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8. WOODROFFE
aVENUE AND iRIS sTREET – LEFT TURN ARROW Avenue
Woodroffe et rue iris – flèche pour tourner à gauche |
Committee Recommendation
That
Council approve the installation of an eastbound left-turn arrow at the traffic
signal at Woodroffe Avenue and Iris Street.
Recommandation DU Comité
Que le Conseil approuve l’installation, en
direction est, d’une flèche pour tourner à gauche au feu de circulation de
l’avenue Woodroffe et de la rue Iris.
Documentation
1. Councillor’s report dated 11 August
2010 (ACS2010-CCS-TRC-0025).
2. Extract of Draft Minute, 23 August
immediately follows the report.
Comité des transports
and Council / et au
Conseil
11 August 2010 / le 11 août 2010
Submitted by /
Soumis par: Conseiller / Councillor Rick
Chiarelli
Contact / Personne-ressource : Councillor R.
Chiarelli
(613) 580-2478, Rick.Chiarelli@ottawa.ca
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SUBJECT: |
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OBJET
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REPORT RECOMMENDATION
That Transportation Committee recommend Council approve the
installation of an eastbound left-turn arrow at the traffic signal at Woodroffe
Avenue and Iris Street.
RECOMMANDATION DU RAPPORT
Que le Comité des
transports recommande au Conseil d’approuver l’installation, en direction est,
d’une flèche pour tourner à gauche au feu de circulation de l’avenue Woodroffe
et de la rue Iris.
BACKGROUND
In the past, some local residents
expressed concern that providing an eastbound left turn arrow will encourage
short cutting traffic through the neighbourhood. Traffic uses Iris Street as an alternate
route to the Highway 417 corridor.
However, most residents are concerned with the eastbound left turn
queues in the AM peak hour and any potential safety issues that could
arise. Recent discussion between the
local Councillor and neighbourhood residents indicates there is now a desire to
install an eastbound left turn arrow.
DISCUSSION
On 5 September 2007,
at the request of the ward councillor, the Transportation Committee directed
staff to conduct a formal investigation into the
implementation of an advance left turn phase for eastbound Iris Street at
Woodroffe Avenue (ACS2007-CCS-TRC-0010).
On 20 August 2008, the Committee received for information, the staff response (ACS2008-PWS-TRF-0020). Staff indicated in that report that the primary source of delay for the eastbound left movement is related to congestion on the Woodroffe Avenue corridor north of Iris Street. Implementing the eastbound left turn arrow display would increase the delay to north and southbound traffic by reducing the amount of green time available for these movements. This would reduce the level of service for the northbound Woodroffe Avenue movement to failure conditions.
For these reasons, staff recommended that no action be taken to introduce an eastbound left turn signal phase at this location.
It was suggested however, that a
potential means of relieving the congestion would be to encourage the Ministry
of Transportation, Ontario, to reconstruct the Woodroffe Avenue Eastbound 417
ramps to provide additional capacity for northbound traffic. The Committee and subsequently Council, on 28
August 2008, recommended writing to the province,
with a request that they include an increase in eastbound capacity at the
Woodroffe Queensway on-ramp as part of modifications to the ramp. No response was ever received from the
Ministry.
CONSULTATION
Since this time, numerous local residents have contacted the local Councillor urging that action be taken to reintroduce this issue to the Transportation Committee and Council. To ensure this reflected the opinion of the broader community, in mid-July 2010, the local Councillor hand delivered a flyer to over 500 residences in the area asking them for their feedback on this matter. The result was overwhelmingly in favour of an eastbound left-hand advanced green arrow at Iris and Woodroffe. There was only one objector. In addition, one resident expressed concern that audible signals be added to the intersection for the visually impaired.
On July 11, 2010, the local Councillor met with a number of residents who live on the west side of Woodroffe Avenue. They expressed their overwhelming support for the eastbound green signal citing the peak hour delays in making a left-hand turn that many had been experiencing for several years. Many claimed that Iris could be backed up west of the Transitway at peak hours.
In addition, they expressed a number of safety concerns including numerous cars running the current yellow and red light in frustration at every light change. The danger is compounded when they intersect with westbound cars turning right. This danger is further aggravated when eastbound and westbound cars all attempt to enter the Queensway on ramp or when westbound cars cross in front of eastbound cars entering the Queensway on ramp.
Public
Works Department
Public Works supports the recommendation to install an eastbound left-turn arrow, which will be completed as part of the lifecycle upgrade of this signal location.
A review of current traffic volumes show that, with the addition of the left-turn arrow, the intersection will continue to operate at capacity. Pedestrians and motorists may experience a minor increase in delay; however, the intersection will operate at an acceptable level of service. The addition of the arrow will remove some of the conflicts between eastbound left-turning vehicles and opposing vehicles and pedestrians.
Since staff are upgrading the traffic control at the intersection, they will also install audible signals for the benefit of the visually impaired and pedestrian countdown timers to improve overall safety at the intersection. This will be in addition to the ongoing audible pedestrian signal upgrades taking place at intersections across the city.
If Council approves the recommendation in this report, the work will be scheduled for late fall 2010.
The estimated cost for the signal work is $41,000.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Funding is available in the 2010 Lifecycle Renewal – Traffic Control Signals programme.
LEGAL / RISK MANAGEMENT
IMPLICATIONS
Should
Council commit the necessary funds in 2010, there are no legal impediments to
the implementation of this Report's recommendations.
RURAL IMPLICATIONS
There are no rural implications.
DISPOSITION
Staff in Public Works Department to implement upon approval of City Council.
WOODROFFE
aVENUE AND iRIS sTREET – LEFT TURN ARROW
Avenue Woodroffe et rue iris
– flèche pour tourner à gauche
ACS2010-CCS-TRC-0025 COLLEGE / COLLÈGE (8)
Councillor
Desroches asked if there was a strong safety element with this change. He believed residents are willing to have
some inconvenience if they learn the proposed turn signal will improve the
intersection. Tom Fitzgerald, Program Manager,
Traffic Engineering confirmed that the signal will improve safety considerably
for motorists and also for pedestrians with the inclusion of pedestrian
countdown and audible signals. The
councillor suggested staff monitor the intersection and report back on the
effectiveness of this signal in a year’s time.
The Chair agreed this could be a direction to staff and the ward
councillor also concurred with this direction.
Barbara
Lajeunesse stated this turn signal has been a long time coming and will be
welcomed by the community. She remarked
that she has waited as many as seven signal cycles before being able to make a
left turn, but even then such movements are not always safe. She noted the left turn arrow will provide
safe movement for all users and will help to reduce cut-through traffic from
frustrated motorists who end up taking local streets to avoid the intersection.
Councillor
Chiarelli noted that for a number of years residents have wanted to eliminate
the problems of turning at this intersection and he recognized the short
distance between this intersection and the on-ramp to the Queensway at
Woodroffe Avenue, which pose problems for oncoming traffic. He stated that there has been an increase in
traffic generated by neighbouring communities and institutions such as
Centrepointe Town Centre and Algonquin College and the expansion of the IKEA further
west along Iris at Pinecrest will further add to the traffic. He appreciated that staff undertook the
second study to look at this intersection.
That
Transportation Committee recommend Council approve the installation of an
eastbound left-turn arrow at the traffic signal at Woodroffe Avenue and Iris
Street.
CARRIED
If the recommendation is approved by Council, that staff monitor the left turn function at this intersection and report back in one year on the effectiveness of this turn cycle.