Report
to/Rapport au :
R.G. Hewitt, Deputy City
Manager/Directeur municipal adjoint,
Public Works and Services/Services
et Travaux publics
Contact
Person/Personne ressource : Michael J. Flainek, M.Eng., P.Eng.,
Director/directeur
Traffic and Parking Operations/Circulation de
stationnement
613-580-2424 x 26882,
Michael.Flainek@ottawa.ca
SUBJECT: |
Bridge Street and south river drive – new
traffic control signal |
OBJET : |
Chemin Bridge et promenade South River – nouveau feu de
circulation |
REPORT RECOMMENDATION
That Council receive this report for information when considering the 2007 Capital Budget.
RECOMMANDATION DU
RAPPORT
Que
le Conseil reçoive, à titre informatif, le présent rapport lors de l’examen du
budget d’immobilisation de 2007.
BACKGROUND
At its 11 October 2006 City of Ottawa Council meeting, the following motion was carried:
Moved
by Councillor G. Brooks
Seconded
by Councillor D. Thompson
WHEREAS for years, the community of Manotick has had to contend with significant traffic
problems, especially on and around Bridge Street;
AND WHEREAS the preferred solution of the
community, to extend Van Vliet Street, would cost upwards of three-quarters of
a million dollars;
AND WHEREAS the proposed solution by staff will substantially improve the traffic
situation on Bridge Street at a cost of only $250,000;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that staff include the Bridge Street
intersection improvements in their 2007 workplan;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that
the required funds of $250,000 be taken from general reserves.
Moved by Councillor J.
Stavinga
Seconded by Councillor D.
Holmes
That the Brooks/Thompson
motion be REFERRED to the 2007 budget process, to be accompanied by a staff
report.
REFERRAL
CARRIED
DISCUSSION
Bridge Street, between Arthur Crescent/West River Road and North River Road, is located in Manotick, as illustrated in Document 1. This roadway is a two-lane, 40 km/h arterial road with curbs and sidewalks on both sides of the road. A left-turn lane is present at the signalized intersection of Bridge Street and Long Island Drive. All other roads that intersect Bridge Street within this section are stop control. It is also noted that this section of Bridge Street is on an island and is the only road that allows residents to the north and south of Bridge Street to exit off the island. Document 2 illustrates the existing conditions within this section of Bridge Street.
Residents of Manotick
have indicated that traffic movements to/from the southern portion of the
island community are difficult and unsafe due to combination of high traffic
volumes on Bridge Street and lack of controlled access opportunities. In particular, northbound left-turn
movements from Arthur Street, Richard Street and South River Road onto Bridge
Street are problematic during the peak periods when eastbound and westbound
volumes are high and available gaps are limited. Traffic counts conducted at these three (3) unsignalized
intersections indicate that warrants for installing a traffic control signal
have not been met (15% met at Arthur Street, 29% met at Richard Street and 57%
met at South River Drive).
Within the corridor in question, twenty-one (21) collisions were reported in the period between January 2003 and September 2006. The majority of the collisions were rear end (15 of the 21). There were no angle collisions for northbound vehicles entering Bridge Street at any of the three intersections that lead to the southerly portion of the island.
In view of the
concerns raised by the residents, a consultant was retained in the spring of
2006 to review a range of alternative solutions to assist residents on the
southerly portion of the island to access Bridge Street and to recommend a
preferred solution. The alternative
solutions included: do nothing; install a new traffic control signal on Bridge
at one of the intersections that leads to the south portion of the island; re-align
North Riverside Drive and South Island Park Drive to form a 4-way intersection
and install a traffic control signal; and, extend Van Vliet Road to Bridge
Street at Long Island Drive.
The report concluded
that the preferred solution was to extend Van Vliet Road to Bridge Street at
Long Island Drive. This extension
improves the access to areas south of Bridge Street, provides minimal increase
in delay to motorists on Bridge Street, and consolidates controlled accesses on
south side of Bridge Street to a single location. However, this solution would cost approximately $750,000 for the
acquisition of property and construction of required road works.
The alternative
solution to install a traffic control signal at the intersection of Bridge
Street and South River Drive was not deemed to be the preferred solution as it
is only 75m from the existing traffic control signal at Bridge Street and Long
Island Drive, there is a sight line limitation imposed by the crest of the
bridge crossing of the Rideau River, and, this additional signal would increase
the delay to through motorists on Bridge Street.
Should
Council wish to approve to approve funds to address the existing delays for
residents living on the southerly portion of the island, an unwarranted
traffic control signal could be installed at the intersection of Bridge Street
and South River Road. To deal with the
sight line limitations imposed by the bridge crossing of the Rideau River, that
installation would have to be supplemented with a "traffic signals ahead”
warning sign - augmented with flashing amber beacons – on the westbound
approach. In total, the estimated cost
to signalize the intersection and install the required warning devices would be
approximately $250,000.
Further, if Council approves funding for this project, this intersection will be “jumping the queue”. This is because the funding envelope currently provided for the New Traffic Signal Program falls short of that which is required to signalize all locations that currently meet the installation warrants for traffic control signals. This particular intersection only satisfies those warrants to the extent of 57%.
CONSULTATION
No consultation was undertaken in preparing this report.
TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN
Not applicable.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
The recommendation is to have the Bridge Street and South River Drive New Traffic Signal requirement estimated at $250,000 to be considered during the 2007 Capital Budget deliberations. Should this project be considered it would form part of the New Traffic Control Signal program.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
Document 1 – Key Plan
Document 2 – Existing Conditions
DISPOSITION
Should Transportation Committee and Council approve the funds for the installation of a traffic control signal at the intersection of Bridge Street and South River Drive, it would be installed in the summer of 2007.
Document 1
Key Plan
Document 2
Existing
Conditions