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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPWD-003-23Clarftwn Staff Report If this information is required in an alternate accessible format, please contact the Accessibility Coordinator at 905-623-3379 ext. 2131. Report To: General Government Committee Date of Meeting: March 20, 2023 Report Number: PWD-003-23 Submitted By: Stephen Brake, Director of Public Works Reviewed By: Rob Maciver, Deputy CAO/Solicitor Resolution#: GG-076-23 File Number: By-law Number: Report Subject: Three-way Stop at Granville Drive and William Ingles Drive Recommendations: 1. That Report PWD-003-23 and any related delegations or communication items, be received; 2. That Council support the findings of this report by not approving the installation of an all -way stop at Granville Drive and William Ingles Drive; and 3. That all interested parties listed in Report PWD-003-23 and any delegations be advised of Council's decision. Municipality of Clarington Report PWD-003-23 Report Overview Page 2 At the November 23-24, 2020, Council Meeting, Resolution #C-463-20, as amended, was approved that directed staff to report back regarding the consideration for a three-way STOP (All -Way STOP) at the intersection of Granville Drive and William Ingles Drive in Courtice. The resolution was borne out of the delegation of Mr. Dave Bass citing concern regarding vehicle speeds and requesting that the intersection be made into an All -Way STOP controlled intersection and that Granville Drive have a speed reduction to 40km/h. Consequently, at a meeting held on July 5, 2021, Council approved Resolution #GG-426-21, reducing the posted speed on Granville Drive to 40 km/h. This report is a follow up on the requested All -Way STOP control, which comes delayed due to COVID-19 and related on- going changes in traffic patterns in the area. 1. Background 1.1 The delegation of Mr. Dave Bass received by Council in 2020 cited vehicle speeds on Granville Drive as a concern and the main reason for the request for All -Way STOP control at this intersection. In order to install such traffic control devices Provincial guidelines must be followed. These Provincial guidelines specifically prohibit the use of an All -Way STOP as a speed control device and dictate minimum traffic volume and traffic volume split criteria for an All -Way STOP. Adhering to these guidelines is critical in having an All -Way STOP operate safely and in meeting the expectations of all road users without compromising safety. All -Way STOP controls are intended to be used to assign the right of way at intersections, not as a speed control device. Inappropriate or unwarranted implementation and use this level of control can lead to drivers disobeying the STOP putting pedestrians and other motorists at risk, drivers speeding up to make up lost time, etc. 1.2 Granville Drive is a 2-lane urban local class roadway aligned north -south that experiences an annual average daily traffic (AADT) volume of approximately 1,200 vehicles. William Ingles Drive is a 2-lane urban local class roadway aligned east -west that experiences an AADT volume of approximately 200 vehicles. Both roadways were constructed in 2012 as part of the local subdivision. William Ingles Drive currently comes to a STOP condition at Granville Drive. 1.3 The Council approved Southeast Courtice Secondary Plan will see the future extension of Meadowglade Drive to Trulls Road. The plan will also see Granville Drive extended southwards to the future Townline Road extension. As Meadowglade Drive is a Type `C' arterial road per the Clarington Official Plan, it will have priority through movements with the expectation that Granville Drive will be subjected to a north/south STOP control. It is anticipated that vehicles currently utilizing Granville Drive to access Trulls Road via Yorkville Drive or Sandringham Drive will be redirected along the future Meadowglade Municipality of Clarington Report PWD-003-23 Page 3 Road extension as a direct access point thereby reducing vehicle volumes on Granville Drive. 2. All -Way STOP Analysis and Supporting Information 2.1 Based on the 2020 Council resolution, staff undertook the collection of traffic data and completed the analysis of the intersection by utilizing the province -wide All -Way STOP warrant. Unfortunately, due to the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, all studies were put on pause until later dates. The subsequently obtained turning movement counts yielded very low results when applied to the warrant: • The total intersection volume was at 55% of the required levels; • The minor street entering volume, which includes pedestrians crossing Granville Drive, was also very low at 20% of the required volume; • The split of traffic between Granville Dr and William Ingles Drive was at 9% for the minor street, where the minimum required level is 25%. Based solely on traffic volumes, the All -Way STOP warrant is not satisfied. 2.2 In addition, as noted in paragraph 1.3, the implementation of an additional STOP control, such as the one requested at William Ingles Drive, within very close proximity to a priority STOP control (approximately 100m) may lead to driver impatience and disregard for the secondary STOP control at William Ingles Drive, especially if intersecting volumes are low or not present. This has the potential to elicit problematic roll through movement behaviour or cause motorists to generally disregard the traffic control device as there is nothing to prompt a driver to come to a stop, assess approaching traffic, and yield the right of way. This has been seen to occur and be problematic elsewhere within the Municipality and DRPS has noted the problem also exists Region -wide. 2.3 Staff continued to monitor the location for speeds and traffic volumes on Granville Drive and found both to be consistently low. The speeds collected since 2020 correspond to the surrounding roadside environment and roadway design parameters and are in the following ranges: Average speeds o 38 km/h in December 2020 0 36 km/h in April 2021 0 42 km/h in March 2023 (after reduction of speed limit to 40 km/h) • 85t" percentile speeds o 46 km/h in December 2020 Municipality of Clarington Page 4 Report PWD-003-23 0 44 km/h in April 2021 0 49 km/h in March 2023 (after reduction of speed limit to 40 km/h) • Daily Average Traffic volumes on Granville Drive 0 1044 in December 2020 0 1042 in April 2021 0 1028 in March 2023 (after reduction of speed limit to 40 km/h) 2.4 The above results are significantly below the required thresholds to support an All -Way STOP installation. They are also below the levels which could justify any alternate engineering considerations. 3. Financial Considerations Not Applicable. 4. Concurrence Not Applicable. 5. Conclusion It is respectfully recommended that the intersection of Granville Drive and William Ingles Drive remain in its current configuration. Any unwarranted traffic control modifications may create false perceptions of safety for vehicles and pedestrians alike. Staff will continue to review local traffic patterns and monitor for changes. Future development in the area will also be closely monitored. Staff Contact: Slav Potrykus, Traffic Supervisor, 905-623-3379, extension 2315 or spotrykus@clarington.net. Attachments: Not Applicable Interested Parties: There are no interested parties to be notified of Council's decision.