STAFF REPORT: INTERSECTION COST COMPARISON - ERSKINE LANE AT WATKISS WAY

TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL COUNCIL REPORT

TO: Council DATE: November 1, 2023 FROM: Ivan Leung, P.Eng, Director of Engineering MEETING DATE: November 7, 2023

INTERSECTION COST COMPARISON - ERSKINE LANE AT WATKISS WAY

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the report dated November 1, 2023 from the Director of Engineering titled “Intersection Cost Comparison Erskine Lane at Watkiss Way” be received for information.

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to provide a response to Council’s direction from the October 17, 2023 regular Council meeting:

C-126-23 THAT the cost difference between a roundabout and a signalized intersection at Erskine Lane and Watkiss Way be provided.

TIME CRITICAL:

This report is not time critical.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

The capital cost of a signalized intersection at Erskine Lane / Watkiss Way is expected to exceed the cost of the roundabout by approximately $800,000. This is predominantly due to the extension of road enhancements that would be provided further west of the intersection and roadway widening that would be required along the applicant’s frontage to accommodate the enhanced pedestrian and cycling infrastructure.

Operational costs were confirmed to be similar between the two intersection types as the cost of traffic signal maintenance is offset by the cost of roundabout landscaping.

BACKGROUND:

The developer of 9 Erskine Lane (the “Applicant”) requested to provide a signalized intersection at the intersection of Erskine Lane at Watkiss Way instead of the roundabout originally required as a condition of development. The Applicant’s request was based on further technical analysis and detailed design as provided in the October 17, 2023 staff report Request to Amend Covenant for Erskine Lane / Watkiss Way Roundabout – Further Information. The report confirms that a roundabout would not fit within the road right of way without (1) land acquisitions from nearby existing properties and (2) significant pedestrian and cyclist related design sacrifices to the roundabout. As a result, staff did not recommend the roundabout option and Council subsequently passed a motion to modify the existing s.219 covenant (CA8718173) to require a traffic signal instead of a roundabout.

Additionally, Council requested a desire to learn the cost difference between the provision of a signalized intersection and a roundabout, which is the purpose of this report.

DISCUSSION:

Two important design elements drove the cost differences between a signalized intersection and roundabout:

1. The cost of traffic signal equipment and electrical infrastructure is not incurred with a roundabout.
2. While signalized intersections generally occupy less space than a roundabout (and thus generally less expected costs), the Applicant would be required to extend the intersection improvements significantly farther south along Watkiss Way to accommodate the traffic calming and pedestrian / cyclist accessibility features, as described in the October 17, 2023 staff report. Therefore, the addition of roadway widening including paving, curbs, and landscaped medians result in the overall increased cost of a signalized intersection versus a roundabout (see Figure 1 for comparison of the limits of construction).

Staff reviewed the estimates provided by the Applicant’s engineer and based on the above, Staff agreed that a signalized intersection at the Erskine Lane / Watkiss Way intersection is expected in the order of magnitude $800,000 more than the roundabout.

Figure 1: Limits of Construction – Signalized vs. Roundabout Intersection

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:

The capital cost of constructing a traffic signal is the sole responsibility of the Applicant. Staff have confirmed an effectively net-zero difference in the operational cost of a signalized intersections versus a roundabout at this location, due to the annual cost of roundabout landscaping maintenance being comparable to the annual cost of traffic signal inspection and repair. As such, there are no financial implications to the Town with the installation of a signalized intersection versus a roundabout at this location.

CONCLUSION:

Staff confirmed and agree that, for the Erskine Lane / Watkiss Way intersection, the costs for a signalized intersection exceed that of a roundabout, in the order of magnitude of $800,000. This is attributable to the extension of works on Watkiss Way to the south of the intersection, as well as additional road widening required along the Applicant’s frontage to accommodate the enhanced pedestrian and cycling infrastructure.