Report to/Rapport au:

Transportation and Transit Committee/

Comité des transports et des services de transport en commun

and Council/et au Conseil

03 April 2002 / le 03 avril 2002

Submitted by/Soumis par: Ned Lathrop, General Manager/Directeur général

Development Services Department / Services d’aménagement

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

Gestionnaire, Approbation des demandes d’infrastructure

580-2424 ext. 27807 Larry.Morrison@city.ottawa.on.ca

ACS2002-DEV-APR-0068

SUBJECT: MODIFICATIONS TO BASELINE ROAD TO ACCOMMODATE THE COLLEGE SQUARE (SHOPPERS CITY WEST) DEVELOPMENT

OBJET: MODIFICATION DU CHEMIN BASELINE AUX FINS DE L’AMÉNAGEMENT DU COLLEGE SQUARE (SHOPPERS CITY WEST)

REPORT RECOMMENDATION

That the Transportation and Transit Committee recommend Council approve the relocation of the existing traffic control signals at Baseline Road and the Shoppers City West Shopping Centre Driveway to a point 190 m east of Woodroffe Avenue and the construction of associated modifications on Baseline Road from Woodroffe Avenue to a point approximately 285 m east of Woodroffe Avenue subject to the proponent, Harry Leikin Holdings Limited and Harzena Holdings Limited:

1. Funding the total cost for the roadway modifications plus any associated utility relocations and the installation of the relocated traffic control signals; and,

2. Executing legal agreements 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 le déplacement de la signalisation existante de l’intersection chemin Baseline-entrée du centre commercial Shoppers City West vers un point situé à 190 mètres à l’est de l’avenue Woodroffe de même que les modifications connexes à apporter au chemin Baseline, à partir de l’avenue Woodroffe jusqu’à environ 285 mètres à l’est de l’avenue Woodroffe, à condition que les promoteurs, Harry Leikin Holdings Limited et Harzena Holdings Limited :

1. financent la totalité des modifications apportées au chemin Baseline, les déplacements de services publics nécessaires et le déplacement de la signalisation;

2. signent les ententes juridiques relatives à l’objet du présent document.

BACKGROUND

The Leikin Group, the owners of the Shoppers City West Shopping Centre, is currently in the process of redeveloping the existing site that is located in the southeast corner of Baseline Road and Woodroffe Avenue. As part of the second phase of this development plan, many of the stores that were part of the existing shopping centre will be resituated within the site and substantially augmented in size. When these stores are combined with the addition of the new retail/commercial development, the net effect at buildout will be a 60% increase in gross leasable area to 35,000 m² when compared with the old shopping centre complex. The proposed redeveloped site is shown in Document 1.

Baseline Road to the north, Navaho Drive to the east, the soon-to-be-constructed Navaho Drive extension to the south and Woodroffe Avenue to the west, surround the College Square development and serve the access needs of the shopping centre to varying extents. Modifications to the intersection of Baseline Road and Navaho Drive along with the construction of the Navaho Drive extension to Woodroffe Avenue will take place at approximately the same time as the Phase II site redevelopment. These road works were the subject of a previously approved Environmental Study Report.

The subject of this report is concerned with the approval of the modifications to Baseline Road and the intersection with the College Square driveway. If approved, these proposed roadway modifications are scheduled to commence in the summer of 2002 and will be coordinated with the other previously mentioned road works. Attached, as Document 2, is a College Square Site Plan that shows the building arrangement, the internal site circulation and its orientation to the surrounding road network.

ANALYSIS

Existing Conditions

The land use along Baseline Road in this area is commercial and is comprised of a mixture of restaurants, office with a predominance of retail outlets especially within the shopping centre. The College Square Shopping Centre (old Shoppers City West Shopping Centre) is a 40-year-old area retail complex that is primarily serviced by Baseline Road, which is a median divided roadway with three through westbound lanes and two through eastbound lanes along the frontage of the shopping centre. The principal site access is controlled by traffic signals.

The existing geometry for Baseline Road is provided in Document 3.

Pedestrians

On this section of Baseline Road, sidewalks exist on both sides and they are linked to the area recreational paths.

Based on an 11-hour traffic survey carried out on Thursday, 7 June 2001, at the intersection of Baseline Road and Woodroffe Avenue and balanced with the pedestrian volumes recorded the following day at Baseline Road and the Shoppers City access, approximately 75 persons were observed walking on the north side of Baseline Road with about 65 pedestrians traveling along the south side.

At Baseline Road and the Shopping Centre access, pedestrians are currently prohibited from crossing Baseline Road on the west side of the intersection. Over this same period of time, 216 northbound and southbound pedestrians were observed crossing Baseline Road.

Bicycles

At this time, Baseline Road in this area has no special facilities on the roadway to accommodate cycling, such as separate or shared use lanes or signs for cycling use.

As with the estimation for pedestrian volumes on Baseline Road that employs a balance of two surveys completed a day apart, the existing cyclist volumes are estimated in the same way. Approximately 56 cyclists travel westbound with an equal number traveling eastbound across the frontage of the shopping centre over an 11-hour period. Northbound and southbound at the intersection of Baseline and Shoppers City, 20 and 1 cyclists respectively were recorded during this period.

Transit

The Shoppers City West Shopping Centre is well served by transit with the Transitway Baseline Station within easy walking distance. Specifically, along Baseline Road across the frontage of the shopping centre, a regular and a peak period bus route provide more immediate local transit service.

The 118 route travels east and west on Baseline Road providing regular daily bus service with headways ranging from 8 minutes during the peak hours to 20 minutes in the off-peak hours. From Monday to Friday, the 55 route on approximate 25 to 30 minute headways supplies peak period transit.

Automobiles

As previously mentioned, Baseline Road is an urban, median divided roadway across the frontage of the College Square Shopping Centre (old Shoppers City). The following lane arrangement is provided on its eastbound approach to the College Square driveway:

• Two through lanes; and,
• One channelized right-turn lane.

Eastbound left turns are currently prohibited on this approach.

On the westbound approach to the shopping centre driveway, Baseline Road maintains the following lane configuration:

• Three through lanes; and,
• One left-turn lane.

Northbound, approaching this intersection, a left-turn, a through and a channelized right- turn lane are provided. The southbound approach consists of a single combined through, right, and left-turn lane.

Based on an 11 hour traffic survey carried out on Friday, 8 June 2001 approximately 14,500 vehicles westbound and 15,200 eastbound travel on this section of Baseline Road over a 24-hour period. Northbound and southbound at the Shoppers City driveway, about 3600 and 165 motorists respectively approach this intersection during the same time period.

Design Proposal

To accommodate the College Square development, this section of Baseline Road will undergo a road widening and the relocation and modification of the intersection with the main site driveway. These proposed road works consist of the following geometric features.

Extend the existing eastbound curb through lane from Woodroffe Avenue to link with the existing curb lane that travels across the frontage of the Home Depot (College Square Phase l) site.

• Provide an eastbound cycling lane across the frontage of the site.

• Relocate the existing shopping centre driveway to a point 30 m to the west.

• In place of the existing channelized eastbound and northbound right-turn lanes at the existing shopping centre access, provide simple corner radii at the relocated intersection.

• At this intersection, provide access to the properties on the north side of Baseline Road and construct an eastbound left-turn lane.

These proposed modifications are illustrated in Document 4.

Pedestrians

The existing 1.5 m sidewalk along the south side of Baseline Road will be increased in width.

The current north-south pedestrian crossing prohibition on the west side of the Shopping Centre access will be rescinded. At the relocated intersection, pedestrians will be able to cross Baseline Road on both sides of the College Square driveway.

Bicycles

An exclusive bicycle lane will be constructed along the south side of Baseline Road from Woodroffe Avenue to a point approximately 300 m east that will provide a continuous cycling lane from Woodroffe Avenue to Navaho Drive.

Transit

Regular and peak period transit service will be maintained along this section of Baseline Road. Additional bus service will be provided if demand warrants.

Automobiles

As previously described, the roadway modifications to Baseline Road and the relocated main Shopping Centre access include the provision of an eastbound left-turn lane. The removal of the right-turn channels will induce motorists to moderate their speeds when turning into and out of the shopping centre.

CONFORMITY TO THE TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN

The guiding principle from the Transportation Master Plan (TMP) is the provision of a modal hierarchy with the emphasis on walking, cycling and transit usage. This principle is reflected in the following design features.

• The widening of the existing sidewalk on the south side of Baseline Road conforms to 2.2.3., item 3 of the TMP.

• The removal of the channelized right turns at the design for the relocated shopping centre driveway conforms to 2.2.3., item 2 of the TMP. In addition, the current pedestrian crossing prohibition at the existing driveway will not be continued at the relocated College Square driveway, which will provide pedestrians more mobility options.

• The provision of a separate cycling lane along the south side of Baseline Road across the frontage of the College Square site conforms to 2.3.2., item 2 of the TMP.

CONSULTATION

As required under the Municipal Act of Ontario regarding public hearings, a notice of the proposed road modifications has been placed in Le Droit and the Ottawa Citizen for four consecutive weeks.

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 to the satisfaction of the City.

If required, additional maintenance costs will be identified in the 2003 Operating Budget.

Cost Estimates

The preliminary cost estimate for the roadway modifications is $704,000 based on the functional design. This estimate is provided solely for the information of the Transportation and Transit Committee and City Council.

COMMENTS ON CYCLING

Mobility and Area Traffic Management Division has reviewed the roadway modifications on Baseline Road to accommodate the College Square Shopping Centre development and have no comments.

ATTACHMENTS

Document 1 – Key Plan

Document 2 – Site Plan

Document 3 – Existing Roadway Geometry

Document 4 – Proposed Roadway Geometry

DISPOSITION

Based on the approval of the traffic control signal installation, 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;
• Authorize installation services and construction inspections; and,
• Recommend the reduction and/or release of financial securities.

Site Plan Document 2

Existing Roadway Geometry Document 3