council-in-committee open meeting€ date : monday, april … · to: his worship mayor brad...

COUNCIL-IN-COMMITTEE

OPEN MEETING

COMITÉ PLÉNIER

SÉANCE OUVERTE AU PUBLIC

Date : Monday, April 11, 2016, 6:00 p.m.Location : Second Floor Committee Room, City

Hall, Fredericton

Date : le lundi, 11 avril 2016, 18 h 00Endroit : Second Floor Committee Room, City

Hall, Fredericton

Pages

SPECIAL MEETING

1. Two-Way Traffic on Queen Street

Administrative Report:

• Dylan Gamble, Director of Engineeringand Operations

SÉANCE EXTRAORDINAIRE

1. Circulation dans les deux sens surla rue Queen

1

Rapport administratif :

• Dylan Gamble, directeur,Ingénierie et opérations

To: His Worship Mayor Brad Woodside and Members of City Council From: Dylan Gamble, P.Eng., Director of Engineering & Operations Copy: Chris MacPherson, Chief Administrative Officer Ken Forrest, Director of Growth & Community Services Date: March 29, 2016 Title: CIC April 11 2016 - Two-Way Traffic on Queen Street Description: [Insert additional text for the title if necessary. This line can be left blank]

OPEN OR CLOSED SESSION: This item is to be considered in open session of Council-in-Committee.

ISSUE: The concept of a two-way traffic pattern change on Queen Street related to the development of the Fredericton Convention Centre, East End Parking Garage, and the Hotel needs to be revisited by Council.

BACKGROUND: Queen Street, between Regent Street and St. John Street was reconstructed in 2010 to accommodate a two-way traffic system. As the hotel construction and opening date have been established, a Council decision is required in regards to traffic patterns and parking arrangements on City Streets around the new hotel site. At the Transportation Committee on August 19, 2010, Traffic Engineer, Darren Charters presented to the committee in regards to removal of the one-way traffic designation on Queen Street from Regent Street to St. John Street. The Transportation Committee carried the following recommendation;

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

CIC open session – April11, 2016

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Form No.: GOV-FRM-002 Issue No.: 1.8 Service: Community Leadership Issue Date: May 19, 2015

Sub-Service: Council & Committee Support May 25, 2001

Printed On: April 8, 2016

BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Fredericton authorizes the Legal Division to draft the appropriate by-law to amend By-law No. T-1, A By-law to Regulate Traffic, to remove Queen Street, from St. John Street to Regent Street, as a one-way section of highway.

At the City Council meeting of September 28, 2010, during third reading of the above T-1, A By-law to Regulate Traffic, to remove Queen Street, from St. John Street to Regent Street, as a one-way section of highway; Third Reading of By-law No. T-1.43

MOVED BY COUNCILLOR TONY WHALEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR STEPHEN KELLY, THAT BY-LAW NO. T-1.43, A BY-LAW TO REGULATE TRAFFIC, BE READ IN ITS ENTIRETY.

On the question, each Member of Council expressed their view on the proposed by-law amendment, which would make Queen Street a two-way highway between St. John Street and Regent Street.

The majority of Council felt that time was on their side, pending the completion of the Fredericton Convention Centre and hotel, and the matter could be re-examined at a later point in time. The original motion was then put to the vote and declared DEFEATED ON DIVISION. The construction of a new Hotel on Queen Street (between Regent Street & St. John Street) will begin in the spring of 2016 with a planned opening in the fall of 2017.

DISCUSSION: ADI Limited performed a traffic study in 2008 in regards to the traffic impacts for Fredericton’s East End Development. The traffic study examined the impacts the future development (Convention Centre and Hotel) would have on traffic patterns if the existing traffic configuration is not changed. The results showed delays at the Regent/King and King/ St. John intersections if the traffic configuration is not changed once the full the development is in place. The option in the 2008 East End Development traffic study to move Queen Street to two-way traffic had a few recommendations:

1. Two-way traffic of Queen Street (Regent to St. John). 2. Traffic Signals at Queen and St. John. 3. Traffic Signals at King and St. John.

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Items 2 and 3 were completed prior to the opening of the Fredericton Convention Centre and East End Parking Garage. Staff have reviewed the traffic collision data at the Regent/King intersection before and after the opening of the Fredericton Convention Centre and the East End Parking Garage. Staff note that collisions are up 23% at the Regent/King intersection since the opening of the East End Parking Garage and Fredericton Convention Centre. The increase in collisions may be due to the increase in traffic turning left at the Regent/King intersection in order to access the East End Parking Garage and the Fredericton Convention Centre. The primary safety concern if the traffic pattern remains one-way on Queen Street when the hotel opens is that accidents will rise at the Regent/King intersection since there will be many more vehicles checked into the hotel that will require access to the East End Parking Garage via King Street. Staff note that if traffic patterns are changed to enable two-way traffic on Queen Street, there would be both traffic operational benefits and safety benefits:

North & South bound access from Regent Street to the Fredericton Convention Centre,

hotels, and East End Parking Garage using Queen Street.

Delegates / guests on a bus travelling to the hotel or Fredericton Convention Centre can be dropped off at the curb. Currently all delegates / guests are dropped into a travel vehicular lane with one way traffic.

Enable the installation of an advanced left turn arrow for southbound traffic at the Regent / Queen intersection and for northbound left turn traffic at the Regent / King intersection. Advanced left turn arrows improve safety for pedestrians and vehicles.

Reduction in traffic volumes making a left turn at the Regent/King intersection improving the safety at this intersection.

East End Parking Garage can be accessed from hotel, without having to circle around on Regent Street and taking a left at the Regent/King intersection.

The block of Queen Street from St. John to Regent serves a very important function in terms of traffic flow and is different than any other block of Queen Street in the downtown. This block of Queen Street provides direct access to the East End Parking Garage and provides important access to the Regent Street on-ramp of the Westmorland Street Bridge (via St. Anne’s Point), which serves as the primary access to the Westmorland Street Bridge for traffic in the east end of downtown. With all the operational and safety benefits in moving to two-way traffic on Queen Street between Regent and St. John, staff note to accommodate two-way traffic on Queen Street there will be impacts to on-street parking. The current quantity of metered on-street parking is 15 metered spots on the south side of Queen Street and 4 spots on the north side of Queen Street.

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The original design brought to Council in 2010 for two-way traffic on Queen Street resulted in all on-street parking being removed on Queen Street between Regent Street and St. John Street with the exception of 2 bus/loading stalls located on the south side of Queen Street in front of the Fredericton Convention Centre (drawing attached). This design results in the most efficient traffic flow to accommodate the full build out of the area including the hotel and repurposing of Centennial Building. Staff consulted with Downtown Fredericton Inc. (DFI) and other stakeholders for input on their concerns and possible suggestions to address concerns if the traffic pattern on Queen Street was moved to two-way traffic. Another option was developed taking into account concerns brought forward by stakeholders without compromising safety and overall efficiency of the network. Staff believe they have come up with an option that takes into account most concerns from the stakeholders while increasing the amount of metered parking in the area. The changes to the current parking layout of Queen Street and King Street are as follows and shown in option 2 drawing attached:

3 metered spots in between the driveways of the hotel;

3 metered spots in front of the Fredericton Convention Centre;

1 bus/loading spot mid block in front of the Fredericton Convention Centre;

On-street parking switched from the south side of King Street to the north side of King Street with the addition of a loading space.

Staff are also currently in discussions with a property owner in an attempt to obtain an additional 10-15 metered spots in the area. If an agreement can be reached, Queen Street will be able to move to two-way traffic and gain metered parking spots compared to the current design. Staff will provide Council with a draft lease agreement for consideration and approval once finalized but the current estimates show that the lease agreement will be cost neutral or positive for the City of Fredericton while providing more metered spaces available for the area. Staff note the stakeholders in the area are supportive of option 2 for two-way traffic on Queen Street. Attached to the report are a few letters of support from stakeholders in the area. Staff are of the opinion that moving Queen Street to two-way traffic from Regent Street to St. John Street is the safest option for the travelling public and pedestrians. Along with providing another access point to the new hotel, East End Parking Garage, and Fredericton Convention Centre, if guests are travelling by bus, the new traffic pattern proposed provides a safe drop off point at the curb rather than exiting into traffic. Staff are recommending the following:

negotiations continue with a view to finalizing a lease agreement with a property owner for an additional 10-15 metered spots and that the “new” metered spots be put into effect as soon as possible in 2016 if approved by Council;

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move parking from the south side of King Street to the north side of King Street as soon as possible in 2016;

adopt a by-law amendment in order that Queen Street change to two-way traffic as per the option 2 drawing attached, effective end of summer 2017.

COUNCIL POLICY: ECO-POL-007, Short Term On-Street Parking Provision

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATION (Immediate Impact on Approved Budget):

Moving the parking meters from the south side of King Street to the north side of King Street, line painting for the parking spots, and line painting for lane configurations on King Street.

o $2,500 which will be funded through existing operating budgets

LEGAL CONSIDERATION: If City Council decides to proceed with the recommendations from the Engineering and Operations Department, By-law No. T-1, a By-law to Regulate Traffic will require an amendment in order to give effect to the proposed traffic change on Queen Street. In addition, By-law No. T-7, A By-law Relating to Parking Meters, Parking Zones and Pay and Display Machines will also require an amendment in order to give effect to the proposed parking changes.

SUSTAINABILITY DUE DILIGENCE: This section should identify and explain the issue’s impact on the economy, the environment and our community, as follows:

the economic impact: Shifting Queen Street into a two way street, between Regent and St John Street, will result in a slight increase to capital and operational costs for new line painting, the adjustment of traffic signals, and realignment of parking meters. When the roadway was rebuilt in 2010, as part of the convention centre construction, it was built to facilitate two-way traffic. Overall the move to a two way Queen Street will improve the accessibility to the Convention Centre, parking garage, and new hotel, as well as local businesses. Additionally, the current one way configuration of Queen Street will not allow for direct curbside drop off at either location by busses and is a potential deterrent to the success of larger conferences.

http://myplace/apps/qms/QMSOpen/ECO-POL-007,%20Short%20Term%20On-Street%20Parking%20Provision.doc

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the environmental impact: Shifting Queen Street into a two-way street, between Regent Street and St John Street, results in several benefits from an environmental impact perspective. The planned realignment will result in reduced vehicular congestion at the Regent/King intersection as vehicles can gain direct access to the parking garage via Queen Street when coming from St Anne’s Point Drive. Another reduction in vehicular movements is achieved from vehicles accessing the parking garage from the hotel, without having to circle around the block accessing the parking garage from King Street

the social impact – The realignment of Queen Street, into a two way system, will result in a fundamental change to the nature of Queen Street between Regent Street and St John Street. The proposed realignment will improve accessibility to the convention center, parking garage, and new hotel while maintaining some of the parking on the south side of the street. The two-way traffic flow and buffering, created by the retention of parking, and narrowing of the lane widths should help calm the street and add to the urban nature of the street while facilitating the movement of vehicles.

COMMUNICATION PLAN: Staff from the Engineering & Operations Department will work closely with the Communication Staff to ensure a comprehensive public communication plan is in place.

SPOKESPERSON: Dylan Gamble, P.Eng., Director of Engineering & Operations Jon Lewis, P.Eng., Traffic Engineer Sean Lee, P.Eng., Manager of Engineering Services / Assistant Director of E & O

OPTIONS: Option 1 Council to authorize and direct the Legal Division to draft the appropriate by-law to amend By-law No. T-1, A By-law to Regulate Traffic to permit two way traffic on Queen Street between Regent Street and St. John Street by removing the portion of Queen Street, from St. John Street to Regent Street as a one-way section of highway, and further authorize and direct the Legal Division to draft the appropriate by-law to amend By-law No. T-7, A By-law Relating to Parking Meters, Parking Zones, and Pay and Display Machines to remove 13 metered parking spots on Queen Street between St. John Street and Regent Street, and to move 6 metered parking spots from the south side of King Street to the north side of King Street adding 1 additional metered spot and loading space between St. John Street and Regent Street (as outlined on the attached drawing).

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Option 2 Council to otherwise direct staff.

RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the following resolution be forwarded to City Council for consideration: BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the City of Fredericton hereby authorizes and directs the Legal Division to draft the appropriate by-law to amend By-law No. T-1, A By-law to Regulate Traffic, to permit two way traffic on Queen Street between Regent Street and St. John Street by removing the portion of Queen Street, from St. John Street to Regent Street, as a one-way section of highway (as outlined on the attached drawing); and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Council of the City of Fredericton hereby authorizes and directs the Legal Division to draft the appropriate by-law to amend By-law No. T-7, A By-law Relating to Parking Meters, Parking Zones, and Pay and Display Machines to remove ___ metered parking spots on Queen Street between St. John Street and Regent Street, and to move ___ metered parking spots from the south side of King Street to the north side of King Street between St. John Street and Regent Street (as outlined on the attached drawing). [Recommendation] Prepared by: Dylan Gamble, P.Eng., Director of Engineering & Operations Approved by: Chris MacPherson, Chief Administrative Officer

QUEEN STREET

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75360024

75360032

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75322719

01457886

75251256

01458108

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7

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01457894

01457878

7

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01457290

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FUTURE DRIVEWAY

Project Title

Dwg. Title

Project No.

Dwg. No. Rev. No.

CAUTION: DO NOT SCALE DRAWINGS.

THIS REPRODUCTION MAY BE AT A SIZE DIFFERENT THAN ORIGINALLY DRAWN. EXP ASSUMES

NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR INCORRECT SCALING. UNAUTHORIZED REPRODUCTION OR REUSE IS

STRICTLY PROHIBITED. NOT PUBLISHED - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. EXP EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS

RESPONSIBILITY ARISING FROM UNAUTHORIZED USE OF THESE DRAWINGS AND NOTES.

AUTHORIZATION MUST BE IN WRITING.

© exp, 2015

• BUILDINGS • EARTH & ENVIRONMENT • ENERGY •

• INDUSTRIAL • INFRASTRUCTURE • SUSTAINABILITY •

c 2015exp Services Inc.

Scale:

No. Date

Professional Seal(s)

Designed By:

Drawn By:

Design Approved By:

Revision

Dwg Standards Ckd By:

A1

No. DateIssue

www.exp.com

exp Services Inc.

QUEEN STREET 2 WAY

CONVERSION

REGENT STREET TO

ST. JOHN STREET

OPTION 1

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FOR INFORMATION ONLY

RPR / STWD

RPR

1:500

t: +1.506.452.9000 | f: +1.506.459.3954

1133 Regent Street, Suite 300

Fredericton, NB, E3B 3Z2

CANADA

QUEEN STREET

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75360024

75360032

75360040

75322719

01457886

75251256

01458108

0

1

4

5

7

9

0

2

01457894

01457878

7

5

0

2

5

1

3

0

7

5

0

2

5

1

2

2

01499227

01457290

01458090

7

5

3

2

7

6

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1

FUTURE DRIVEWAY

PP P

KING STREET

Project Title

Dwg. Title

Project No.

Dwg. No. Rev. No.

CAUTION: DO NOT SCALE DRAWINGS.

THIS REPRODUCTION MAY BE AT A SIZE DIFFERENT THAN ORIGINALLY DRAWN. EXP ASSUMES

NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR INCORRECT SCALING. UNAUTHORIZED REPRODUCTION OR REUSE IS

STRICTLY PROHIBITED. NOT PUBLISHED - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. EXP EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS

RESPONSIBILITY ARISING FROM UNAUTHORIZED USE OF THESE DRAWINGS AND NOTES.

AUTHORIZATION MUST BE IN WRITING.

© exp, 2015

• BUILDINGS • EARTH & ENVIRONMENT • ENERGY •

• INDUSTRIAL • INFRASTRUCTURE • SUSTAINABILITY •

c 2015exp Services Inc.

Scale:

No. Date

Professional Seal(s)

Designed By:

Drawn By:

Design Approved By:

Revision

Dwg Standards Ckd By:

A1

No. DateIssue

www.exp.com

exp Services Inc.

QUEEN STREET 2 WAY

CONVERSION

REGENT STREET TO

ST. JOHN STREET

OPTION 2

FRE-00000000-A0

FIGURE-2 0

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FOR INFORMATION ONLY

RPR / STWD

RPR

1:500

t: +1.506.452.9000 | f: +1.506.459.3954

1133 Regent Street, Suite 300

Fredericton, NB, E3B 3Z2

CANADA

council-in-committee open meeting€ date : monday, april … · to: his worship mayor brad...

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