Report to / Rapport au :

Transportation and Transit Committee /

Comité des transports et des services de transport en commun

and Council / et au Conseil

08 June 2001 / le 08 juin 2001

Submitted by / Soumis par : Ned Lathrop, General Manager / Directrice générale

Development Services Department / Services d’aménagement

Contact/Personne-ressource: Larry Morrison, Manager, Infrastructure Approvals /

Gestionnaire, Approbation des demandes d’infrastructure

748-4105, larry.Morrison@city.ottawa.on.ca

Ref No: ACS2001-DEV-APR-0153

SUBJECT: MODIFICATIONS TO MARCH ROAD TO ACCOMMODATE THE KANATA NORTH TECHNOLOGY PARK

OBJET : MODIFICATIONS AU CHEMIN MARCH EN VUE DE L’AMÉNAGEMENT DU PARC TECHNOLOGIQUE DE KANATA NORD

REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS

That the Transportation and Transit Committee recommend Council approve modifications to March Road 230 m north of Solandt Road subject to the proponent, Colonnade Development Incorporated:

1. Funding the total cost of the roadway modifications plus any associated utility relocations; and,

2. Executing a legal agreement with respect to the above.

RECOMMANDATIONS DU RAPPORT

Que le Comité des transports et des services de transport en commun recommande au Conseil d’approuver les modifications à la portion de 230 m du chemin March au nord du chemin Solandt à condition que le promoteur, Colonnade Development Incorporated :

1. Finance l’ensemble des coûts des modifications de la route de même que les coûts liés au réaménagement des services publics;

2. Passe un accord juridique relativement au point précédent.

BACKGROUND

The owners of the site, PCM Kanata Fourth Incorporated in care of Colonnade Development Incorporated, are in the process of developing the North Kanata Technology Park that is bounded by Solandt Road to the south, Hines Road to the west, and March Road to the east. Currently, six buildings occupy the site of which four are occupied. The ultimate development will comprise seven buildings with a gross leasable area of over 39,000 m². Site plan approvals have been granted for all of the facilities; however, the specific details relating to the site design and circulation have not yet been finalized. Overall, approximately 1430 parking spaces will be provided; although, some of the parking lots are not connected by internal laneways. Access to these parking lots is provided off of Solandt Road and Hines Road. This proposed development is shown in an area context in Document 1.

To accommodate the expanding site, direct access from March Road in the form of a southbound right-turn lane and a right-in/right-out driveway is recommended. This proposed modification is described in the following paragraphs.

ANALYSIS

Existing Conditions

This site is located in the heart of a rapidly developing business area bounded by March Road to the west and Solandt Road to the north. The following describes, in a greater detail, the current operation of these roadways.

March Road is median divided arterial roadway that maintains an 80-km/h speed limit through this area. By direction, the following lane configuration is provided on its approaches to Solandt Road.

Northbound:

· One left-turn lane,

· Two through lanes,

· One channelized right-turn lane; and,

· A bicycle lane.

It should be noted that the northbound right-turn lane originates from Carling Avenue.

Southbound:

· One left-turn lane,

· Two though lanes,

· One right-turn lane; and,

· A bicycle lane.

A 50-km/h speed limit is maintained on Solandt Road, a two lane rural roadway that becomes median divided on its approaches to March. The lane configurations are as follows.

Eastbound and westbound:

· One left-turn lane;

· One though lane; and,

· One right-turn lane.

This intersection is controlled by traffic signals; however, all right turns are channelized and controlled by yield signs.

Hines Road to the west of the site is a two-lane roadway maintaining a rural cross-section and a 50-km/h speed limit.

Document 2 illustrates the existing roadway geometry along the frontage of the site.

Pedestrians

Asphalt sidewalks 2 m in width are provided on both sides of March Road and are extended around the corners at Solandt Road. There are no sidewalks provided on Solandt Road.

Based on an eleven-hour traffic volume survey carried out on Friday, 28 July 2000 at the intersection of March Road and Solandt Road, 41 eastbound or westbound pedestrians were recorded crossing March Road on the north side of the intersection with 27 crossing this roadway on the south side of the intersection.

Similarly, on Solandt Road during this time period, 26 northbound or southbound pedestrians were recorded crossing the roadway on the east side of March Road with 29 crossing this roadway on the west side of the intersection.

Pedestrian crossings are assisted at the intersection with the provision of push buttons that actuate a pedestrian phase in the traffic signal cycle.

Bicycles

Two metre wide cycling lanes are provided on both sides of March Road. No cycling facilities are provided on Solandt Road.

Over an eleven-hour period in July 2000, 38 cyclists were recorded on March Road comprised of 20 travelling northbound and 18 travelling southbound. Eastbound and westbound on Solandt Road, 12 and 6 cyclists respectively were counted during this period.

Transit

Transit service is provided to the area by OC Transpo with one “regular” route (Route 160) travelling northbound and southbound on March Road. In addition to this service, two peak-hour hour routes (Routes 116 and 181) are provided, along with an express route (Route 60) that travel northbound and southbound on March Road. Bus stops are provided on March Road at Solandt Road.

Automobiles

An eleven-hour traffic survey carried out in July 2000 indicates that a balanced volume of approximately 12,000 vehicles northbound and 12,000 vehicles southbound travel the section of March Road adjacent to the site over a 24-hour period. On Solandt Road it is estimated that each day, an average of 2,500 motorists travel eastbound and 3,800 motorists travel westbound across the frontage of this site.

Design Proposal

A right-turn lane is proposed on March Road to facilitate southbound traffic destined to the Kanata North Technology Park site at a planned access approximately 230 m north of Solandt Road. Right turns out of the site will also be accommodated with direct access to March Road.

This proposed modification is illustrated in Document 2.

Pedestrians

Northbound and southbound pedestrians using on the asphalt sidewalk along the west side of March Road will be exposed to southbound right-turning vehicular traffic. This conflict will be mitigated through the use of a deceleration lane and narrow corner radii to reduce motorist speed and increase visibility.

Bicycles

The 2 m cycling lane will be maintained as a “pocket” across the taper and parallel section of the right turn lane.

Transit

Transit service and accessibility will not change and will not be compromised by the proposed roadway modification.

Automobiles

The provision of a southbound right-turn lane on March Road directly into the Kanata North Technology Park site will significantly reduce the demand on Solandt Road to service the site’s access needs.

CONSULTATION

As required under the Municipal Act of Ontario regarding Public Hearings, a notice of the proposed March Road modifications has been placed in Le Droit, the Ottawa Citizen and the Ottawa Sun for four consecutive weeks.

TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN

The guiding principle from the Transportation Master Plan (TMP) is the provision of a modal hierarchy with emphasis on walking, cycling and transit usage. This principle will be reflected in the intersection design that will incorporate a deceleration lane and narrow corner radii conforming to 2.2.3, item 2 and 3(f) of the TMP.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

Subject to City Council approval, all costs associated with the roadway modifications are the responsibility of the owner/developer. The City will, in accordance with the legal agreement, retain financial securities until such time as the work is completed.

If required, additional maintenance costs will be identified in the 2002 Operating Budget.

Cost Estimates

The preliminary cost estimate for the roadway modifications is $80,000 based on the functional design. This estimate is provided solely for the information of the Transportation and Transit Committee and City Council.

ATTACHMENTS

Document 1 – Location Plan

Document 2 – Design Proposal

DISPOSITION

Based on the approval of this road modification project, staff will be required to:

· Initiate and obtain design approval;

· Approve the conditions of the legal agreement and the amount and the provision of any financial securities that pertain to the project;

· Provide project management services; and,

· Authorize construction inspections.

Location Plan

Design Proposal