Transportation Committee
	TO:	Mayor and Members of Council
	FROM:	Alan Brown, Director of Engineering
	PREPARED BY:	David Porretta, Engineering Technician
	DATE OF MEETING:	2004-Sep-27
	SUBJECT:	Commerce Valley Drive West / South Park Road - All-way Stop Control

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT Schedule 12 of By-law 106-71 for all-way stop control be amended to include the intersection of Commerce Valley Drive West and South Park Road and that the attached by-law be approved;

AND THAT the Operations and Asset Management Department be directed to install all-way stop signs at the intersection of Commerce Valley Drive West and South Park Road upon approval of the attached by-law;

AND THAT The York Regional Police Department be requested to enforce the all-way stop control upon installation of these signs;

AND THAT the intersection of Commerce Valley Drive West and South Park Road be considered for traffic control signals in the 2005 Capital Budget;

AND THAT a sidewalk on the east side of Commerce Valley Drive West, between Highway 7 and Leslie Street, in conjunction with the traffic control signals be considered in the 2005 Capital Budget.

PURPOSE:

This report recommends all-way stop control at the intersection of Commerce Valley Drive West and South Park Road. This report also discusses the need for traffic control signals and a sidewalk on the east side of Commerce Valley Drive West.

BACKGROUND:

The Engineering Department received a request to investigate the traffic operations at the intersection of Commerce Valley Drive West and South Park Road. This was in response to the increasing vehicular and pedestrian volumes as a result of existing and future development in the area of the subject intersection.

Currently, Commerce Valley Drive West and South Park Road is a three-leg intersection. However, a new commercial development owned by Kolter Properties Limited is scheduled for completion in September 2005, which will add a fourth leg to the subject intersection. This fourth leg will be the primary access route through the commercial development and will also be connecting to Leslie Street (see Attachment 1).

DISCUSSION:

All-way Stop Control Warrant

To determine the need for all-way stop control, the local traffic conditions must meet the minimum requirements of the all-way stop warrant adopted by the Town. The warrant is based on guidelines established by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario and assists in assessing the need for additional right-of-way control at an intersection. A turning movement count was conducted during the peak hour of the day at this intersection and the resulting warrant analysis is as follows:

	WARRANT 1			WARRANT 2
	Vehicular Volume			Volume Split
	(All Approaches)
Criteria	Recorded Value	Criteria Met?	Criteria	Recorded Value	Criteria Met?
> 350	1255	Yes	< 75 / 25	75 / 25	Yes

An All-way Stop Sign Control is warranted when both warrants 1 and 2 are satisfied. In accordance with the above analysis, Warrants 1 and 2 were satisfied, therefore the Engineering Department recommends an All-way Stop Control for the intersection of Commerce Valley Drive West and South Park Road. Based on this recommendation, the proposed All-way Stop Control will improve the traffic operation at the above noted intersection.

Traffic Control Signal Warrant

A traffic control signal warrant study was also undertaken at the intersection to investigate the suitability for traffic signal installation. Before signals can be installed at a particular intersection, a signal warrant study is necessary to confirm that it meets the minimum technical requirements. The warrant follows guidelines established by the Ministry of Transportation Ontario and covers aspects such as vehicular volume, delay and accident experience at the intersection. The traffic volume requirement is based on an eight hour turning movement count conducted at the intersection.

Town staff conducted a warrant analysis at the intersection of Commerce Valley Drive West and South Park Road and the results are as follows:

	WARRANT 1			WARRANT 2
	Minimum Vehicular Volume			Delay to Cross Traffic
Criteria	Recorded Value	Criteria Met?	Criteria	Recorded Value	Criteria Met?
> 80%	73%	NO	> 80%	84%	YES

Results indicate that warrants were not met based on the existing three-leg intersection configuration. However, the introduction of a fourth approach will increase the potential conflict between left turn and through movements on the minor road (South Park Road). The results of the study based on four legs, is shown below:

	WARRANT 1			WARRANT 2
	Minimum Vehicular Volume			Delay to Cross Traffic
Criteria	Recorded Value	Criteria Met?	Criteria	Recorded Value	Criteria Met?
> 80%	89%	YES	> 80%	84%	YES

Based on the introduction of the fourth leg, the intersection meets the warrants for traffic signals.

Sidewalk Assessment

Current Engineering design criteria requires that collector roads have sidewalks on both sides of the street. Commerce Valley Drive West has a sidewalk only on the west side. York Region Transit operates a bus route along Commerce Valley Drive West, with several bus stops on both sides of the street (see Attachment 1).

It was observed that 433 pedestrians crossed the intersection of Commerce Valley Drive West and South Park Road during the busiest 8 hours of the day. Many of these pedestrians use York Region Transit. Installing a sidewalk on the east side of Commerce Valley Drive West will provide pedestrians with safe and convenient access between the commercial properties and these bus stops. It will also reduce the number of pedestrian and vehicular conflicts as a result of pedestrians unsafely crossing the street.

The sidewalk will also facilitate access to the proposed traffic control signals at Commerce Valley Drive West and South Park Road. In return, the traffic control signals will provide a safer crossing for pedestrians.

Summary of All-Way Stop Control, Traffic Control Signals and Sidewalk

To address the operational issues at the intersection of Commerce Valley Drive West and South Park Road, it is recommended that an all-way stop control be implemented now. The fourth leg of this intersection will be constructed with the development of the property on the east side of this intersection. At that time, signal warrants will be satisfied and it is recommended that signals be installed in conjunction with the construction of the fourth leg. In addition, it is further recommended that a sidewalk be installed on the east side of Commerce Valley Drive West, between Highway 7 and Leslie Street at the same time as the signal installation.

Upon approval, the all-way stop control will be implemented in Fall 2004, followed by the installation of the traffic control signals and sidewalk in Spring 2005, subject to Capital budget approval.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

The cost of labour and materials to install the all-way stop control signs are accounted for in the 2004 budget for the Operations and Asset Management Department.

The Town has a letter of credit from Kolter Properties Limited for the purpose of intersection improvements, including traffic control signals, at Commerce Valley Drive West and South Park Road.

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

Subject to Council’s approval, the Operations and Asset Management Department will install the proper signage for the all-way stop at Commerce Valley Drive West and South Park Road.

ATTACHMENTS:

Attachment 1 – Commerce Valley Drive West Study Area

Attachment 2 – Proposed By-law

Alan Brown, C.E.T. Director of Engineering

Jim Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P. Commissioner of Development Services