2. NARROW
SIDEWALK - METCALFE STREET TROTTOIR ÉTROIT -
RUE METCALFE |
That Council
request City staff to:
1. Consider
removing all street signs from the narrow portion of the East side of Metcalfe
Street;
2. Consider widening this sidewalk and
possibly adding a bike lane, by either narrowing the four vehicular lanes or by
removing the underused Eastern Northbound lane of vehicular traffic; and
3. Report back to
the PTAC at a minimum every three months on progress, until the issue is
resolved.
Que le Conseil demande au personnel de la Ville :
1. D’envisager
la possibilité de retirer toutes les enseignes de rue de la partie étroite du
côté est de la rue Metcalfe;
2. D’envisager
la possibilité d’élargir ce trottoir et d’y ajouter une voie cyclable, en
rétrécissant les quatre voies pour les véhicules automobiles ou en supprimant
la voie pour les véhicules automobiles circulant en direction nord du côté est,
qui est sous-utilisée;
3. De
présenter un rapport d’étape au Comité consultatif sur les piétons et le
transport en commun au moins tous les trois mois, jusqu’à ce que la question
soit résolue.
Documentation
1. Pedestrian and Transit Advisory
Committee report dated 28 April 2010 (ACS2010-CCV-PTA-0001).
2. Extract of Draft Minute, 5 May 2010
Report to/Rapport au :
Comité des transports
and Council / et au Conseil
28 April 2010/ le 28 avril 2010
Submitted
by/Soumis par : Pedestrian and Transit Advisory
Committee/
Comité consultatif sur les piétons
et le transport en commun
Contact
Person/Personne ressource : Kelly Sammon,
Advisory Committee Coordinator/Coordonnatrice
du Comité consultatif
(613)
580-2424 x 28828, kelly.sammon@ottawa.ca
SUBJECT: |
NARROW
SIDEWALK - METCALFE STREET |
OBJET : |
REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS
The Pedestrian and Transit Advisory
Committee (PTAC) recommends that the Transportation Committee recommend Council
request City staff to:
a)
Consider removing all street signs from the
narrow portion of the East side of Metcalfe Street;
b)
Consider widening this sidewalk and
possibly adding a bike lane, by either narrowing the four vehicular lanes or by
removing the underused Eastern Northbound lane of vehicular traffic; and
c)
Report back to the PTAC at a minimum every
three months on progress, until the issue is resolved.
RECOMMANDATIONS DU
RAPPORT
Que le Comité
consultatif sur les piétons et le transport en commun recommande au Comité des
transports de recommander à son tour au Conseil de demander au personnel de la
Ville :
a)
D’envisager la
possibilité de retirer toutes les enseignes de rue de la partie étroite du côté
est de la rue Metcalfe;
b)
D’envisager la
possibilité d’élargir ce trottoir et d’y ajouter une voie cyclable, en
rétrécissant les quatre voies pour les véhicules automobiles ou en supprimant
la voie pour les véhicules automobiles circulant en direction nord du côté est,
qui est sous-utilisée;
c)
De présenter un
rapport d’étape au Comité consultatif sur les piétons et le transport en commun
au moins tous les trois mois, jusqu’à ce que la question soit résolue.
At its 18 March 2010 meeting, the PTAC
discussed the heavy pedestrian flow of traffic on Metcalfe Street and concerns
with the width of the sidewalk on the East portion between Albert and Slater
Streets.
DISCUSSION
On March 19, 2010, the Pedestrian and Transit Advisory Committee approved the following motion:
WHEREAS the new Pedestrian Plan emphasizes
the importance of pedestrian, cycling and transit over motor vehicles; and
WHEREAS a recent analysis of pedestrian
traffic shows the block of Metcalfe Street from Slater Street to Albert Street
is one of the most heavily used pedestrian routes in the core; and
WHEREAS the sidewalk on the East side of
this block largely does not meet the minimum Ottawa sidewalk standards (due to
the adjacent NaVCan building and street signage).
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the
Pedestrian and Transit Advisory Committee (PTAC) recommend that the
Transportation Committee recommend that Council request that city staff:
a)
Consider removing all street signs from the
narrow portion of the East side; and
b)
Consider widening this sidewalk and adding
a bike lane by either reducing or narrowing the less used wide sidewalk on the
west side or by removing the underused Eastern Northbound lane of vehicular
traffic; and
c)
Report back to the PTAC at a minimum every
three months on progress, until the issue is resolved.
RURAL IMPLICATIONS
N/A
CONSULTATION
Planning
and Growth Management
There are large numbers of pedestrians along Metcalfe Street during weekdays as it functions as a north-south route linking employees of larger office towers in the eastern part of the downtown core with the major transit stops at Albert/Metcalfe and Slater/Metcalfe. Survey results from the weekday afternoon period between 3:30-5:30 p.m. show the volume of pedestrians crossing the Metcalfe/Slater intersection, at 5,835 persons, is by far the greatest pedestrian movement volume in the downtown (26% larger than the next busiest intersection at Bank Street and Laurier Avenue West). The Metcalfe/Albert intersection is the fifth busiest for pedestrians with 4,237 people crossing it during this afternoon period.
Staff concur with PTAC’s concern that the sidewalk along Metcalfe Street between these two busy intersections and major transit stops is of an inadequate width given the volume of people using it. In comparison to the sidewalk level of service included in the Ottawa Cycling Plan (OCP) the sidewalk in this section of Metcalfe is so busy during rush hour that even a casual observer would say it functions at an undesirable level of service (see Document 1). Also the OCP identifies a requirement for bicycle lanes on the street pair Metcalfe and O’Connor to serve that eastern part of downtown.
Potential sidewalk widenings and cycling lanes are among the subjects that will be addressed in the upcoming Mobility Overlay component of the Downtown Ottawa Urban Design Strategy. In partnership with the National Capital Commission, this project will focus on the interrelationships among pedestrians, cyclists, transit users and motorists when the Downtown Ottawa Transit Tunnel is implemented. The Mobility Overlay will examine whether or not various one-way streets in the Downtown can be restored to two-way in the longer term, thereby promoting a friendlier Downtown street environment. It will also look at opportunities that could be implemented in a shorter-term framework to improve the physical environment for pedestrians, cyclists and transit users.
Therefore the Planning and
Growth Management Department is supportive of PTAC’s proposal in principle,
subject to further review with PW that would take into account traffic
management and operation needs during LRT construction. This review can be done in advance of the
mobility overlay exercise but with recognition that future changes in
pedestrian volumes would occur when the LRT tunnel becomes operational, as the
nearest station entrance is to be located more to the west and north at
O’Connor and Albert Streets and hence it will pull pedestrian transit traffic
towards that location. When PGM and PW report back on the feasibility of these
sidewalk/lane changes on Metcalfe Street, if they were ultimately recommended,
the report would also reference how their implementation could be so funded.
Public Works
A field visit has confirmed that the sidewalk
width in the area adjacent to the building is approximately 2.6 m with a 2.0 m
clearance between the building and sign channel posts. These widths exceed minimum design standards
for the City of Ottawa sidewalks in the urban area.
There are four sign assemblies along the east
side of Metcalfe Street between Albert and Slater streets. Two signs are required to demarcate the
existing No Parking/No Stopping/Tow Away zones in effect at various times of
the day. While it is important to retain
these signs for their regulatory and informational purposes, staff can review
adjusting where possible the location of the signs along the block face.
Given the existing lane arrangement, pedestrian
movements, traffic volumes, and close proximity to the east-west transit
corridors along Albert and Slater streets, detailed traffic analysis and safety
studies are required to evaluate the impacts of the recommendations.
Any changes to the roadway geometry will
require lighting calculations to ensure the required light levels are being
met. This could include the relocation,
addition or removal of existing street lights and underground circuitry. Any impacts to the existing lighting system
cannot be ascertained until the final modified roadway geometry/cross-section
has been determined for the road segment in question.
Public Works staff will work with the
Pedestrian and Transit Advisory Committee to develop and evaluate the impacts
of potential options.
COMMENTS BY THE WARD COUNCILLOR
I concur with the recommendations being
forwarded by PTAC. This section of
Metcalfe Street is clearly unable to support the current levels of pedestrian
traffic. Thirty years ago a report
entitled ‘Pedestrians Downtown’ (Du Toit, Allsopp, Hillier, NCC/City of Ottawa)
identified narrow sidewalks as one of the major pedestrian safety issues in the
Central Area. Pending the development of
a comprehensive transportation overlay for the Downtown Ottawa Urban Design
Strategy, I would support interim measures for this block of Metcalfe between
Slater and Albert Streets, including the relocation of impediments such as
lighting poles and signage. I would also
support widening the sidewalk to the greatest extent feasible – even an
additional 20-30 cm would be an improvement.
No incremental costs are anticipated for PGM staff time to review
suggested road modifications. Staff will
report back to Committee on the cost to undertake any physical changes if so
recommended.
As the recommendations are that staff “consider”
PTAC’s proposed changes, and in light of City staff’s acknowledgement that
“further review with PW” be undertaken, and staff’s comment that “detailed
traffic analysis and safety studies are required to evaluate the impacts of the
[PTAC] recommendations”, there are no legal/risk management impediments to the
implementation of this Report’s recommendations.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
Document 1 - Sidewalk Level of Service
DISPOSITION
Staff to implement City Council’s
decision.
The PTAC Coordinator to notify
the Advisory Committee of City Council’s decision.
DOCUMENT 1
Sidewalk Level of Service
NARROW SIDEWALK - METCALFE STREET
TROTTOIR
ÉTROIT - RUE METCALFE
ACS2010-CCV-PTA-0001 SOMERSET (14)
Bernie Geiger, Member, Pedestrian and Transit Advisory
Committee provided a brief overview of the report
before Committee. He explained that the
sidewalk next to the NAV Canada building (situated between Albert and Slater
streets), is very narrow and because of the location of bus stops at each end
of the block, there are many pedestrians using it during peak periods. He referred to the City’s policies which
speak to pedestrian movement and which seek to encourage this mode of
transportation; this block does not meet those policy requirements and
directions. In a series of slides, Mr.
Geiger illustrated the number of pedestrians using this narrow stretch of
sidewalk, as well as the absence of cars on the lane adjacent to the
sidewalk. He made note of the fact that
many pedestrians will use that lane in order to bypass other pedestrians. Mr. Geiger commented that signs and bicycles
being locked to those signs interfere with pedestrian movement. He believed that Metcalfe Street does not
need to be so wide for cars and parking, but there is a need to widen the
sidewalk to accommodate pedestrians. In conclusion, the PTAC recommends the
following:
Within one month:
·
remove/relocate (most)
street signs
·
discourage bike parking
against the signs remaining
Medium Term - over the Summer (and before the snow falls):
·
reduce or narrow the underused
vehicle lanes on this short block
·
widen the sidewalk
Longer Term:
·
consider other sub-standard,
narrow, heavily used sidewalks (could be done as part of DOTT study for
pedestrian movement)
·
remove intrusive, fixed
advertising signs (Bank Street)
·
discourage bike cycling on
sidewalks and parking on narrow sidewalks
While he appreciated the work done
by the advisory committee and the changes they are trying to make, Councillor
Desroches was concerned about Recommendation c) in their report. He thought that if approved, the
accountability rests with this Committee and he believed staff would keep the
advisory committee up to date without being directed. Mr. Geiger explained that this
recommendation stemmed from the fact that in some cases they had not received
feedback as a result of recommendations made in the past and offered that such
feedback could be in the form of a memo explaining where staff is in the
process, et cetera.
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When asked by Councillor Doucet what
assurances can be given that something is going to get done, the General
Manager of Public Works, John Manconi advised that staff is already looking at
the concerns about the signs and he confirmed this would be dealt with before
winter. He added that the City is making
strides to widen sidewalks in the city and John Moser, General Manager of
Planning and Growth Management indicated that removing one traffic lane on
Metcalfe Street would be looked at as part of the Mobility Overlay which will
be completed in 12 to 18 months. Also, there
will be studies done as part of the Downtown Ottawa Transit Tunnell that will
look at pedestrian movement and while it may not be in the immediate term, it
will certainly be looked at over the next few years.
Councillor Doucet emphasized that
the concern relates to pedestrian safety as it exists now and he did not see
why the City could not be daring and make such bold changes over the
summer. Mr. Manconi interjected by
stating that in terms of the operation of that roadway, staff would do the
review and analysis with staff in Planning and Growth Management and report
back to the Committee. However, all the
information needs to be brought forward so Committee can make an informed
decision on the operational impacts, et cetera.
The Chair thanked the delegation for
his presentation and asked that he take back to the PTAC the fact that
Committee members are very grateful for their advice.
The
Pedestrian and Transit Advisory Committee (PTAC) recommends that the Transportation
Committee recommend Council request City staff:
a) Consider
removing all street signs from the narrow portion of the East side of Metcalfe
Street;
b) Consider
widening this sidewalk and possibly adding a bike lane, by either narrowing the
four vehicular lanes or by removing the underused Eastern Northbound lane of
vehicular traffic; and
c) Report back to
the PTAC at a minimum every three months on progress, until the issue is
resolved.
CARRIED