General Committee

 

 

 

 

 

TO:

Mayor and Members of Council

 

 

 

 

FROM:

Alan Brown, Director of Engineering

 

 

 

 

PREPARED BY:

Arup Mukherjee, Manager of Transportation

 

 

 

 

DATE OF MEETING:

2005-Jun-20

 

 

 

 

SUBJECT:

Regional Traffic Signal Programme

 

 

 

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

That the staff report dated June, 20, 2005 entitled “Regional Traffic Signal Programme” be received;

 

And that staff report back with the candidate list of signal locations in Markham where the Town may consider up-fronting costs for Regional traffic signals as part of the 2006 budget process in accordance with the Region’s policy;

 

And that the Region of York be requested to prepare a 10 year implementation plan for signalization of Regional intersections in Markham;

 

And that staff report back on a Regional 2006 and 10-year traffic signal programme for the Town of Markham;

 

And that Kees Schipper, Commissioner of Transportation and Works of the Regional Municipality of York, be advised accordingly.

 

PURPOSE:

This report responds to a request from Council to report on funding of 4 traffic control signals in Ward 6. 

 

BACKGROUND:

On May 16, 2005, General Committee approved the Town’s share of funding for signals at the Birchview Lane/Kennedy Road intersection.  Staff were requested to report back as to the installation of 4 traffic signals in Ward 6 on a cost sharing basis with the Regional Municipality of York.

 

 

 

OPTIONS/DISCUSSION:

Status of specific signal requests in Ward 6

As requested by Council, staff reviewed the specific signal requests for Ward 6 and reviewed the status with respect to the Region’s policy.  The following table outlines the details:

 

 

Signal Location

Status

Comments

Elgin Mills Rd./Kennedy Rd

Warranted

Region to install in 2005/6

Oakford Dr./Woodbine Ave

Warrant 1-66%

Warrant 2-57%

Does not meet Regional Criteria for advancement.  Potential candidate for signals when planned employment development west of Markland St. occurs

Catchet Pkwy/Warden Ave

Warrant 1-22%

Warrant 2-14%

Does not meet Regional Criteria for advancement.  Established residential area with no planned growth.

Jennings Gt/Major Mackenzie Dr. East

Warrant 1-17%

Warrant 2-14%

Does not meet Regional Criteria for advancement.  Established residential area with no planned growth.

 

Based the above-noted table, one signal is warranted and the remaining 3 signals do not meet the Regional criteria to advance signal installation.  The Oakford Dr/Woodbine intersection is the most likely candidate to meet the Region’s policy on up-fronting costs subject to future development of the employment lands.  The remaining two locations are unlikely to experience growth as they are in established residential area.  These two locations are similar to the Birchview Lane/Kennedy Road intersection with respect to area developments and signal warrants (warranted at W1-23% and W2-12%).  Regional staff have stated that they do not have the authority to approve the same cost-sharing arrangement for these signals as was provided for the Birchview Lane/Kennedy Road intersection.

 

Region has a policy to advance signal installation

The Region currently has a policy with respect to advancing the installation of traffic signals prior to warrants being satisfied (Attachment A).  As outlined in the policy, both warrants 1 and 2 must be at least 70% satisfied.  The local municipality must upfront the full cost of the signals (approximately $150,000 to $200,000) along with an annual maintenance cost of ± $7,000.  Once the signals are warranted, the Region will re-imburse the local municipality 100% of the capital costs but not the maintenance cost.

 

Council responded to the Regional Policy on December 10, 2002 (Attachment B) with the recommendation that the Region and/or the developers advance installation of the signal if it shows that projected volumes will meet warrants within a short horizon period.  This recommendation was based upon concerns related to the financial burden for the Town, the administration costs and the possibility that some signals may not be warranted for a period of time.   In this situation, the Town would be required to finance the capital and maintenance costs for an extended period of time. The Region considered this recommendation but did not modify their policy.  The Town has been successful in asking two developers to up-front costs for traffic signals, the Kylemore Homes development on 16th Avenue, west of Kennedy Road and the Mattamy development at 16th Avenue and Roy Rainey Road.

 

Region’s Traffic Signal Programme

Currently the Region has 40 signals in Markham that are candidates for signal installation.  With the growth in the OPA 5 areas, it is expected that these could increase by 50% over the next several years.  Costs for signals can range from $150,000 - $300,000 depending on the site specific needs (left turn lanes, property, utility relocations etc.).  The Region typically requires one year to design and install signals once warrants are satisfied.  On average, Markham has approximately 3-4 signal installations per year.  At this rate, it could take 6-10 years before some signals are installed in Markham.  In this regard, the Region’s policy to up-front signals once they meet a certain criteria can be reconsidered by the Town to accelerate certain signals.    It should be noted, that at some of the 40 current locations, signals might never be warranted. 

 

A 10 year Implementation Plan is recommended

As noted in Attachment C, there are currently 40 signals planned in the Town of Markham on Regional roads.  As growth continues in the OPA 5 area, these numbers will increase.  Council has requested previously the Region develop a 10-year implementation plan so that a more pro-active approach is undertaken to advance the design details so that signals can be tendered and constructed as soon as they are warranted.  This plan will help to outline the status of signals and the planned year of implementation similar to other road works planned by the Region.  It is recommended that this plan be circulated to Markham Engineering staff for comments in accordance with the Region’s Capital Budget process to solicit input from the Town.  Staff can present the list to Committee and Council as part of the Town’s budget reporting process.

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

There are currently no financial considerations associated with staff recommendations in this report.  Should Council wish to up-front the costs for Regional signals, these will be considered in the 2006 budget process.

 

 

 

ATTACHMENTS:

 

Attachment A – Regional Signal Warrant Policy

Attachment B – Markham Council Excerpt on Regional Policy

Attachment C – Regional Intersection Warrants for Markham

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alan Brown, C.E.T.

Director of Engineering

 

Jim Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P.

Commissioner of Development Services

 

 

 

P:\Development\Engineering\REPORTS\2005\June\Traffic Signals_Ward_6.doc