Staff Present: Traffic Engineer - R. Mammel and Engineering Clerk - S. Porlier

Transcription

1 September 16, 2002 at 11 :00 a.m. in Room 530 of Abbotsford City Hall Page 1 Committee Present: Chair - Councillor M. Gill; Abbotsford Police Department - Cst. D. Hermmm; Independent Representatives - G. Harder and T. Jamieson; Insurance Corporation of British Columbia - D. Miller; Safer City Initiative - S. Verhulst; School District No B. Headland; and Upper Fraser Valley Health Unit - S. Johal Staff Present: Traffic Engineer - R. Mammel and Engineering Clerk - S. Porlier Public Present: 0 1. CALL TO ORDER Councillor Gill called the meeting to order at 11 :05 a.m. 2. ADOPTION OF MINUTES.1 Traffic Safety Advisory Committee Minutes - June 17,2002 Moved by T. Jamieson, seconded by D. Miller, that the minutes of the Abbotsford Traffic Safety AdvisOlY Committee meeting held June 17,2002, be adopted. 3. BUSINESS OUT OF MINUTES.1 Alternate access to Dave Kandal Elementary School ( ) D. Miller, ICBC, had not received new information regarding the alternate access to Dave Kandal Elementary School. As requested, he would confirm the existence of a sidewalk on Blue Jay Street, from Goldfinch Street to Mt. Lehman Road. Moved by S. Johal, seconded by B. Headland, that the verbal update from D. Miller, ICBC, regarding the alternate access to Dave Kandal Elementary School, be deferred until the next Traffic Safety Advisory Committee meeting on October 21, TS

2 September 16, 2002 at 11 :00 a.m. in Room 530 of Abbotsford City Hall Page 2.2 Safer City Initiative ( /C6) S. Verhulst, Safer City Co-ordinator, updated the committee on the various ongoing Safer City projects and sub-committees. The Bicycle Advisory Committee, a group of 16 members, had been meeting to discuss a bicycle route master plan and future land use plan. A consultant was currently taking measurements on various streets in areas requiring improvement. In the area of communications, banners, newspaper advertisements, posters and a web site were a few of the ways that the Safer City initiative would be making itself visible to Abbotsford residents. All committee members were invited to the official Safer City launch, scheduled for Thursday, September 19, 2002, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., in the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium. In the area of consultation, fourth year students from the University College of the Fraser Valley were working on a technically sound questionnaire, intended to identify community concerns on traffic safety issues. The Safer City Speed Management Plan has been progressing through the work of the Abbotsford Speed Watch program. Sixteen volunteers have been monitoring speeders in various areas of concern. They have also been watching for the use of seatbelts. The Speed Watch program was part of an intervention package that provided information for engineering improvements and traffic safety education to the public. It was noted that, in the past two months, the Abbotsford Speed Watch members have logged 150 hours and responded to 38 traffic complaints. The Yellow Ribbon Campaign has begun. Yellow ribbons have been tied around all of the 30-kilometre school speed zone signs in Abbotsford, in an effort to remind drivers to slow down. Finally, there was a short discussion on the Safer City Advocacy role in relation to the community and road safety priorities. Moved by T. Jamieson, seconded by B. Headland, that the verbal update from S. Verhulst, Safer City Initiative Committee Co-ordinator, on the Safer City initiative, be received. TS

3 September 16, 2002 at 11 :00 a.m. in Room 530 of Abbotsford City Hall Page 3.3 McCallum Road on-ramp at McCallum Road ( ) R. Mammel, Traffic Engineer, discussed the response from the Ministry of Transportation (MOT), regarding the McCallum Road on-ramp at McCallum Road. A letter was sent to MOT requesting a traffic signal and crosswalk across the westbound onramp and a free right-tum onto McCallum Road. Although the McCallum Road on-ramp was a low priority for MOT, due to budget constraints, a right-tum lane would be considered, ifit only involved adding paint lines. It was noted that School District No. 34 also sent a letter to MOT, regarding safety issues at the on-ramp. G. Harder inquired about the narrow section on the west-side of McCallum Road, between Holland Avenue and Rainbow Avenue. The Traffic Engineer reported that the section would be widened when the adjacent property was developed. Committee members remained concerned for the safety of pedestrians at the on-ramp. It was suggested that, even if MOT had no funding for lights at the on-ramp at McCallum Road, perhaps a crosswalk could be painted on the on-ramp to assist pedestrians in crossmg. Moved by T. Jamieson, seconded by D. Miller, that the verbal update from R. Marnmel, Traffic Engineer, regarding the McCallum Road on-ramp at McCallum Road, be received. TS Moved by T. Jamieson, seconded by D. Miller, that staff contact the Ministry of Transportation for an update on the City's request for a painted crosswalk on the McCallum Road on-ramp in an effort to improve pedestrian safety. TS Sandy Hill Elementary School- Speed Zones ( ) At the last meeting it was requested that the 30-kilometre per hour school zone be extended on Old Clayburn Road, along the frontages of Abbotsford Christian School and Sandy Hill Elementary School. Staff reported that this has now been done. With regards to constructing the missing section of sidewalk on the west-side of Old Clayburn Road, north of Skeen a Avenue, the works would be done in 2003.

4 September 16, 2002 at 11 :00 a.m. in Room 530 of Abbotsford City Hall Page 4 Finally, traffic signals could be considered at the intersection of Old Clayburn Road and Laburnum Avenue, once warranted. Staff would continue to monitor the area. Moved by G. Harder, seconded by S. Johal, that the verbal update from R. Mammel, Traffic Engineer, regarding the school speed zone in front of Sandy Hill Elementary School, be received. TS CARRIED.. 5 Sign Request - Willband Creek Estates ( ) At the last meeting it was requested that Engineering staff review the sight line distance at Willband Creek Estates, Maclure Road, and take action to resolve any safety concerns. The strata was concerned about the lack of visibility to the west of the strata complex entrance, due to the incline and curve of Maclure Road. R. Mammel, Traffic Engineer, reported that a "hidden driveway" sign, for eastbound traffic on Maclure Road, had been installed. Moved by T. Jamieson, seconded by G. Harder, that the verbal update from R. Mammel, Traffic Engineer, regarding safety concerns at Willband Creek Estates, Maclure Road, be received. TS Crosswalk - Prince Charles Elementary School ( ) At the last meeting there was discussion regarding pedestrian safety along the frontage of Prince Charles Elementary School, McKee Road. On August 30, 2002, R. Mammel, Traffic Engineer, met with the principal of Prince Charles Elementary School. Safety issues involving sight lines and the widening of McKee Road, particularly the section fronting Prince Charles Elementary School and the intersection at McKinley Drive, were discussed. The largest safety concern was parents dropping off children on McKee Road and allowing them to cross the street to the school. The principal agreed that there should be "no stopping" on the opposite side of the school and that the area should be signed accordingly. Cst. D. Hermann, Abbotsford Police Department, stated that if the suggestion was implemented, there would soon be "no parking" on either side of McKee Road, in front

5 Minutes ofthe Abbotsford Traffic Safety Advisory Committee meeting held Monday, September 16, 2002 at 11 :00 a.m. in Room 530 of Abbotsford City Hall Page 5 of the school. He expressed concerns about traffic flow in the area and the status of the amendment to Traffic By-law No. 2516, section At its meeting on April 29, 2002, Council approved the Committee's recommendation that the traffic by-law be amended so that parking restrictions in front of schools could now be assessed on an individual basis. However, the City's Administration Department requested that the entire Traffic By-law be re-written, rather than adding to the amendments. Since the re-write of the Traffic By-law has not been completed, law enforcement officials were still required to enforce "no parking" in front of schools. It became apparent to committee members that drop-off zones for Prince Charles Elementary School students needed to be addressed immediately. B. Headland, School District No. 34, stated that the school trustees had many concerns about traffic flow to the school and would be discussing them at an upcoming meeting. B. Headland would provide an update at the next Traffic Safety Advisory Committee meeting. Committee members requested that the principal of Prince Charles Elementary School arrange a meeting were School District No. 34 Trustees, the Abbotsford Traffic Safety Advisory Committee, and the Parent Advisory Committee could discuss safety issues on McKee Road, along the frontage of Prince Charles Elementary School. A meeting date and time would be announced. Moved by T. Jamieson, seconded by G. Harder, that the verbal update from R. Mammel, Traffic Engineer, regarding safety concerns on McKee Road, along the frontage of Prince Charles Elementary School, be received. TS West-bound right-tum lane at the intersection of Commercial Street and Hillcrest Avenue ( H2) Councillor Gill reported that the City and the property owner would be a meeting on September 19, 2002, to discuss aspects of the property acquisition. An update would be given at the next meeting. Moved by D. Miller, seconded by B. Headland, that the verbal update B:om Councillor Gill, regarding the status of property acquisition proceedings at the intersection of Commercial Street and Hillcrest Avenue, be received. TS

6 Minutes ofthe Abbotsford Traffic Safety Advisory Committee meeting held Monday, September 16, 2002 at 11 :00 a.m. in Room 530 of Abbotsford City Hall Page 6 4. DELEGATIONS None. 5. REPORTS.1 Maclure Road sight line obstructions ( ) The Engineering and Parks Departments have received complaints regarding the vegetation along the Maclure Road median. The Traffic Engineer reported that once the shrubs grew to over one meter high, they created sight line issues at some intersections and driveway crossings. The Parks Department pruned the bushes however, it was noted that the department was finding the ongoing maintenance challenging, due to the lack of manpower and resources. A committee member commented that if the shrubs can not be maintained, they should be removed. Staff noted that the offending shrubs could be replaced with lower height vegetation and that all of the trees would remain. Moved by T. Jamieson, seconded by S. Verhulst, that the shrubs located in the median on Maclure Road, causing sight line issues, be removed and lower height vegetation be planted. TS NEW BUSINESS.1 Speed Signs ( ) At the last meeting, Councillor Warawa suggested that temporary signs, similar to those used for election advertising (plastic signs in metal frames), be used to remind drivers to "slow down" in school zones. It was reported such signs have now been placed throughout the City, as part of the Safer City Initiative. It was noted that several citizens volunteered to place them on their property. Moved by G. Harder, seconded by D. Miller, that the information from S. Verhulst, Safer City Co-ordinator, on signs that remind drivers to "slow down", be received. TS

7 September 16, 2002 at 11 :00 a.m. in Room 530 of Abbotsford City Hall Page 7.2 Crosswalks ( ) At the last meeting, Councillor Warawa noted that the City of Langley did a review of crosswalks in its area to assist the Langley School Board in being more strategic with its funding. Committee members were requested to also think of ways, related to traffic safety, to assist the Abbotsford School District in being more strategic in its funding. It was requested that the item be deferred until Councillor Warawa could be present to participate in the discussion. Moved by B. Headland, seconded by S. Johal, that the discussion on strategic funding, relating to traffic safety, be deferred until the next meeting. TS CARRlED..3 Simpson Middle School- 30 km/h School Zone ( ) It was requested that the City review the need for the 30-kilometre per hour school zone on Simpson Road in front of Simpson Middle School. R. Mammel, Traffic Engineer, requested input from committee members. The Traffic Engineer reported that, of all the secondary and middle schools in the City, Simpson Middle School was the only one that had a 30-kilometre per hour school zone in place on a major road. It was noted that the students attending the school were in grades six through nine. There was a fence along the school frontage and "no stopping" was permitted. The last pedestrian count indicated that no pedestrians used the crosswalk on Simpson Road at Peardonville Road in the morning and only five people used the crosswalk in the afternoon. It appeared that most ofthe students were being driven to the traditional school. It was noted that Simpson Road was a four-lane road with a 50- kilometre speed limit. Moved by G. Harder, seconded by T. Jamieson, that: (1) the 30-kilometre per hour school zone along the frontage of Simpson Middle School, Simpson Road, be removed; and (2) the principal of Simpson Middle School be contacted regarding the removal of the 30-kilometre per hour speed zone. TS CARRlED.

8 September 16, 2002 at 11 :00 a.m. in Room 530 of Abbotsford City Hall Page 8.4 Traffic Light - Intersection of Riverside Street and Harris Road ( ) R. Mammel, Traffic Engineer, discussed various traffic concerns associated with the traffic light that would be placed at the intersection of Riverside Street and Harris Road. He reported that a meeting with Matsqui Village residents took place. A major concern was high speeds on Riverside Street, from the intersection of Riverside Street and Harris Road to Matsqui Village Park. S. Verhulz reported that Abbotsford Speed Watch had data on speeds in the area. It was requested that it be forwarded to Councillor Gill and distributed at the next Traffic Safety Committee meeting. Committee members stated that altering the 50-kilometer per hour speed limit to 30- kilometers per hour would not be effective, as funds were not available for additional police enforcement. Traffic calming would need further consideration.. 5 Traffic Light -Intersection of Pear don ville Street and Sugar Pine Street ( ) It was suggested that a traffic light be installed at the intersection of Peardonville Road and Sugar Pine Street. It was requested that this be added to the agenda for the next meeting.. 6 Traffic Light - Intersection ofmaclure Road and Trethewey Street ( ) A committee member suggested that there be an advanced green light for traffic, westbound on Maclure Road, attempting to tum left onto Trethewey Street. It was requested that the item be put on the agenda for the next meeting. 7. ADJOURNMENT Moved by T. Jamieson, seconded by D. Miller, that the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee meeting be adjourned. (12:45 p.m.) CARRlED. Certified Correct:

9 RECOMMENDATIONS of the Abbotsford Traffic Safety Advisory Committee Regular Meeting - September 16, That staff contacts the Ministry of Transportation for an update on the City's request for a painted crosswalk on the McCallum Road on-ramp in an effort to improve pedestrian safety. 2. That the shrubs located in the median on Maclure Road, causing sight line issues, be removed and lower height vegetation be planted. 3. That (1) the 30-kilometre per hour school zone along the frontage of Simpson Middle School, Simpson Road, be removed; and (2) the principal of Simpson Middle School be contacted regarding the removal of the 30-kilometre per hour school zone.