REPORT District of Maple Ridge

Transcription

1 REPORT District of Maple Ridge Traffic Calming Policy This report is prepared for the sole use of the District of Maple Ridge. No representations of any kind are made by Urban Systems Ltd. or its employees to any party with whom Urban Systems Ltd. does not have a contract. Copyright 2012.

2 Traffic Calming Policy Contents 1 INTRODUCTION TRAFFIC CALMING GUIDELINES GOALS AND OBJECTIVES GUIDING PRINCIPLES PROCESS TYPES OF PLANS AND SOURCES OF FUNDING PRE-ASSESSMENT RECEIVING AND TRACKING ISSUES DEFINE AREA AFFECTED CONSIDER UNDERLYING FACTORS CONSIDER REACH AND COMPLEXITY OF ISSUES CHOOSE POTENTIAL STUDY TYPE ASSESSMENT COLLECT SPEED AND VOLUME DATA DETERMINE PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR CREATING A TRAFFIC CALMING STRATEGY PRIORITIZE REQUESTS TRAFFIC CALMING PLAN DEVELOPMENT DEFINE STUDY AREA ADVISE STAKEHOLDERS CONNECT WITH OR CREATE A NEIGHBOURHOOD TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE CONDUCT A NEIGHBOURHOOD WALKABOUT COLLECT ADDITIONAL DATA OPEN HOUSE FINALIZE ISSUES DEVELOP TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS Choosing Traffic Calming Measures Consult with Other Stakeholders DRAFT PLAN OPEN HOUSE TYPE B ONLY SURVEY COMMUNITY Type A: Small Area Traffic Calming Plan Type B: Large Area Traffic Calming Plan OPTIONAL COUNCIL PRESENTATION IMPLEMENTATION AND RE-ASSESSMENT DESIGN MEASURES Page ii

3 Traffic Calming Policy 6.2 FUNDING OPTIONAL PHASING OPTIONAL TRIAL IMPLEMENTATION AND REASSESSMENT Install Trial Measures Collect Data and Compare Consult Stakeholders Neighbourhood Transportation Advisory Group INSTALL PERMANENT MEASURES MONITORING ONGOING NEIGHBOURHOOD TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE APPENDIX A. NEIGHBOURHOOD TRANSPORTATION REQUEST FORM APPENDIX B. GUIDE TO APPLYING TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES Page iii

4 1 INTRODUCTION Roads serve many functions in the life of a community. They ensure access to homes and businesses, provide mobility for residents and visitors to get from point A to point B, and can enhance or compromise the livability of neighbourhoods. Residents and business owners in the District of Maple Ridge want safe roadways that contribute positively to community livability and quality of life. However, in some cases neighbourhood transportation issues can cause concerns among community members. In some cases, District Staff may identify locations where the road network may not be fulfilling its intended role, while other times residents and businesses may express transportation concerns to the District. If the root causes of the concerns are identified to be problems with speeding or excessive traffic volumes, traffic calming may be applied to address these concerns. Traffic calming processes are often more complex than they initially appear. Traffic calming measures, such as diverters, speed humps, and traffic circles can have unintended effects on travel patterns. As such, it is essential that the true issues and potential impacts are fully understood before traffic calming is implemented. Because of this, the District has developed this Traffic Calming Policy. This Traffic Calming Policy will enable District Staff, residents, and business owners to identify neighbourhood transportation issues, determine if traffic calming is an appropriate solution, and design and implement Traffic Calming Plans where appropriate. This report provides the District with a recommended Traffic Calming Policy to address identified neighbourhood transportation issues. This policy outlines a four step process to determine if a Traffic Calming Plan is needed and, if so, to develop and implement that plan. The four steps are Pre- Assessment, Assessment, Plan Development, and Implementation / Re-assessment. This report includes the following chapters: Chapter 1: Introduction provides an introduction to the report and the rationale for developing a Traffic Calming Policy. Chapter 2: Traffic Calming Guidelines outlines the recommended guidelines for developing Traffic Calming Plans in Maple Ridge, including a description of the overarching goals and objectives; identification of key guiding principles for Traffic Calming Plans; summary of the recommended process for developing Traffic Calming Plans; and overview of the types of plans and sources of funding. Chapter 3: Pre-Assessment presents the process for the first step in the Traffic Calming Policy, which consists of a pre-assessment process to determine if the most effective way to address challenges at a given location is indeed a Traffic Calming Plan. Chapter 4: Assessment describes the second step in the Traffic Calming Policy, which occurs if it has been confirmed that the identified issues could be addressed through a traffic calming process. Page 1

5 Chapter 5: Traffic Calming Plan Development outlines the steps that would be required for the actual development of a Traffic Calming Plan, which follows a standard process that involves technical elements and consultation with the public. Chapter 6: Implementation and Re-Assessment outlines an effective implementation program that allows for trial and / or phased implementation where necessary, provides for permanent measures to be installed in a timely manner, and includes ongoing monitoring to confirm that the measures are working as intended and addressing local transportation concerns. Cooperation with residents, businesses, and other stakeholders is an important part of the Traffic Calming Planning process. Throughout this document, steps where District Staff are working with the public and stakeholders are identified with the hand shake symbol to symbolize cooperation. Page 2

6 2 TRAFFIC CALMING GUIDELINES Neighbourhood transportation concerns can stem from a wide range of issues. For example, some concerns may be related to the safety of pedestrians, especially children; while others may be a result of noise or congestion. Not all neighbourhood transportation concerns have a root cause that can be addressed directly through traffic calming. An effective Traffic Calming Policy will enable the District to identify the root cause of neighbourhood transportation concerns, determine whether these concerns can indeed be addressed effectively through a Traffic Calming Plan, and then develop and implement the plan if appropriate. In order to do this, the Traffic Calming Policy is driven by some key guidelines. This section outlines the recommended guidelines for developing Traffic Calming Plans in Maple Ridge, including a description of the overarching goals and objectives; identification of key guiding principles for Traffic Calming Plans; summary of the recommended process for developing Traffic Calming Plans; and overview of the types of plans and sources of funding. 2.1 Goals and Objectives The two primary goals of Traffic Calming Plans are to: Improve safety. Traffic calming can make minor collector and local streets safer for everyone, including all road users pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, and others by reducing the potential and lessening the consequences of conflicts between road users. Preserve neighbourhood livability. Neighbourhood transportation can help to preserve and enhance the livability of a neighbourhood by minimizing the negative impacts of shortcutting or speeding traffic. Attractively designed and landscaped measures can also enhance the streetscape, enhancing livability as a result. Traffic Calming Plans normally achieve these goals by accomplishing one or both of the following objectives: Reducing speed. When most traffic on a road is travelling faster than the designated speed limit, it can negatively impact both livability and safety. Reducing volume. Local roads are intended to serve the residents and businesses along that roadway. Minor collector roads are intended to Page 3

7 provide access to local roads. Both types of road are designed to operate best when traffic volumes are under a certain threshold. When traffic that is not destined locally utilizes local or minor collector roads, the traffic volume may be higher than what is generally intended for that roadway type. This can result in congestion, noise, and other neighbourhood transportation issues. 2.2 Guiding Principles In addition to the goals and objectives described above, the District s Traffic Calming Policy is governed by a number of guiding principles. These principles are derived from best practices in traffic calming and municipal policy, and from the local context in Maple Ridge. Both District Staff and the public have roles to fulfill to make the Traffic Calming Policy an efficient and effective process. The guiding principles outline how staff and the public can work together to identify locations where transportation factors have a negative impact on livability and safety, and to choose an appropriate method to improve these areas. It should be noted, however, that not all livability and safety concerns can be effectively addressed through a Traffic Calming Policy. It is also important to understand that public resources are limited. Responsible use of the municipality s financial resources requires a methodical and consistent approach to assessment and prioritization. The guiding principles acknowledge this need. Key guiding principles for developing Traffic Calming Plans in Maple Ridge are: Traffic Calming Plans are suitable for minor collector and local roads. Traffic Calming Plans are smaller scale studies with a toolbox of measures for implementation. Arterial roads and major collectors have more complex travel dynamics and are intended to serve a different purpose. Individual traffic calming measures may be suitable for arterial and major collectors as part of a larger strategy, but a Traffic Calming Plan is not an appropriate approach to address challenges on these roadway types. Understand that traffic calming is not a universal solution to all neighbourhood transportation problems. In some cases, developing a Traffic Calming Plan may seem like the appropriate solution to a problem, but upon further inspection, a different type of study might provide a more appropriate and holistic solution. Many types of plans and studies can result in traffic calming measures and address neighbourhood transportation issues. The Traffic Calming Policy is only one tool for addressing a specific range of issues. There are other policies and plan types to address more complex issues. Page 4

8 Identify the real problem. Often there is a vast difference between the perceived problem and the actual issues or challenges. It is important to distinguish the real problem because different problems require different approaches and result in different combinations of measures and improvements. In some cases, attempting to address a perceived problem may lead to real problems being exacerbated. Quantify the problem. It is important that the size and scope of traffic problems be quantified for objective review and plan development. This means collecting, analyzing and summarizing data, including traffic volumes, speeds, collisions, counts of pedestrians and cyclists, measures of delay, and other data as appropriate. This also allows the District to prioritize problems and strategically make the best of use of its limited resources. Involve the community and ensure public support. Residents, business owners, and others who live and work in a community must be involved in developing Traffic Calming Plans. Their input is essential in identifying problems and selecting appropriate solutions. Involving the community builds support for a plan and enhances the credibility of a plan. It also minimizes the potential influence of special interest groups who may not reflect the needs of the community as a whole. There will be a higher likelihood of community acceptance if residents and business owners are involved in the planning process from start to finish. This reduces the likelihood of wasted public resources on a plan that does not reflect community needs. Address issues on neighbouring arterial and major collector roadways first. Often, traffic problems within neighbourhoods, such as short-cutting, are related to operational issues on the major roads. The City should attempt to address neighbourhood traffic issues by first improving traffic operations on arterial and major collector roads to encourage appropriate use of the road network. Consider spillover effects. In many instances, measures that address a problem in one location lead to problems on other streets. It is important that these potential spillover effects are recognized and that potential mitigation measures are considered. Preserve reasonable access and egress. Restriction of access or egress is often unfavourable to residents and emergency services and should be avoided wherever possible. Use self-enforcing measures. Generally, measures that force drivers to slow down or alter their behaviour are preferred to those measures that need enforcement to be effective, such as signage. Maintain unimpeded non-motorized traffic. Neighbourhood transportation measures should be designed to permit cyclists Page 5

9 and pedestrians to travel unaffected, while requiring motorized vehicles to slow down. Consider municipal services. Impacts on transit, emergency, and municipal operations vehicles should be considered during the planning process. Monitor and follow-up. Traffic data collected during the problem definition phase should be compared to data collected after implementation of traffic calming to evaluate the effectiveness of the program and to consider further projects. 2.3 Process It is recommended that the District use a four step process to determine if a Traffic Calming Plan is needed and, if so, to develop and implement that plan. The four steps are Pre-Assessment, Assessment, Plan Development, and Implementation / Re-assessment, as shown in Figure 1. Each of these steps is described in further detail in the following chapters. Figure 1: Traffic Calming Policy Process Page 6

10 One of the most important elements of the District s Traffic Calming Policy is the exit route. As noted in the guiding principles, it is important to understand that not every neighbourhood transportation challenge can be solved with a Traffic Calming Plan. Further, it is important to understand that it may not be the best use of public funds to develop a Traffic Calming Plan for every neighbourhood transportation challenge. There are a number of reasons that an identified transportation issue or challenge may exit the Traffic Calming Policy: The challenge can be more effectively addressed through another program or policy, such as a safe routes to school program or the District s sidewalk implementation program. The challenge is too complex, geographically large, or encompasses issues not easily addressed by traffic calming measures and warrants a full corridor or neighbourhood study. The traffic calming budget would be more effectively spent elsewhere, either because data shows that traffic volumes and speeds do not meet minimum thresholds, or because the community does not support the development or implementation of a Traffic Calming Plan. 2.4 Types of Plans and Sources of Funding There are two sources of funding for Traffic Calming Plan development and implementation: general tax revenues and local improvement charges. To ensure a fair and consistent process, the cost of developing all Traffic Calming Plans is recommended to be funded from general tax revenue. For implementation funding, Traffic Calming Plans are divided into two types: 1. Type A: Small Area Traffic Calming Plans. Where a transportation planning challenge effects only one or two blocks and takes place on a local road or lane, the District may classify it as a Type A Plan. Type A plans impact a limited and well defined number of households. Their implementation does not result in negative impacts on neighbouring streets and public access is not impacted. In these cases, funding for the implementation of the Plan, including design fees and construction costs, may be shared the District and the residents. Because local residents and businesses help pay for the cost of traffic calming measures, Type A Plans require a much more stringent level of public acceptance than Type B Plans. 2. Type B: Large Area Traffic Calming Plans. Often, transportation challenges extend over several blocks, or changes in transportation patterns on one local or collector road will impact a broader area. In these cases, the District will classify the Plan as Type B. Type B Plans are fully funded through general tax revenue and require more intensive technical study. More information on costs and funding is provided in the Implementation / Re-assessment chapter. Page 7

11 3 PRE-ASSESSMENT Pre-assessment allows staff to determine if the most effective way to address challenges at a given location is indeed a Traffic Calming Plan. It allows staff to quickly identify locations that should move into more formal assessment, and locations that may be better addressed through another approach. Not all neighbourhood transportation issues are most effectively solved through a traffic calming process. Some require a more holistic approach, with more consideration to pedestrian and cycling improvements, school safety, or some other consideration. This section presents the recommended pre-assessment process, from the identification of the issue to choosing a potential study type. Figure 2 illustrates the recommended pre-assessment process. Each of the steps is described in further detail below. Figure 2: Pre-Assessment Process Page 8

12 3.1 Receiving and Tracking Issues Throughout the year, District Staff identify locations where there are a variety of neighbourhood transportation issues. Staff are very familiar with the condition of the transportation network throughout the community and work to use District funds appropriately to address the most significant issues. Other residents and businesses who work and live in the District can provide unique and valuable input on the condition and issues surrounding their neighbourhoods. Because the District understands the value of this input, there is a formal process for residents to contribute to the issue identification process. Residents and businesses can register neighbourhood transportation concerns using the Neighbourhood Transportation Concern Form. This form asks a variety of questions about the location of the issue, issue type, contributing factors, location conditions, and geographic area. Contributors are asked to fill out the form as completely as possible before providing it to the District by , mail, or in person. A copy of the form is provided in Appendix A. The input from each form will be reviewed by District Staff and logged. District Staff will identify issues that are best addressed through other programs or agencies (e.g. District Operations or Planning, TransLink, Police, etc.). For example, a request for more frequent transit service will be directed to TransLink. After this screening, District Staff will use the database to identify locations where a Traffic Calming Pre-Assessments may be useful. Once a location is identified, it will move to the next step. 3.2 Define Area Affected Understanding the size of the area affected and the types of roads in that area helps to determine the type of approach needed. Where the District has identified a number of issues affecting a larger area, they may all be considered in a single approach. In other cases, one or two issues in a small area may be grouped together. In neighbourhoods where the transportation issues concern arterial or major collector roadways, a Traffic Calming Plan is not appropriate. Once the area affected is identified, the District will move to the next step. Different roadway types serve different purposes. The District of Maple Ridge has adopted a hierarchy of roads, called a road classification system, which describes the intended use, characteristics, and typical operating speed for different types of roadways. The general characteristics for each class of roadway are set in the Transportation Plan and are described in the table below. A map showing the assigned classification of District Roadways is shown in Figure 3. (Note that classifications are being updated as part of the 2012 Transportation Plan Update) Page 9

13 Function Speed limit Bicycle facilities Provincial Highway Provincial and regional traffic 80 km/h or more None or designated MRN / Arterial Collector Local Regional and municipal traffic Major Connection between locals and arterials, some private access Minor Access to land uses 50 to 80 km/h 30 to 50 km/h 30 to 50 km/h Designated Designated or shared Shared Parking Not permitted Not desirable Permitted Permitted Transit Express Yes Yes No services NOTE: THESE CLASSIFICATIONS ARE BEING RECONSIDERED IN THE 2012 TRANSPORTATION PLAN UPDATE. THIS DOCUMENT ASSUMES THE ADDITION OF A NEW MINOR COLLECTOR CLASSIFICATION, WHERE TRAFFIC CALMING PLANS WILL BE APPLICABLE. Figure 3: District of Maple Ridge Road Classifications. Page 10

14 3.3 Consider Underlying Factors District Staff will complete a review of the study area to determine the underlying factors. Staff will use the information provided on submitted forms and known information about the study area. They will visit the site to understand the reported issues. Staff will consider the following questions: 1 1. Are sidewalks and trails meeting the neighbourhood needs? If not the underlying factor may be pedestrian safety and connectivity, not speed and / or volume. The area should be identified on the District s pedestrian improvement list and assigned a priority; a safe routes to school process should be initiated; / and or existing facilities should be improved. 2. Are the posted speed limits consistent with local conditions? If not the road type, geometry, or surroundings may be sending a message that is not consistent with the speed limit. The District should consider conducting a speed study; examining the use of school and playground zone; installing non-traversable fencing surrounding parks and playgrounds; or adding the area to the District s pedestrian improvement list. 3. Are the road widths consistent with the road classification? If not the road width may be sending a message to drivers that is not consistent with the road type. A wide road sends a message to drivers that it is a through route and that it is safe to travel quickly. A Traffic Calming Plan may be appropriate, but a corridor study may be more appropriate and will consider a wider range of potential solutions (e.g. road dieting, bicycle routes, landscaping, narrower streets, gateway features, etc.) 4. Are there crosswalks, signals, and cyclist crossings available? Do they meet the neighbourhood s needs? If not pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers may conflict when pedestrians and cyclists try to cross the roadway. Reducing speed and volume may not address the crossing issue. The District should consider reviewing pedestrian 1 Questions based on the Framework for Conducting Sustainable Transportation Assessments for Neighbourhoods (2011) Page 11

15 and cyclist crossing type and availability to determine appropriate solutions. 5. Is there a history of collisions that point to a safety issue? If yes the road geometry, traffic control, or other factors may be causing a safety issue. Safety issues may require more in-depth study and can be treated with a wide variety of measures not included within the Traffic Calming Policy. A Traffic Operations and Safety Review may be a more appropriate study type. 6. Is congestion or poor conditions on neighbouring arterial and collector roads causing shortcutting? If yes improvements to the arterial or collector road may be more effective in reducing shortcutting than traffic calming measures. If shortcutting is related to an event within the District, the development of an event transportation plan, including temporary traffic calming, may address neighbourhood transportation issues. Each of these questions focuses on an underlying factor that may be contributing to neighbourhood transportation issues. Developing an understanding of the underlying factors will allow the District to identify a potential study type, either within the Traffic Calming Policy or through another policy or program. 3.4 Consider Reach and Complexity of Issues Some neighbourhood traffic issues are limited in scope they are not complex and effect only one or two blocks. Addressing these issues will not extend or move the problem to another location. Other issues are interrelated, affect a large corridor or neighbourhood, and have complex impacts. Speed and volume may be factors, but they are not the only factors, and they relate to a number of other concerns or issues. These may include issues that are related to one or more of the underlying factors discussed above. Solving these types of problems requires a holistic approach that extends beyond traffic calming. District Staff will identify the impact of the issues beyond the study area and the complexity of the issues. Page 12

16 3.5 Choose Potential Study Type After the study area, underlying factors, and reach and complexity of the issues are well understood, the District will be able to identify an appropriate study type. Potential study types and reasons to consider that study type are summarized below. Potential Study Type Corridor Study or Neighbourhood Transportation Study Corridor Study of neighbouring road Safe Routes to School Study. Active Transportation Study Safety study Event traffic management plan Type A or Type B Traffic Calming Plan. Factors to Consider Large area, arterial or collector roadway, multiple concerns (active transportation, schools, speeds and volumes, collision patterns, etc.) Shortcutting due to poor operating conditions on neighbouring arterial or major collector road. Underlying factors relate to proximity to school Underlying factors relate to active transportation or accessibility High collision location with distinct collision patterns. Shortcutting during events. Speed and volume are primary concerns, study area is distinct, underlying factors are treatable using traffic calming measures. Page 13

17 4 ASSESSMENT If it has been confirmed that speed and volume are the primary concerns and the issue may be addressed through a traffic calming process, the District will move to the next step in the Traffic Calming Policy. The Assessment step is essential to ensure that public funds are spent in the most effective way. In this step, the issue is assessed to determine if a Traffic Calming Plan is warranted. If the data shows that a location does not meet the minimum requirements of the assessment, it is removed from the ongoing log of issues. It is recommended that the area not be reassessed for at least two years. The complete assessment process is illustrated in Figure 4. Each of the steps is described in further detail below. Figure 4: Assessment Process Page 14

18 4.1 Collect Speed and Volume Data The District will collect speed and traffic volume data at key road(s) in the Study Area. At least one of the following criteria must be met before a Traffic Calming Plan is warranted: Speeding: 85 th percentile speed is greater than the posted speed limit by 7 km/h or more. Traffic Volume: - Minor Collector roads: Average weekday or weekend traffic volume exceeds 3,000 vehicles per day. - Local roads: Average weekday or weekend traffic volume exceeds 1,000 vehicles per day. - Lanes: Average weekday or weekend traffic volume exceeds 300 vehicles per day. If the subject road(s) do not meet at least one of the minimums described above, the area will not qualify for Traffic Calming Plan and will exit the Traffic Calming Policy process. 4.2 Determine Public Support for Creating a Traffic Calming Strategy It is essential that residents and businesses that may be affected by a Traffic Calming Plan help determine whether District resources should be directed towards developing one. A successful Traffic Calming Plan is built on the support and interest of local stakeholders. If the local residents and businesses do not support conducting a Traffic Calming Plan, the location should be removed from the ongoing log of issues and a Traffic Calming Plan should not be completed. To determine if there is public support for conducting a Traffic Calming Plan, the District will distribute and solicit responses to a survey. The survey will be distributed to all residents and businesses who live in the defined Study Area. The survey should illustrate the study area, provide a short summary of issues, and explain the next steps in the process. Survey recipients will be asked if they support creating a Traffic Calming Plan (yes) or if they do not support creating a Traffic Calming Plan (no). The following responses warrant a Traffic Calming Plan: Type A: Small Area Traffic Calming Plan. Survey distributed to all households and businesses. Responses must show that 75% of all households and businesses support developing a Traffic Calming Plan. Type B: Large Area Traffic Calming Plan. Survey distributed to all households and businesses. At least 67% of all respondents support the creation of a Traffic Calming Plan. As a general rule, the District will aim for response rates that are approximately similar to the percentage of the population that votes in the municipal elections. Households and businesses will be advised if non-response will be considered agreement with the plan. Page 15

19 4.3 Prioritize Requests In some cases, the District may have multiple locations that pass the assessment and qualify for a Traffic Calming Plan. Recognizing that budgets to develop and implement Traffic Calming Plans are limited, the District must prioritize studies and investment in order to make the best use public funds. The development of Traffic Calming Plans will be prioritized based on speed, volume, and level of public support. Page 16

20 5 TRAFFIC CALMING PLAN DEVELOPMENT The development of a Traffic Calming Plan follows a standard process that involves technical elements and consultation with the public. This chapter describes this process, which is illustrated in Figure 5. Each of the steps is described in further detail below. Figure 5: Traffic Calming Plan Development Process Page 17

21 5.1 Define Study Area District Staff will review the number and type of complaints, the complexity of the issues, and the potential impacts on surrounding streets to determine the boundaries of the Study Area. The size of the study and the types of roads included will determine if the location should be treated as a Type A: Small Area or Type B: Large Area. Type Size Road Type Type A 1 2 blocks Lane or Local Type B Several blocks or impact larger Local or Minor area. Collector Note that Arterial Roads and Major Collector Roads are not included in the table. These roadways are always excluded from study through the Traffic Calming Policy, but may be studied through other programs. 5.2 Advise Stakeholders At the outset of the development of a Traffic Calming Plan, the District should notify key stakeholders (such as emergency services, RCMP, traffic operations, and TransLink) that the study is taking place to help identify key issues and opportunities from their perspective These stakeholders will provide insight into issues and opportunities. They will also have an opportunity to comment on the operation and impacts of proposed measures. 5.3 Connect with or Create a Neighbourhood Transportation Advisory Committee Before preparing the Traffic Calming Plan, the District will establish a Neighbourhood Transportation Advisory Committee (NTAC). This group will include interested residents, representatives of businesses, and others who are impacted by transportation issues within the Study Area. The NTAC will work with the District throughout the plan development process. They will help identify issues, consult with other members of their community, and review the proposed plans. District Staff will attend NTAC meetings during the study to engage with the group and seek input. Page 18

22 5.4 Conduct a Neighbourhood Walkabout Fully understanding local conditions, issues, and challenges is essential for successful plan development. The walkabout is an opportunity for staff, the NTRA, consultants, residents, and other community members to discuss transportation issues and observe conditions first hand. Walkabouts typically take two to four hours and are well publicized. Community members are invited to join for any portion of the walkabout the route and schedule is posted so that people can meet the walkabout at areas of special interest. Staff and consultants will work to summarize input and observations gathered through the walkabout. This information will be used in the development of the plan. Conducting a walkabout helps to minimize the possibility that an important traffic issue is overlooked, to raise awareness that the study is taking place, and to educate community members about transportation issues in their neighbourhood. Page 19

23 5.5 Collect Additional Data After developing an understanding of issues through discussions with stakeholders and community representatives and through observations at the neighbourhood walkabout, additional data needs may be identified. The City may collect additional transportation data to confirm the type and extent of issues and to aid in the development of solutions. This could include additional traffic volume and speed counts or license plate surveys, for example. 5.6 Open House The first Open House will allow the District to introduce the study to the broader community and solicit additional input. The data and preliminary issues will be presented, and the public will be asked to comment on issues and opportunities. The District will also provide information about the types of traffic calming measures that may be appropriate and the advantages and disadvantages of different measures. 5.7 Finalize Issues Following the Walkabout, data collection, and Open House, the District will have all information required to develop a final list of issues. This list will be used as the basis for the development of traffic management solutions. Even though the Pre-Assessment worked to identify underlying factors that may be addressed through other studies, the additional work done in the Traffic Calming Plan development may have identified additional issues. At this point, it may be clear that in addition to traffic calming measures, the neighbourhood may have needs better addressed through other processes. These issues will be referred to other District departments, as well as outside agencies. The result of this step will be a clear problem statement, with each issue clearly defined based on data, technical assessment, and public input. 5.8 Develop Traffic Management Solutions After the issues are refined and finalized, the District will be prepared to develop the program of traffic management solutions. The study area will be examined holistically to determine the best combination and location of measures. The benefits and potential impacts associated with each measure will be identified and the most suitable measures will be combined into a draft Traffic Calming Plan. The following two sections describe the types of traffic calming measures which may be considered and the importance of reviewing the proposed measures with stakeholders. Page 20

24 5.8.1 Choosing Traffic Calming Measures The Canadian Guide to Neighbourhood Traffic Calming (Canadian Guide) provides a comprehensive listing of 25 measures that are commonly used across Canada. Each measure has impacts and benefits and different measures are appropriate for different conditions. Based on the local context, not all measures can or should be applied in the District of Maple Ridge. Some additional measures that have gained popularity since the publication of the Canadian Guide may be appropriate in the District. The following table identifies which measures are most appropriate for different road types and special considerations. A Traffic Calming Plan for a given neighbourhood may use a combination of measures. Not all measures identified for a road type in the table below will be suitable for every Traffic Calming Plan in the District. The District will design a Traffic Calming Plan to respond to the local issues and conditions. More information about the use of these measures can be found in the Canadian Guide and in the brief summary in Appendix B. Traffic Calming Measure Minor Collector Local Lanes Transit Route* Emergency Route* Vertical Horizontal Obstruction Raised Crosswalk Raised Intersection** Sidewalk Extension** Speed Hump Textured Crosswalk Speed Cushion Chicane (one lane) Curb Extension Curb Radius Reduction On-Street Parking Raised Median Island Traffic Circle Road Narrowing / Road Diets Gateway Median 2 Directional Closure Diverter Full Closure Intersection Channelization Raised Median Through Intersection Right-in / Right-out Island *Potential measures pending consultation with these stakeholders. ** Unraised sidewalk extensions are suitable for transit routes and minor collectors. *** Roadway not to exceed two lanes. 2 A Gateway Median is not noted in the Canadian Guide to Neighbourhood Traffic Calming. It is a raised median island that also contains signage indicating the name of the community. It acts as a gateway feature to indicate to drives that they are entering a community. Page 21

25 5.8.2 Consult with Other Stakeholders Some traffic calming measures can cause problems for particular stakeholders. For example, speed humps may be perceived to reduce response times for emergency services or make transit operation difficult and uncomfortable. Transit operations, the District road maintenance team, and emergency services operators have unique insight to provide on how combinations of traffic calming measures may affect their operations. The District will work with these groups in the design of the Traffic Calming Plan to mitigate risks while resolving local issues. 5.9 Draft Plan The District will prepare a Draft Traffic Calming Plan outlining the proposed combination of traffic calming solutions for the neighbourhood. The Draft Plan will be discussed with the NTAC to confirm that it meets the intentions of the committee and the public. The NTAC will assist the District in preparing to present the Draft Plan to the general public at the Open House Open House Type B Only An Open House is recommended for Type B study areas where the Traffic Calming Plan will impact a larger number of households and businesses. The District and the NTAC will discuss how best to present the plan to the public at the Open House. The Open House will provide an opportunity to present the Draft Plan to the community and to gather feedback from the public. If there is general support for the plan as is, it will move to the Community Survey stage. If the public feedback suggests that changes to the Draft Plan would improve acceptance by the community, the District will re-evaluate the proposed Traffic Calming Solutions and prepare a revised Draft Plan. If major changes are made to the Draft Plan, a subsequent open house may be required. If changes are minor, no additional open houses are required. The need for another Open House can be determined at the District s discretion. Page 22

26 5.11 Survey Community After the plan has been updated following the Open House, a letter / survey will be sent to all residents and businesses to determine support for the Draft Plan. The full Draft Plan will be available on a website and in hard copy at the District Office. The letter will describe the plan highlights and include a survey for feedback. The letter will explain the proposed traffic calming measures clearly, with a map identifying the locations of the various measures. The letter will use non-technical language and will contain as much visual material as possible. Respondents will be given three choices for each question: support, do not support, or neutral. If sufficient support is received, the plan will be implemented. If support is not received, the District may redevelop the plan to achieve a higher level of support. There are different approval requirements for each type of plan Type A: Small Area Traffic Calming Plan For local Traffic Calming Plans, a high response rate and level of support are required because the direct impact on a few residents is high. Residents are asked to contribute to the cost of installation for these plans, so full support is especially important. The District requires that 75% of ALL residents and businesses in the Study Area support or provide a neutral response on the Spot Traffic Calming Plan Type B: Large Area Traffic Calming Plan For wider areas, it is understood that it is much harder to achieve high response rates. Direct contributions from residents and businesses are not required for Area Traffic Calming Plans, and survey recipients may see less reason to respond. Acknowledging this, it is recommended a minimum of 67% of respondents support the Traffic Calming Plan. Response levels (the percentage of surveys returned) should be at approximately the same level as the District municipal election participation rate. Households and businesses will be advised if non-response will be considered agreement with the plan Optional Council Presentation If the prepared and approved Traffic Calming Plan will require additional funding for implementation, the Plan will be presented to Council for approval of additional funds. Once approved, the Final Plan will move into the Implementation and Re-Assessment Phase. Page 23

27 6 IMPLEMENTATION AND RE-ASSESSMENT Effective implementation is the key to an ongoing, successful traffic calming program. The process and plan development stages do not resolve neighbourhood transportation concerns if the measures are not implemented with the intended effects. Effective implementation means that traffic calming measures are well designed and work as intended. An effective implementation program allows for trial and / or phased implementation where necessary, provides for permanent measures to be installed in a timely manner, and includes ongoing monitoring to confirm that the measures are working as intended and addressing local transportation concerns. 6.1 Design Measures Designs for most measures should be prepared based on accurate survey information and in accordance with the Canadian Guide. 6.2 Funding The design step will result in engineering designs and cost estimates for implementation. If a trial implementation is desirable, the cost estimates will include both the cost of the trial and the cost of the final implementation. Based on these cost estimates, the District will identify a source of funds. Funds may come from a combination of three sources: 1. Existing Budget: The District may have an existing budget allotment for traffic calming or neighbourhood street improvements that can cover the cost of the implementation. 2. Council Approval: For larger cost measures and instances where there is no available budget to implement the plan, District Staff may go to Council to request additional funds. This is discussed in the previous section. 3. Resident and Business Funding: Residents and businesses who are directly impacted by Type A: Small Area plans may choose to contribute funds to the implementation of the plan. This can be accomplished through a local area service levy, as outlined in the Government of British Columbia Community Charter. 6.3 Optional Phasing Ideally, the entire plan should be installed at the same time; however, sometimes budget, timing, or other constraints make this impossible. In these cases, implementation may be phased over a number of years. If implementation is phased, priority should be assigned to individual measures as follows: Page 24

28 1. Safety improvements should be given first priority. These might include measures to reduce vehicle speeds and conflicts at intersections, as well as measures that improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians. 2. Low cost measures are the next priority. Generally, it is preferable to implement several lowcost measures rather than one higher cost measure. Low-cost measures might include signage, pavement markings, speed humps, and crosswalks. Note that, if possible, measures should be implemented in groups to avoid unintended effects that might result from the implementation of a single measure. One example of this is a group of measures planned for two parallel local roads. If the measures are only implemented on one road, traffic may divert to the other local road, where there are not yet any traffic calming measures. 6.4 Optional Trial Implementation and Reassessment In many cases, it is preferable to implement trial measures to confirm that traffic will react as anticipated and that the combination of measures has the desired effect. A trial measure should be left in place for six months to a maximum of one year and the effects should be reassessed over this time. Trial implementations that are not removed after 12 months do not meet the criteria for quality traffic calming. These measures are normally less aesthetically pleasing than permanent measures and do not add value to the community. It is absolutely essential that trial measures are either removed over replaced with permanent measures. To help ensure this, the District recommends that a budget and proposed timeline are in place for the permanent measures before the temporary measures are installed Install Trial Measures Implement the Traffic Calming Plan using temporary measures, which are less expensive to implement than permanent measures and may be reused for new applications after the trial is complete Collect Data and Compare Over the six months to a year that the trial is in place, collect speed and volume data. Compare this data to the before data collected in the assessment process to confirm that the measures are having the intended effects. Page 25

29 6.4.3 Consult Stakeholders Emergency services, transit, operations should be consulted to confirm that the measures do not have unexpected consequences Neighbourhood Transportation Advisory Group During the trial implementation, discuss the effects of the measures with the NTAC. Confirm that the measures are meeting the needs of the neighbourhood and that permanent installation is generally supported. 6.5 Install Permanent Measures If the installation and re-assessment of the trial measures shows that the Traffic Calming Plan works as intended, install permanent measures. If the trial is not successful, remove the trial measures. Trial measures must not be left installed for more than one year. 6.6 Monitoring Continue to monitor the traffic calmed area occasionally for a few years following implementation by collecting speed and volume data. Assessing this data will allow the District to understand the lasting effects of traffic calming in order to inform future planning in other neighbourhoods. 6.7 Ongoing Neighbourhood Transportation Advisory Committee The NTAC should remain as an active committee after the Traffic Calming plan is developed and implemented. Although input from this group will not be required on a regular basis, this does maintain neighbourhood groups as a source of feedback and input as future issues may arise. Page 26

30 Appendix A. NEIGHBOURHOOD TRANSPORTATION REQUEST FORM Neighbourhood Transportation Concern Form Thank you for providing information about transportation concerns in your neighbourhood. This form will allow us to officially enter your concern in our records as part of the Traffic Calming Policy. We ask that all residents and business members reporting transportation concerns read the District of Maple Ridge Traffic Calming Policy. It will help you understand the process the District follows when addressing concerns and whether a Traffic Calming Plan may lead to an appropriate solution to your concerns. The Traffic Calming Policy can be downloaded here: A hard copy can be obtained at the District Office. 1. Are your concerns related to the travel behaviour of your neighbours (i.e. speeding, unsafe driving, etc.)? YES NO Note: The Neighbourhood Transportation Concern Form is collected by the engineering department. The form will be logged and may lead to further study; however, the focus of these studies are engineering and planning activities. If you are concerned with your neighbour s driving behaviour, you may wish to consider having a neighbourhood meeting or informal discussions with your neighbours about traffic safety. The District will liaise with the Ridge Meadows RCMP about these types of traffic concerns. 2. Where is your concern? Please be as specific as possible identify street names with start and end points, specific locations, and other details. If possible, attach a map with locations marked. Page 27

31 3. Does the problem occur during specific times of day? If yes, what times? YES NO 4. Does the problem occur during specific days of the week? If yes, what days? YES NO 5. Does your concern relate to one of the following issues? Issue Yes No 1. Traffic speed 2. Traffic volumes 3. Shortcutting 4. Transit service 5. Access to a local school or other community building 6. Ability to walk safely in your neighbourhood 7. Ability to cycle safely in your neighbourhood 8. Traffic congestion 9. Signal operation 10. Road and / or roadside maintenance 11. Maintenance of signs 12. Other: If you answered yes to one or more of questions 4 through 12, a Traffic Calming Plan may not be the best approach for your issue. The District will review your concern, but may decide that another approach would be better. 6. Please include a short paragraph describing your neighbourhood transportation concern: Page 28