Transportation and Transit Committee4 December 2002

Albion Road Corridor Study

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Presentation Overview• Background• Issues• Existing Conditions• Alternative Solutions• Preferred Solution and Implications• Public Consultation• Recommendations• Next Steps

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Detailed Plan

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Background and Purpose of the Study

• Significant increase in traffic on Albion Road has resulted in safety concerns through Blossom Park

• New area development proposals will compound these issues

• July 2002 Council directive to undertake focused study on Albion Road through Blossom Park

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Issues Identified

• Significant growth in both peak hour and daily traffic volumes

• High proportion of non-local “through” traffic• Speed of traffic on Albion Road• Safety concerns for pedestrians, cyclists and motor

vehicles travelling on, or crossing, Albion Road• Potential for further increases due to continued

urban development of lands to the south

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Potential Traffic Increases Due to Proposed Area Development

• CCE relocation….…150,000 visitors projected during 11-day exhibition

• Canada Lands Company…….approximately 700 dwelling units within two land parcels

• Riverside South and Leitrim…….approximately 21,500 units plus employment areas

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Existing Traffic Conditions

Albion Road Through

Blossom Park

Existing Two-Way Peak Hour

Traffic

Existing “Through” TrafficVehicle Speed

(50 km/h posted)

veh/h veh/h % 85th %ile Compliance

North of Lester -         morning -         afternoon

500820

200385

4047

68 km/h 13%

South of Bank -         morning -         afternoon

6801,060

200385

2936

68 km/h 5%

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Recommended Alternative

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Recommended Alternative• Reduces peak hour traffic by 170 to 360 veh/h in the AM

peak and by 320 to 530 veh/h in the PM peak• Results in a diversion of between 60 and 180 veh/h in the

AM peak and between 90 and 225 veh/h in the PM peak onto local street system (mix of “local” and “non-local” traffic)

• Least impact on community accessibility• Can be designed to accommodate transit, emergency

vehicles, pedestrian and cyclist access• Diverted “through traffic” may trigger signal warrants at

the adjacent Lester / Airport Parkway intersections

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• Public Open House November 14th, 2002• Approximately 85 people attended• To date 32 have returned comments / questionnaires• 66% of respondents support the Recommended

Alternative• 22% did not indicate a strong preference for any of the

alternatives• 12% were opposed to the Recommended Alternative, or

preferred another alternative

Public Consultation

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Additional Public Input

• Three recent objections have been expressed:– Airport Authority concerned over impact on Airport

Parkway, asking that decisions be postponed until Transportation Master Plan update complete

– City Centre Coalition concerned over impact on Airport Parkway and Bronson Avenue, requesting that the item be deferred

– Resident living along Albion Road south concerned over travel time implications for those to the south

• While there are implications these are manageable• Albion Road through Blossom Park was not part of the

former RMOC arterial road network

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Preliminary Design / Cost Estimate

• “Through traffic” is significant and an all day, all week problem requiring physical measures, as opposed to signage alone, to be most effective

• Recommended Alternative entails an easterly shift in Albion Road, channelized islands and signal head modifications on Albion Road and an eastbound right-turn lane on Lester Road

• Estimated Class “D” construction cost of approximately $1.7 M

• Should diverted traffic trigger signal warrants at the Airport Parkway / Lester Road intersections ….. additional $150,000 to $250,000

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Interim Design Alternatives

• In light of the significant costs associated with the Recommended Alternative, an interim option could include Traffic Control Signal modifications and signs only:– Lower compliance levels anticipated– Higher enforcement requirements anticipated– Limited ability to provide exemptions to transit,

emergency vehicles, etc. – Estimated constructions costs - $200,000

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Report Recommendations

That the Transportation and Transit Committee recommend Council:

1. Receive the interim report as information.2. Receive this presentation as information.3. Approve the implementation of north/south through

movement restrictions along Albion at Lester Road, subject to detailed design and technical circulation, including a determination of required exemptions to accommodate transit, emergency vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists, and to funding being available to undertake the associated traffic control signal and roadway modifications.

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• If traffic management measures approved, then:

- A functional plan of the approved concept would be circulated to technical agencies for comment (emergency services, utilities, etc.); and

- Detailed design and construction timelines would be determined through the City’s budget process

Next Steps