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Home My WebLink AboutCS 30-11 Czrf 4 Report to Executive Committee PI KERIN Report Number: CS 30-11 Date: September 12, 2011 19 From: Everett Buntsma Director, Community Services Subject: Speed Limits By-law, Twyn Rivers Drive Community Safety Zones By-law, Twyn Rivers Drive Amendment to By-law 6604/05 - File: A-1440 Recommendation: 1. That Report CS 30-11 of the Director, Community Services regarding a proposed amendment to the municipal traffic by-law 6604/05 be received; 2. That the attached draft by-law be enacted to amend Schedule "9" to By-law 6604/05 to provide for the regulation of speed limits on highways or parts of highways under the jurisdiction of the Corporation of the City of Pickering; and 3. That the attached draft by-law be enacted to amend Schedule "14" to By-law 6604/05 to provide for the regulation of Community Safety Zones on highways or parts of highways under the jurisdiction of the Corporation of the City of Pickering. Executive Summary: In response to concerns brought to Engineering Services attention, staff investigated roadway safety and traffic operations, specifically with respect to vehicular speeding on Twyn Rivers Drive. Based on the investigation and input from the Durham Regional Police, staff propose the speed limit on Twyn Rivers Drive be changed from 50 km/h to 40 km/h from the west City Limit to Hoover Drive and that the Community Safety Zone be extended to improve the safety along this portion of roadway. Financial Implications: The acquisition and installation of speed limit and community safety zone signs can be accommodated within the Roads Current budget. SustainAbility Implications: The concerns as presented and the recommendations, as generated by staff, address traffic safety issues within the Corporate Healthy society objectives. Report CS 30-11 September 12, 2011 Subject: Speed Limits By-law, Twyn Rivers Drive Page 2 20 Community Safety Zones By-law, Twyn Rivers Drive Background: In early October 2010, concerns were brought to Engineering Services staff attention regarding roadway safety and traffic operations, specifically with respect to vehicular speeding on Twyn Rivers Drive from the west city limit eastbound towards Ashwood Gate. Tywn Rivers Drive is an Arterial Type C roadway with a posted speed limit of 50 km/h from the west city limit to Hoover Drive and 40 km/h from Hoover Drive to Altona Road adjacent to St. Monica Catholic School. There is a downward slope on Tywn Rivers Drive when travelling westbound from Ashwood Gate towards the west city limit and into the Rouge Valley. Twyn Rivers Drive is also designated as a community safety zone adjacent to St. Monica Catholic School from Hoover Drive to Altona Road. In response to concerns raised, Engineering Services staff completed a traffic study from October 18, 2010 to October 22, 2010. Traffic volumes and speed data on Twyn Rivers Drive west of Ashwood Gate were collected during the course of the traffic study. The study found the average speed of vehicles on this section of Twyn Rivers Drive was approximately 51 km/h with an 85th percentile speed (the maximum speed at which 85% or the bulk of the traffic travels at) of 57 km/h. The traffic study also indicated that there were approximately 5500 vehicles using Twyn Rivers Drive daily during this time. Based on the traffic investigation, Engineering Services staff recommended an increased police presence on Twyn Rivers Drive. In late 2010, the Durham Regional Police provided speed radar enforcement on Twyn Rivers Drive on multiple occasions. In addition, at the request of area residents, ROAD WATCH, a community group aimed at increasing safety on our roadways, provided numerous speed board set ups on Twyn Rivers Drive during different days/times in late 2010. In addition, in an effort to educate motorists and encourage slower speeds, on February 10, 2011, city staff installed warning signs that read `Reduce Speed' with an arrow indicating ahead at the bottom of the hill near the west city limit and `Reduce Speed Now' near the top of the hill in the eastbound direction. A steep hill warning sign was also installed in the westbound direction. In May 2011, the Durham Regional Police placed their speed board on Twyn Rivers Drive for approximately two weeks. In addition to displaying the speed of passing vehicles, the speed board captured information related to traffic volume and vehicular speed. Data from the speed board was provided to Engineering Services staff from the Durham Regional Police and indicated similar speeds and traffic volume to the Engineering Services staff's traffic study. Since the speed board was removed, the Durham Regional Police has provided enforcement on Twyn Rivers Drive on many occasions. Report CS 30-11 September 12,, 2011 Subject: Speed Limits By-law, Twyn Rivers Drive Page 3 Community Safety Zones By-law, Twyn Rivers Drive 21 A resident on Twyn Rivers Drive had then asked city staff to investigate traffic calming measures on Twyn Rivers Drive, including lowering the speed limit between the west city limit and Hoover Drive from 50 km/h to 40 km/h, and extending the community safety zone adjacent to St. Monica Catholic School further west to include all residences along the roadway. City staff investigated the request for the speed limit change on Twyn Rivers Drive from 50 km/h to 40 km/h and extension of the community safety zone with the assistance and input from the Durham Regional Police. Based on the investigation, the following was determined: 1. Being an Arterial Type C roadway, Twyn Rivers Drive is exempt from the 40 km/h speed limit adopted by the City for local and collector roadways. The existing 50 km/h speed limit is an appropriate speed for the design of the roadway, however, it is recognized that many vehicles travel over the posted limit making it difficult for residents to egress their driveways. Sightlines are also a contributing factor for residents having difficulties egressing their driveways. Some residents along Twyn Rivers Drive. believe that lowering the speed limit would make the roadway safer since vehicles should travel at a lower speed. However, it is known that motorists tend to drive the speed that they are comfortable at and that lowering the speed limit may not change the actual speed of motorists but instead cause a higher percentage of non-compliant drivers. This would increase the chances of more motorists being fined when entering Pickering from Toronto. However, the Durham Regional Police is in favour of this change as it will assist them with their enforcement efforts, and Engineering Services staff concur. 2. Currently, the City of Pickering utilizes Community Safety Zones solely around schools where the safety of children are of a prime concern, no other street in Pickering has a Community Safety Zone outside of a school area. However, Community Safety Zones can be used in any location, not just around schools, where the safety of residents and all users of the roadway is a concern. On Twyn Rivers Drive, the residential homes front onto both the north and south sides of the roadway and, with the difficulties that residents are. experiencing backing out of their driveways (especially residents on the north side near the top of the hill), extending the Community Safety Zone is feasible and recommended. It should be noted that the rules of the road do not change within a community safety zone; however, the penalties for violations of the traffic laws can be substantially increased. This increased fine structure may provide a sufficient deterrent to discourage aggressive driving. It would be the decision of the Durham Regional Police whether or not to impose increased fines of offending motorists. I Report CS 30-11 September 12, 2011 Subject: Speed Limits By-law, Twyn Rivers Drive Page 4 22 Community Safety Zones By-law, Twyn Rivers Drive Therefore, based on the investigation and information from the traffic study, and with the support of the Durham Regional Police, Engineering Services staff proposes that the municipal Traffic By-law 6604/05 be amended to change the speed limit on Twyn Rivers Drive from 50km/h to 40km/h from the west city limit to Hoover Drive and to extend the Community Safety Zone from Hoover Drive to the most western residence on Twyn Rivers Drive. The existing and proposed speed limits and community safety zone on Twyn Rivers Drive can be found graphically on the attached sketch (Attachment 1). Attachments 1. Existing and Proposed Speed Limits and Community Safety Zone, Twyn Rivers Drive 2. Draft By-law Amendment - Schedule 9, Speed Limits 3. Draft By-law Amendment - Schedule 14, Community Safety Zones Prepared By: Approved / E sed By: ntsma Na han Emery Coordinator, Traffic Operations Director, Community Services Ric rd W. (born, P. Eng D' is ion Head, ngineering Services Division NE: Copy: Chief Administrative Officer Recommended for the consideration of Pickering C' Council 7-51 Zo// Tony Prevedel, P.Eng. Chief Administrative Officer ATTACH MENT# ~ TOREPORT# ~ S 3D r < _I~ of _ I 7 Existing Conditions Legend ~ Existing 50 km/h Speed Limit ■ ■ ■ ■ Existing 40 km/h Speed Limit and Community Safety Zone White Pine West o Gi Wro'Gate 3 Cres. Ln. > Ct. Ah St. G y 0 31. _ Starview CNR Sweetbriar o U Ct. Ct. j wooov * > Lawson St. 707L07 E J L) Twyn Rivers r. Twyn Rivers Dr. 2 782 t mwood io Howell cs MON&3 0 m Rouoe PAW Q S- oo`~' Stonehampto Ct. St. hite ° is ar son o Proposed Conditions Legend Proposed 40 km/h Speed Limit Proposed 40 km/h Speed Limit and Community Safety Zone ■ ■ ■ ■ Existing 40 km/h Speed Limit and Community Safety Zone Pine West 0 CGate res. Ln. > Y °~,a . ( o o~a~h St. o Ct % Starview Ct. CNR Sweetbriar o U~ LL Ct. 0 wooov A Lawson St. mrLO7 E J Twyn Rivers r. Twyn Rivers Dr. timwood 0 Howell MONI~ ` CS ROUGE „K Q Cres. is ar son c VJooa~ Stonehampto Ct. a Littleford St. ° Community Services Department Existing and Proposed Speed Limits 01Y o¢ Engineering Services Division and Community Safety Zone sCALL' PAWN DATE: N.T.S. Aug, 2011 Twyn Rivers Drive ATTACH ME NT #__!L TO REPORT# 24 1 of 2- The Corporation of the City of Pickering By-law No. Being a By-law to amend By-law 6604/05 providing for the regulating of traffic and parking, standing and stopping on highways or parts of highways under the jurisdiction of the City of Pickering and on private and municipal property. Whereas, By-law 6604/05, as amended, provides for the regulating of traffic and' parking on highways, private property and municipal property within the City of Pickering; and Whereas, it is deemed expedient to amend By-law 6604/05 to change the "Speed Limits" zones on Twyn Rivers Drive. Now therefore the Council of The Corporation of the City of Pickering hereby enacts as follows: 1. Schedule 9 to By-law 6604/05, as amended, is hereby further amended thereto by the following: Schedule 9 Speed Limits Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Highway Limits Speed Delete Twyn Rivers Drive Hoover Drive to Altona Road 40 km/h Add Twyn Rivers Drive Full Limit 40 km/h ATTACHMENT# 2' TOREPORT# CS 30-1 1 By-law No. L ofd Page 2 25 2. This By-law shall come into force on the date that it is approved by the Council of The City of Pickering and when signs to the effect are installed. By-law read a first, second and third time and finally passed this 19th day of September 2011. David Ryan, Mayor Debbie Shields, City Clerk ATTACHMENT# -3 TOREPORT# cS 30-1 26 / of .2i The Corporation of the City of Pickering By-law No. Being a By-law to amend By-law 6604/05 providing for the regulating of traffic and parking, standing and stopping on highways or parts of highways under the jurisdiction of the City of Pickering and on private and municipal property. Whereas, By-law 6604/05, as amended, provides for the regulating of traffic and parking on highways, private property and municipal property within the City of Pickering; and Whereas, it is deemed expedient to amend By-law 6604/05 to change the "Community Safety" zones on Twyn Rivers Drive. Now therefore the Council of The Corporation of the City of Pickering hereby enacts as follows: 1. Schedule 14 to By-law 6604/05, as amended, is hereby further amended thereto by the following: Schedule 14 Community Safety Zones Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Highway Limits Prohibited Times or Days Delete Twyn Rivers Drive Hoover Drive to Altona Road Anytime Add Twyn Rivers Drive Altona Road to 360 metres west Anytime of Ashwood Gate ' / ATTACHMENT# . TO REPORT#CS 30 By-law No. Zof Z Page 2 27 2. This By-law shall come into force on the date that it is approved by the Council of The City of Pickering and when signs to the effect are installed. By-law read a first, second and third time and finally passed this 19th day of September 2011. David Ryan, Mayor Debbie Shields, City Clerk