Public Works & Transportation Report

TO: Committee of the Whole FROM: John Rosenberg, Director of Engineering DATE: January 8, 2014 MEETING DATE: January 14, 2014 FILE NO.: 5200-17

TRAFFIC CONCERNS ON RUDYARD AND STORMONT ROADS DUE TO LEFT TURNS FROM HELMCKEN ROAD

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the situation regarding left turns from Helmcken Road onto Rudyard Road be reviewed within a three to six month period of the Craigflower Bridge Replacement Project completion to determine if the concerns are still present;

AND THAT a follow-up report be provided to the Committee of the Whole after that review.

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER'S COMMENTS:

I concur with the recommendation.

PURPOSE OF REPORT:

To present options for consideration to address the concern of vehicles taking the shortcut from Helmcken Road to Island Highway via Rudyard and Stormont Roads.

BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:

It has been reported that a significant number of vehicles are making left turns onto Rudyard Road from Helmcken Road when the turning movement is specifically signed to disallow that turn from 6:30am to 8:15am. Westshore RCMP have made attempts to address the issue with random ticketing but the illegal turns continue to occur.

It should be noted that the current traffic patterns will be altered significantly once the Craigflower Bridge is reopened in the spring of 2014. This reopening will impact the flow of traffic both on Helmcken Road and Island Highway resulting in dramatically fewer vehicles attempting to circumvent the Island Highway/Helmcken Road intersection by short-cutting on Rudyard and Stormont Roads.

In reviewing options, there are a number of issues to consider, including but not limited to the use of Rudyard Road by many parents to drop off/pick up children for school; use of Rudyard and Stormont Roads by local residents for their own commuting and daily tasks; and that any changes considered will impact other roadways and neighbourhoods.

There are several options available – as listed below – though it is advisable that most of these include a traffic impact analysis as part of the decision-making process particularly given the radical impact to the Trans Canada Highway traffic flow that could ensue from some of the options.

Options to consider:

Wait until the Craigflower Bridge is reopened and monitor the impact. Estimated cost of $0.

All of the following options include a traffic impact analysis at an estimated cost of approximately $3,500:

Make Rudyard Road one-way only. Estimated cost of $5,500.
Close off Rudyard Road at Stormont Road, making Rudyard Road a no-through road. Estimated cost of $6,000 if no turn-around provided OR $19,500 if turn-around required and if there is sufficient existing road right-of-way to provide one).
Physically do not allow Rudyard Road to enter onto Stormont Road (but still permit right access onto Rudyard Road from Glenairlie Road and left access from Stormont Road onto Rudyard Road). Estimated cost of $12,000.
Physically alter Helmcken Road to prevent the left turns onto Rudyard Road from occurring. Estimated cost of $12,000.
Change signal timing at Stormont Road and Island Highway so that wait times are significantly increased, no longer making it a viable alternative. Estimated cost of $5,500.

BUDGET IMPLICATIONS:

The 2014 Budget does not include funding to either analyze or physically alter roadworks to address the issue of left turns from Helmcken Road onto Rudyard Road.

The recommended option – to monitor the situation upon completion of the Craigflower Bridge Replacement Project – does not require funding. Should work be deemed necessary after the monitoring period, this can work be included in the 2015 Budget process.

RECOMMENDATION:

AND THAT a follow-up report be provided to the Committee of the Whole after that review.

SUBMITTED BY: John Rosenberg, Director of Engineering

REVIEWED BY: Kim Anema, Chief Administrative Officer

Public Works & Transportation Report - TRAFFIC CONCERNS ON RUDYARD AND STORMONT ROADS