Protective Services & Community Services Report - ISLAND HIGHWAY AT ADMIRALS ROAD INTERSECTION SAFETY ANALYSIS
Staff report recommending safety improvements at the Island Highway and Admirals Road intersection to be implemented with the Craigflower Bridge project.
TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL
Protective Services & Community Services Report
TO: Committee of the Whole DATE: February 4, 2013 FROM: Deb Becelaere, Superintendent of Engineering MEETING DATE: February 12, 2013 FILE NO.: 5450-08
ISLAND HIGHWAY AT ADMIRALS ROAD INTERSECTION SAFETY ANALYSIS
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT the Committee recommends to Council the endorsement of the recommendations in the report entitled "Island Highway at Admirals Road Intersection Safety Analysis", dated February 4, 2013, and directs staff to work with West Shore RCMP and ICBC for input regarding certain operational and safety improvements;
AND FURTHER THAT the Committee recommends to Council that the safety improvements outlined in this report be implemented in conjunction with the Craigflower Bridge Replacement Project and therefore be considered for inclusion in the 2013 budget deliberations, providing the tender submission prices for the bridge will allow Gas Tax funding to be re-allocated to provide for the same net funding result.
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER'S COMMENTS: I concur with the recommendation.
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE'S COMMENTS: I concur with the recommendation.
DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING'S COMMENTS: I concur with the recommendation.
PURPOSE OF REPORT:
To briefly outline the current issues with the signalized intersection at Island Highway and Admirals Road, and related approaches; to discuss and recommend safety mitigation measures to improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers, as well as reduce the risk of vehicular collisions; and to seek approval to implement all, or most, of these solutions in 2013, in conjunction with the Craigflower Bridge Replacement Project.
TIME CRITICAL:
With the Craigflower Bridge Replacement Project construction taking place this year, staff recommends that preferably all, or most, of the recommended safety improvements be carried out in conjunction with the bridge construction contract, in order to realize cost savings and efficiencies.
As Council and staff are currently going through 2013 budget deliberations, the timely approval by Council is critical if the work is to take place within the bridge construction timeframe.
BACKGROUND:
In 2011 and 2012, staff held various stakeholder information sessions and Open Houses for the Craigflower Bridge Replacement Project. At these meetings, members of the public, First Nations representatives, and the parents and principals of the two schools in the area (Shoreline Community Middle School in View Royal and Craigflower School in Saanich), expressed concerns to View Royal staff regarding the safety of the school children using the intersection to get to and from school. The West Shore RCMP has also contacted staff with concerns (see Attachment 1 of this report). As well, over the years, many members of the public have submitted complaints to View Royal staff regarding safety and the related traffic congestion at the intersection. A significant amount of calls and emails that staff receive in the Engineering Department relate in some way to this very busy intersection.
As a result of public concern, staff requested, and received, funding in the 2012 budget to retain a transportation consultant to carry out a detailed safety analysis of the intersection. ICBC funded a significant portion of this cost and was involved in its review with staff. This report is now in the interim stage and will be finalized after discussions with the Committee and input from the RCMP and other major stakeholders.
It is important to note that the annual collision rate at this intersection is significantly higher than provincial average collision rates. Collision rates are based on the Highway Accident System collision data, which is based on police reports. Collision types at this particular intersection include rear-end collisions, side swipes and left turn opposing collisions.
PROJECT INFORMATION:
The consultant retained to conduct the safety analysis of the intersection, Opus International, was asked to develop safety mitigation measures to improve both the pedestrian environment of the intersection and surrounding approaches, as well as reduce the risk of collisions.
The main areas of concern in the intersection are:
- Queuing of vehicles across the Island Highway crosswalk on the west side of the intersection, thereby conflicting with pedestrian movement and causing an extremely unsafe environment, as well as blocking westbound through traffic from Craigflower Road;
- Short pedestrian clearance intervals at the crosswalks;
- Inconsistent speed limits and unclear School Zones;
- Right turn rear-end collisions for the right turn from Island Highway eastbound to Admirals Road southbound;
- Driver and pedestrian risk taking behavior;
- Driver confusion related to lane allocation;
- Significant left turn opposing collisions involving left turning traffic from Craigflower Road westbound.
To address these issues, mitigation measures were determined by Opus, staff, and the ICBC representative. These recommended improvements are depicted in Attachment 2 of this report, which staff will review with the Committee at the meeting.
The following table is a brief summary of Attachment 2 along with preliminary cost estimates:
| Ref No. | Improvement Opportunity | Expected Result | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Revise traffic signal phasing and optimize timing, including lengthening pedestrian walk times (will require intersection design drawing changes and timing sheet revisions) | Improve operation and safety for pedestrians and drivers by reducing vehicles queued in intersection and blocking crosswalk | $46,000 |
| 2 | Improve road markings and signage on all approaches at, and in, the intersection, including 'How to Cross Safely' signs on all pedestrian buttons | Improve operation and safety for pedestrians and drivers by providing better guidance and education | $9,500 |
| 3 | On north side of Island Highway, just west of the intersection, install traffic pole to provide timer controlled School Zone amber flashing sign, backlit overhead lane use signs and new street light | Improve operation and safety for pedestrians by highlighting presence of School Zone; provide better guidance for drivers | $30,000 |
| 4 | On the south side of Island Highway, just west of the intersection, install traffic pole to provide backlit overhead lane use signs, amber flashers and new street light; add emergency microphone | Improve operation and safety for drivers by providing better guidance and improved signage and lighting and improve access for emergency vehicles | $22,000 |
| 5 | At the southwest quadrant of intersection, widen traffic island (will require land) | Improve safety for pedestrians by providing more capacity in island as well as better visibility for drivers | $42,000 |
| 6 | At the northwest quadrant of intersection, install railing along sidewalk | Improve safety for pedestrians by encouraging them to use crosswalk | $10,000 |
| TOTAL | $159,500 |
Should the Committee endorse the recommendations in this report, staff would proceed with finalizing the interim report completed by Opus, which will require interaction and input from the West Shore RCMP and the major stakeholders, such as the school principals, First Nations representatives, and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
Note that in late 2012, ICBC conducted a Road Safety Audit of the Admirals Road corridor from Island Highway to Gorge Road for the Craigflower Bridge Replacement Project. Some of the recommendations from that report are included in the above summary.
BUDGET IMPLICATIONS:
ICBC has indicated a potential contribution of approximately $31,000 to the total estimated cost of the project ($159,500). Therefore, if all recommendations were to be carried out, the Town's cost would be in the region of $128,500.
Funding, and funding sources, for this project in 2013 will be dependent on the outcome of the Craigflower Bridge Replacement Project tender submissions.
SUSTAINABILITY CONSIDERATIONS:
Optimization of signal timing and phasing may improve traffic flow and reduce idling, thereby reducing vehicle emissions, which ties into the Town's Energy and Emissions Plan, as well as the Town's carbon neutral requirements under the BC Climate Action Charter.
Improvement to pedestrian and cyclist safety strengthens the Town's commitment to environmental stewardship by promoting and encouraging green transportation.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
THAT the Committee receives the report entitled "Island Highway at Admirals Road Intersection Safety Analysis", dated February 4, 2013, from the Superintendent of Engineering, for information only at this time;
AND THAT the Committee recommends to Council that the safety improvements outlined in this report be considered for implementation in future year budget deliberations.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT the Committee recommends to Council the endorsement of the recommendations in the report entitled "Island Highway at Admirals Road Intersection Safety Analysis", dated February 4, 2013, and directs staff to work with West Shore RCMP and ICBC for input regarding certain operational and safety improvements;
AND FURTHER THAT the Committee recommends to Council that the safety improvements outlined in this report be implemented in conjunction with the Craigflower Bridge Replacement Project and therefore be considered for inclusion in the 2013 budget deliberations, providing the tender submission prices for the bridge will allow Gas Tax funding to be re-allocated to provide for the same net funding result.
SUBMITTED BY: Deb Becelaere Superintendent of Engineering
REVIEWED BY: John Rosenberg A.Sc.T. Director of Engineering
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