Document 2 Safety and Operations of Renaud Road and the Prescott Russell Cycling Trail

Transcription

1 Document 2 Safety and Operations of Renaud Road and the Prescott Russell Cycling Trail Safety Review of Renaud Road (October 2013) The BECA expressed concerns about the two 90 degree bends in the road where there have been incidents of vehicles driving off the road. A review of the accident statistics indicated a total of 13 collisions occurred on the section of Renaud Road between Joshua Street and the northerly 90 degree curve on Renaud Road during the 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2013 time period. None of these collisions involved cyclists and/or pedestrians traveling on the road in the vicinity of the cycling trail crossings. Action items as a result of this review included: Marker-type street lighting installed (2013) Flashing beacons in place at both the north and south curves installed (2013) Damaged signage repaired (2013) Additional warning signs installed (2013): o Larger curve warning signs o Chevrons for northern curve o In advance of cycling trail crossings In addition, at both curves 90 degree curves along Renaud Road the roadway has been resurfaced with high friction asphalt to reduce vehicle slippage (2015). Prescott Russell Cycling Trail Crossings and Renaud Road Straightening The BECA noted that crossing the road from the trail can be difficult due to the high volume of vehicles, particularly during peak hours. It was also suggested that Renaud Road be straightened to remove the two 90 degree bends. Renaud Road functions as a "collector" road and is constructed to a rural standard cross section in the vicinity of the Prescott-Russell Cycling Trail. The Prescott Russell Cycling Trail crosses the road at two locations in the vicinity of the southerly 90 degree curve of Renaud Road. One crossing is located approximately 90

2 metres north of this curve and the other crossing is located approximately 295 east of the curve as shown in Figure 2. Figure 2: Prescott Russell Cycling Crossings The installation of Bicycle Crossing Ahead signs was undertaken on the approaches to the cycling trail crossings in the spring of These signs inform motorists they are approaching a location where cyclists may be crossing the road. The City concurs that the relatively close proximity to the Blackburn Hamlet and Bradley Estates residential developments may result in an increase in the number of pedestrian movements along the cycling trail. Accordingly, (as shown in Figure 2) the following is a summary of the action that has been undertaken to enhance the traffic control measures on the approaches to the cycling trail crossings (2015): Remove the existing Bicycle Crossing Ahead signs and install the new oversize Pedestrian and Bicycle Crossing Ahead (Wc-15) signs, along with the new Crossing (Wc-32t) tabs on all four approaches to the trail crossings. Relocate the sign located on the north side of the road at a point approximately 150 metres south and east of the westerly cycling trail crossing to the east side of the street at a point approximately 60 metres south of the cycling trail crossing. 2

3 Furthermore, the City s TMP shows a conceptual proposal to straighten Renaud Road (see Figure 3, grey arrows). This is a future, longer-term plan and is only conceptual at this stage; however the road straightening would remove the need for multiple crossings with the trail. A ballpark construction cost plus decommissioning of existing Renaud Road would be in the vicinity of $4.5M. Figure 3: Future proposed Renaud Straightening at Cycling Trail Crossing (TMP) Renaud Road Ecological Area The BECA is concerned with the effects of high traffic volumes on the Mud Creek ecological area and the number of crossings of the Creek. The reach of Mud Creek located directly adjacent to the north side of Renaud Road has been identified as requiring future rehabilitation. As per the NCC Green s Creek Watershed Rehabilitation-Priority Rehabilitation Projects-Restoration Concepts (March 2014), the report recommends that the Creek be shifted away from the road and a separate roadside ditch be constructed to improve the health of this section of creek. The City remediates the roadway shoulders to prevent damage to the roadbed and prevent debris from falling in the Creek on an as required basis. In the area where the Creek and the road are immediately adjacent, guiderails were placed in 2007 to enhance safety and the protection of the Creek. 3

4 Traffic Speed The BECA is concerned with high traffic speeds along Renaud Road through the Bradley Estates Community. There are a variety of land uses along Renaud Road in the vicinity of the Bradley Estates community which are sensitive to traffic speed. Residential properties front along certain sections of the corridor. There is a park located at the western end of the community and a school located east of Navan Road both with the potential to generate pedestrian and cyclist demand. Given the nature of the adjacent land use, the speed limit on Renaud Road west of Navan Road is 50 km/hr. The speed limit increases to 80 km/hr just west of Bradley Ridge Park as the road enters the Greenbelt. Figure 4 presents the results of two speed surveys conducted (one Renaud Road at a location 125 metres west of Joshua Street (within the 50 km/hr speed zone) and one east of the Joshua Street Intersection. The first survey (2014) identifies speeds in the westbound direction are considerably higher than those in the eastbound direction as drivers anticipate entering the 80km/hr speed zone within the Greenbelt. In both directions, the 85th percentile speed exceeds 70 km/hr, within the 50km/hr posted speed zone, indicating that 15 per cent of drivers are travelling 20 km/hr over the speed limit or higher. A later survey conducted in 2015 which only measured traffic speed in the eastbound direction at a location east of Joshua Road, indicated the 85th percentile speed exceeded 87 km/hr. Such speeds pose a safety concern to vulnerable road users (pedestrians and cyclists) and meet one of the thresholds in the City s ATM Guidelines for the application of mitigation measures. An area traffic management study has been initiated to address this issue. 4

5 Figure 4: Observed Speed Surveys along Renaud 5