Council Member Inquiry/Motion Form Demande de renseignements d’un membre du Conseil /Formulaire de motion
From/Exp. : Councillor / conseiller Stephen Blais	Date : 14 December / décembre 2011	File/Dossier : 31-11
To/Dest. : Deputy City Manager, City Operations / Directeur municipal adjoint, Opérations municipales
Subject/Objet : Truck Route Study
Inquiry What is the timing of the next comprehensive truck route study? When was the last study undertaken? Has the appropriate funding been set aside for this work? Can the work be done by in-house experts to save money and expedite the process?
Response Response to be listed on the Transportation Committee Agenda of May 2, 2012 and the Council Agenda of May 23, 2012.

The Truck Route Designation Policy, which outlines the current truck route system, was approved by Council in October, 2005.

Per the Truck Route Designation Policy (attached as Document 1), Infrastructure Services Department (ISD) provides Public Works with feedback on a yearly basis on what roads should be downgraded from full–loads to restricted loads or to no longer a truck route and which ones that are restricted loads can become full loads (as a result of a road being re-built).    These decisions to change truck route roadway are based on the condition assessment of the roadways.  In addition, there are new roads that are constructed that may be added to the truck route system.  Typically, this occurs as existing roads are extended. (e.g., Hunt Club Road between Hawthorne and 417 will be added to the system once the Highway connection is completed).  The map is updated to reflect the new information and this is usually done in the winter months so that the new map is available in the spring.

Apart from this annual condition assessment review, any consideration to modify, add or delete roadways from the existing truck route system would require a comprehensive review per the criteria and guidelines set out in the approved policy (Document 1).   City-wide consultation with impacted communities and stakeholders would have to be undertaken as any change could have far reaching impacts.  Public Works Department in consultation with Planning and Growth Management proposes a comprehensive review of the truck route study should occur only after the completion of the Interprovincial Crossings Study (expected by end of 2012 or early 2013) given that the outcome of the Interprovincial Crossing Study will have a significant impact on the truck routing plan.

Staff do not believe that such a study could be undertaken in-house within existing resources. This study would involve significant technical work as well as public consultation.  This would include, but not be limited to, reviewing the consistency with the existing Truck Route Policy approved by Council in 2005; collecting traffic/truck data on the exiting road network; reviewing the overall network impacts of any proposed changes, even if minor in nature; and assessing the impacts to traffic and community including an economic needs assessment.    As well, justification for changes needs to be clearly enumerated and communicated to all affected stakeholders whereby any proposed/recommended changes to the truck route system would require extensive public consultation (impacted communities, businesses, trucking industry, etc.) to take place.  It is estimated that a study of this scale would take over a year to complete at a cost of approximately $250,000 and would be conducted using both internal and external resources depending on the timing. Currently, there is no funding identified to undertake a review of the truck route system. 

DOCUMENT 1

1

Department of Public Works and Services

Traffic and Parking Operations Branch

Subject: Truck Route Designation Policy		New: X Revised:	Policy/Procedure No.
Source: Council Report ACS2005-PWS-TRF-0002	Date: 6 July 2005	Page #: 1	No. of Pages : 2

Purpose

The purpose of this Policy is to establish the basis for designating roadways under the jurisdiction of the City of Ottawa as Truck Routes.

Objectives

The following objectives are to be used for the development and updates to the Truck Route System:

• efficient movement of trucks;
• safe movement of trucks;
• efficient movement of other traffic;
• minimization of environmental disruption to citizens; and,
• minimization of structural damage to roadways and structures.

Criteria

The following criteria should be applied as guidelines, to assess existing and proposed road links for their suitability as Truck Routes and to optimize the Truck Route System:

1. System/Network Criteria:

a. identify a continuous truck route system with easy access to and from provincial highways, freeways, major through routes, and truck traffic generators and attractors;

b. include sufficient network linkages to avoid over-concentration of truck movements and

congestion;

c. identify routes with good traffic flow to minimize stop and start occurrences; and,

d. avoid high pedestrian corridors and areas with significant traffic conflicts.

2. Physical Characteristics Criteria:

a. particularly in urban areas, where possible select 4-lane roadways with 3.5 m lanes,

adequate turning radii; vertical clearance of 5.4 m; and maximum grade of 4%; and,

b. include only those linkages with pavement and structures that are structurally adequate

for truck traffic.

3. Environmental Criteria:

a. minimize impacts of truck traffic (vibration, noise and emissions) on sensitive areas such

as residential neighbourhoods, hospitals, schools;

b. avoid routes adjacent to heritage/weak structures; and,

c. avoid bisecting communities/neighbourhoods.

Department of Public Works and Services

Traffic and Parking Operations Branch

The table below summarizes Truck Route Designation Guidelines.

TRUCK ROUTE DESIGNATION GUIDELINES
		Road Class
	Land Use and Policy Plans	City Freeway	Arterial	Major Collector/Collector
	Central Area	Designate as Truck Route	Designate selected arterials to provide necessary connectivity and continuity while minimizing impacts on residential areas.	Designate selected collectors to provide necessary connectivity and continuity while minimizing impacts on residential streets.
	General Urban Area		Generally designate as Truck Routes. Avoid residential arterials where reasonable.
	Rural Area		Generally designate as Truck Routes.
	Employment and Enterprise Areas	Designate as Truck Route	Generally designate as Truck Routes.	Generally designate as Truck Routes.
	Villages	Designate as Truck Route	Generally designate as Truck Routes. Avoid residential arterials where reasonable.	Designate selected collectors to provide necessary connectivity and continuity while minimizing impacts on residential roads.

Review

The Truck Route System should undergo a comprehensive review regularly as part of the Transportation Master Plan process. On an annual basis, the Truck Route System should be updated based on current pavement/structure condition and/or new construction, prior to the publication of the annual map. Development plans should consider the need for truck route linkages and ensure that these are provided in accordance with the desirable criteria established.

Signing

Permissive signing, consistent with the City of Ottawa Traffic and Parking By-law and Ontario Traffic Manual Book 5 – Regulatory Signs, shall be placed on all truck routes. Prohibitive signage may be used at problematic locations.

Subject: Truck Route Designation Policy		New: X Revised:	Policy/Procedure No.
Source: Council Report ACS2005-PWS-TRF-0002	Date: 6 July 2005	Page #: 2	No. of Pages : 2