Appendix: Rudyard Road / Stormont Road Traffic Review

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Study Area ............................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Background ........................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Trip Generation ..................................................................................................... 2 2.0 Data Collection ................................................................................................................ 3 2.1 Intersection and License Plate Count .................................................................... 3 2.2 Automatic Counts .................................................................................................. 4 2.3 Speeds .................................................................................................................. 5 2.4 Vehicle Classification ............................................................................................ 5 3.0 Options Review ............................................................................................................... 5 3.1 One Way Rudyard Road ....................................................................................... 6 3.2 Full Closure of Rudyard Road at Stormont Road .................................................. 7 3.3 Partial Diverter on Rudyard Road at Stormont Road ............................................ 8 3.4 Partial Diverter on Rudyard Road at Helmcken Road ........................................... 9 3.5 Signal Timing Changes at Stormont Road/Island Highway ................................. 10 4.0 Conclusions ................................................................................................................... 10

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Study Area ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Figure 2: Eastbound A.M. Traffic Volumes on Rudyard Road ...................................................................... 4 Figure 3: Southbound A.M. Traffic Volumes on Stormont Road ................................................................... 5

1.0 Introduction

Boulevard Transportation Group was retained by the Town of View Royal to undertake a traffic study on Rudyard Road / Stormont Road to determine the occurrence of a short cutting eastbound/northbound between Helmcken Road and Island Highway. The study includes observations of the number of left turners during the left turn restriction at Rudyard Road / Helmcken Road as well as the total daily traffic volumes, traffic speeds, and a high level review of mitigation options once short cutting was identified as an issue.

1.1 Study Area

The study area includes the Helmcken Road / Rudyard Road and Stormont Road / Island Highway intersections and Rudyard Road and Stormont Road.

Figure 1: Study Area

1.2 Background

Helmcken Road was converted from a two-lane 50km/h road to a two lane 40km/h with left turn lanes/medians and bicycle lanes in 2004. Concerns regarding possible short cutting using Rudyard Road and Stormont Road to avoid Island Highway/Helmcken Road intersection have been occurring since at least 2003. In 2015, the queue lengths for the southbound approach at Helmcken Road / Island Highway can extend past Rudyard Road during the morning commute. Following the changes on Helmcken Road speed humps on Rudyard Road and Stormont Road were implemented in 2005 along with a restriction on southbound left turns between the hours of 6:30am and 8:15am at Rudyard Road/Helmcken Road. Additional changes were made to reduce the desirability of the Rudyard Road/Stormont Road route with the change of the Stormont Road/Island Highway intersection from a pedestrian signal (where drivers would get out of their vehicles to provide themselves with quicker access to Island Highway) to a full traffic signal with a delayed response time to vehicles on Stormont Road.

Rudyard Road provides access to eight houses (south side) and the View Royal Elementary (north side). The school’s outside supervision starts at 8:30am while the class start time is 8:43am. School dismissal time is 2:43pm. Pick up and drop off is allowed along the north side of Rudyard Road. Stormont Road provides access directly to approximately 20 houses; however, it is also the only access point for Suzanne Place, Brian Place, Ardenlea Place, Abinger Place, and Glenairlie Drive (Glenairlie area) which is an additional 75-80 lots. This neighbourhood utilizes Stormont Road and Rudyard Road to access their neighbourhood.

1.3 Trip Generation

The trip generation for the two areas (Rudyard Road and Glenairlie area) was calculated from the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Trip Generation Manual (9th edition) using the single family trip rate. The AM and PM weekday peak hour trips are summarized in Table 1 and 2.

TABLE 1: AM PEAK HOUR TRIP GENERATION

TABLE 2: PM PEAK HOUR TRIP GENERATION

TABLE 3: DAILY TRIP GENERATION

The Glenairlie area generates 13 times as much traffic as the housing on Rudyard Road per day.

2.0 Data Collection

2.1 Intersection and License Plate Count

A manual intersection count was undertaken at Rudyard Road/Helmcken Road from 6:15am to 8:45am on Wednesday February 11, 2015 to determine the number of violators of the left turn restriction. From 6:30am to 8:15am there were 55 vehicles observed making the banned southbound left turn at Rudyard Road/Helmcken Road. The majority of the banned left turns occurred when the southbound queues from the Island Highway / Helmcken Road intersection extended past Rudyard Road (between 6:45am and 7:15am).

In order to determine which vehicles were using Rudyard Road and Stormont Road as a short cut route and not for residential or school access a license plate count was conducted. The time and a partial license plate was recorded as vehicles accessed Rudyard Road from Helmcken Road and as vehicles exited Stormont Road to Island Highway. Taking into account the approximate travel time between the two intersections the partial license plate data was matched to determine how many vehicles were using the route as a short cut. License plates that were matched, but took more time than the travel time (plus a small buffer) were deemed to be residential trips.

The license plate data was documented from 7:15am to 8:15am. During this one hour time period a total of 18 license plate matches per made. A total of 28 vehicles entered Rudyard Road from Helmcken Road during this period therefore 65% of the left turn violators are short cutters, while the remaining 10 vehicles are local residents. The results of this short license plate matching indicate there is a high percentage of short cutters; however, the volume of short cutters during this hour is low (18 vph). By stopping the short cutters, an estimated 61 vph from the peak hour of 6:45-7:45am will then be re-assigned to the intersection of Helmcken Road/ Island Highway. Re-assigning these vehicles to the intersection of Helmcken Road/ Island Highway will result in an increase in queues and delays along Helmcken Road during this time period.

2.2 Automatic Counts

Automatic counters were set up on Rudyard Road approximately 70m from the Helmcken Road / Rudyard Road intersection and on Stormont Road, north of Island Highway. The automatic counters measure volume, speed and classification data of vehicles travelling by direction in 15 minute increments. These counts were conducted from Wednesday February 11, 2015 to Thursday February 19, 2015.

The ADT for Stormont Road is 687 vehicles while the Rudyard Road is 700 vehicles both are split 50/50 per direction. Both ADT’s are below 1,000 which is the typical for a two-way total on a local road.

Reviewing the eastbound traffic on Rudyard Road found that the peak hour eastbound traffic on Rudyard Road is between 6:45am and 7:45am. The average eastbound traffic volume is 70 vehicles per hour; however, the majority of that traffic occurs between 6:45am and 7:15am with peak 15 minute volume reach up to 40 vehicles. During this same period (6:45am to 7:45am) on the weekends the hourly traffic volume is less than 5 vph. By comparison the eastbound traffic in the PM peak hour (2:30-3:30pm) is 45 vph.

Figure 2 illustrates the eastbound traffic volumes eastbound on Rudyard Road for a typical weekday for the period before, during, and after the left turn restriction.

Figure 2: Eastbound A.M. Traffic Volumes on Rudyard Road

[Figure 2: Bar chart showing "Typical Rudyard Road Eastbound Traffic 6:15 - 9:00AM" by number of vehicles and time of day.]

The southbound traffic on Stormont Road also peaks between 6:45am and 7:45am with an average peak hour volume of 86 vph. Similarly to Rudyard Road the period from 6:45am to 7:15am is higher than the rest of the hour. Weekend northbound traffic volumes are also less than 5 vph during this same time period. Figure 3 illustrates a typical AM period for southbound traffic from 6:15am to 9:00am.

Figure 3: Southbound A.M. Traffic Volumes on Stormont Road

[Figure 3: Bar chart showing "Typical Stormont Road Southbound Traffic 6:15 - 9:00AM" by number of vehicles and time of day.]

The southbound traffic volumes, during the afternoon peak hours is in the range of 40 vph.

2.3 Speeds

The 85th percentile speed is typically used as the measure of the speed a ‘reasonable person’ would travel. The 85th percentile speed on Rudyard Road was measured to be between 25-30 km/h. On Stormont Rd the 85th percentile speed was measured to be between 35-40 km/h. The 85th percentile speeds are at or below the posted speed limits.

2.4 Vehicle Classification

The vehicle class percentage shows that 90% of vehicles on Stormont Road are passenger vehicles and 94% on Rudyard Road are passenger vehicles. Both roads have less than 10% of vehicles being single-unit trucks.

3.0 Options Review

Based on the traffic counts there is an increase in traffic volumes eastbound to southbound for a short period (6:45am to 7:15am) that are related to short cutters. The current left turn sign restriction is allowing short cutters through the neighbourhood.

The following are a series of additional traffic calming options that could be implemented to deal with the short cutting issue. See Appendix B for sketches of the options. All of the following options include a traffic impact analysis at an estimated cost of $3,500.

3.1 One Way Rudyard Road

This option would utilize signage to convert Rudyard Road into a one way street westbound. The road width would be narrowed on Rudyard Road just east of Helmcken Road to reinforce the one way nature of the road. On street parking could be added along road. Estimated cost of $25,000.

Pros:

• Eliminates eastbound short cutting vehicles
• Potential to provide more formal on-street parking (at additional cost) for pedestrian facilities due to extra width for school pick up
• Decreases the potential for short cutters to disobey the signage due to the length of the one way street

Cons:

• Require all eastbound traffic from the neighbourhood, including school traffic, to utilize Stormont Road
• May increase delays on Helmcken Road due to increased vehicles through the Island Highway / Helmcken Road intersection
• Increases traffic volumes on Helmcken Road and Stormont Road by 300 to 370 vpd
• Increasing the volume of southbound traffic on Helmcken Road by up to 370 vpd, including an average of 57 vph in the AM will increase queues and delays on Helmcken Road at Island Highway.
• Potentially increasing emergency vehicles response time due to increased routing to access the neighbourhood
• Vehicles needing to access the daycare on Island Highway west of the old Fire Hall in the AM will not be able to use Ruydard Road to Stormont Road to access the daycare. The daycare access is a right-in only access westbound on Island Highway and therefore can’t be access by vehicles from Helmcken Road to Island Highway.

3.2 Full Closure of Rudyard Road at Stormont Road

This option would physically close Rudyard Road at Stormont Road. All traffic for the school and the housing on Rudyard Road would utilize Rudyard Road and all traffic for the Glenairlie area would utilize Stormont Road. There are two alternatives for a full closure: a cul-de-sac closure and a road closure with the existing road width. Estimated cost of $45,000.

Pros:

• Eliminates all short cutting vehicles through Rudyard Road/Stormont Road
• Allows for left turners from Helmcken Road to access to Rudyard Road (Rudyard housing and school)
• Provides more on-street parking for school pick-up / drop-off
• Potential increased landscaping area, depending on design

Cons:

• Forces all vehicles Glenairlie area traffic to Stormont Road which will increase their circulation / travel time
• Forces all Rudyard and school traffic to Rudyard Road which will increase their circulation / travel time
• Increased delays for eastbound left turn access to Helmcken Road for Rudyard Road residents / school traffic
• Increased delays through the Island Highway / Helmcken Road intersection due to the extra circulation of vehicles
• Increases traffic volumes on Helmcken Road and Stormont Road by 500 vpd
• Potential increases in emergency vehicles response time
• Requires school traffic to u-turn to exit from Rudyard Road
• Does not provide alternative / secondary route to residents of Rudyard Road or Glenairlie area (unless emergency access gates are incorporated into the closure)
• In order to provide a standard cul-de-sac / turnaround area additional property may be required
• Vehicles needing to access the daycare on Island Highway west of the old Fire Hall in the AM will not be able to use Ruydard Road to Stormont Road to access the daycare. The daycare access is a right-in only access westbound on Island Highway and therefore can’t be access by vehicles from Helmcken Road to Island Highway.

3.3 Partial Diverter on Rudyard Road at Stormont Road

This option would place a physical barrier to partially close Rudyard Road at Stormont Road. The partial diverter would close the eastbound exit from Rudyard Road onto Stormont Road, but would still permit left and right turning movements onto Rudyard Road. Emergency vehicles would, if necessary, travel through the diverter in the opposite direction. Estimated cost of $15,000.

Pros:

• Physically restricts short cutting movement (eastbound right turn)

Cons:

• Any Glenairlie area traffic from Helmcken Road north would be required to circulate to Stormont Road which will increase their circulation / travel time to access their properties
• Forces all eastbound Rudyard and school traffic to Helmcken Road which may increase their circulation / travel time as well as potential increased delays to access Helmcken Road to the south (westbound left)
• Increased volumes through the Island Highway / Helmcken Road intersection due to the extra circulation of vehicles which increases delays
• May increase u-turns on Rudyard Road for school traffic (eastbound arriving traffic would have to u-turn to exit westbound) and for any vehicles who miss the no-thru road signage
• Due to the relatively low volumes on the route, short cutters may continue to utilize the route and travel the wrong way through the diverter
• Increased emergency vehicle response time
• Vehicles needing to access the daycare on Island Highway west of the old Fire Hall in the AM will not be able to use Ruydard Road to Stormont Road to access the daycare. The daycare access is a right-in only access westbound on Island Highway and therefore can’t be access by vehicles from Helmcken Road to Island Highway.

3.4 Partial Diverter on Rudyard Road at Helmcken Road

This option would place a physical barrier on Rudyard Road at Helmcken Road to restrict left turn access to Rudyard Road, but allow westbound traffic to exit from Rudyard. Estimated cost of $10,000.

Pros:

• Eliminates eastbound short cutting vehicles

Cons:

• Require all eastbound traffic from the Glenairlie area, Rudyard Road, and school traffic, to utilize Stormont Road
• May increase delays on Helmcken Road due to increased vehicles through the Island Highway / Helmcken Road intersection
• Increases traffic volumes on Helmcken Road and Stormont Road by 350 vpd
• Potential for increased u-turns on Rudyard Road as vehicles turn around to head to Stormont Road to head south; especially school traffic
• Potentially increases emergency vehicles response time due to increased routing to access the neighbourhood; however, emergency vehicle could enter going the wrong way
• Potential for southbound vehicles on Helmcken Road to use the Rudyard Road exit (westbound lane) as an entry to Rudyard Road due to the low volumes. I.e. vehicles may continue to turn southbound left onto Rudyard Road from Helmcken Road going the wrong way past the barrier.
• Vehicles needing to access the daycare on Island Highway west of the old Fire Hall in the AM will not be able to use Ruydard Road to Stormont Road to access the daycare. The daycare access is a right-in only access westbound on Island Highway and therefore can’t be access by vehicles from southbound Helmcken Road to Island Highway.

3.5 Signal Timing Changes at Stormont Road/Island Highway

This option would adjust the signal timing at Stormont Road/Island Highway to further increase the waiting time for a vehicle on the side street (Stormont Road) to trigger the green signal to access Island Highway. Estimated cost of $5,500.

Pros:

• Does not limit access to/from the area for residents

Cons:

• Longer wait times for residents trying to access Island Highway at the signal
• May encourage more use of Rudyard Road westbound left turn at Helmcken Road which would increase traffic on Rudyard Road and increase delays at the intersection
• Not a significant discouragement to eastbound short cutters since there will still be low volumes on Stormont Road which ‘feels’ faster and they would still be able to turn off Helmcken Road.

Public consultation should be considered before implementing any options.

4.0 Conclusions

The volume of southbound left turners from Helmcken Road to Rudyard Road in the AM period (6:30am to 8:15am) varies depending on the weekday; however, a one day count found that were 55 vehicles observed to violate the no left turn restriction. License plate matching found a 65% match in a one hour period comparing entering traffic at Helmcken Road and exiting traffic at Stormont Road. Eastbound traffic on Rudyard Road during the weekends is less than 10 vph and therefore it is not expected that any short cutting is occurring during the weekends. Weekday observations also found that the number of left turns increased as queues on Helmcken Road extended back to and beyond Rudyard Road in the morning. This combination of factors indicates a high percentage of short cutters using Rudyard Road and Stormont Road in the AM. Over a five day weekday period it is estimated that there is 459 short cutters using Rudyard Road to Stormont Road between 6:30am and 8:30am. The measured speeds on Rudyard Road and Stormont Road are at or below the posted speed limit. Therefore speeding is not an issue along the two roads.

A series of options have been identified to provide stronger traffic calming measures to reduce short cutting; however, these measures will impact access to Rudyard Road, the school, and the Glenairlie area to varying degrees, increase delays on Helmcken Road, and may impact emergency access to the area. Some options (partial diverters) may have more limited success as short cutters may travel through the wrong way (for a short distance) due to the low volumes on Rudyard Road. Public consultation with all neighbours should be considered before implementing any options.