - ONTARIO TIle Cl8llnglDn _y Commun_ COmml_ ~ "'"=..... A_ofltle 0nIIIr/0 HeaI/llyC_ CoalItion