Report to: Development Services Committee Report Date:
SUBJECT: Rodick Road Proposed Stopping Prohibition, between Highway 7 & 16th Avenue
PREPARED BY: David Porretta, Engineering Technician, ext. 2040
Sabbir Saiyed, Manager, Transportation, ext. 8120
RECOMMENDATION:
That the report entitled “Rodick
Road Proposed Stopping Prohibition, between Highway 7 &
And that Schedule ‘E’ of Traffic By-law 2005-188,
pertaining to “No Stopping Zones” be amended by including both sides of Rodick
Road, from Highway 7 to 16th Avenue, as outlined in Option 3 of this
report;
And that the attached by-law be approved;
And that the Operations Department be directed to install the appropriate
signs at the subject location, funded through
the 2008 Engineering budget, account #8402;
And that the Operations Department be directed to maintain the appropriate signs at the subject location, funded through the 2008 Operations Budget;
And that the Parking Control Department be directed to enforce the stopping
prohibition upon installation of the signs;
And that staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
1.
Purpose 2. Background 3. Discussion 4. Financial
5. Others (Environmental,
Accessibility, Engage 21st, Affected Units) 6. Attachment(s)
PURPOSE:
This report recommends a Stopping Prohibition on Rodick Road, between Highway 7 and 16th Avenue for the purpose of improving traffic operational safety and efficiency.
BACKGROUND:
Rodick Road, between Highway 7 and 16th Avenue, is a four-lane major collector road with an average of 10,400 vehicles per day and an operating speed of 69 km/h. The posted speed limit is 50 km/h. Between Highway 7 and Apple Creek Boulevard, land uses consist of industrial and commercial properties, thus generating truck traffic in addition to typical passenger vehicle activity.
Between Apple Creek Boulevard and 16th Avenue, there exists a hydro corridor and residential properties backing onto Rodick Road. The Jamatkhana mosque is located on the northeast corner of Rodick Road and Apple Creek Boulevard.
Traffic Growth
Over the past seven years, traffic on Rodick Road, between Highway 7 and 16th Avenue, has increased by 68%. The increase of traffic on Rodick Road can be attributed to increased traffic congestion on nearby arterial roads, particularly Woodbine Avenue. The increase is particularly evident during the AM and PM peak periods.
In 2006, the bridge over Highway 407 opened, attracting additional traffic onto Rodick Road. With the Rodick Road extension to Esna Park Drive scheduled to commence within the next two years, as well as additional residential developments north of Major Mackenzie Drive, Rodick Road will continue to experience an increase in traffic volume.
Existing Parking Restrictions
Between Highway 7 and 16th
Avenue, there are several parking restriction deficiencies including
inconsistent or missing regulatory signs, and an absence of by-laws to enforce
the restrictions. Existing parking
restrictions on Rodick Road, between Highway 7 and 16th Avenue is
shown on ‘Attachment A’.
Existing On-street Parking
In general, Rodick Road currently experiences low on-street parking activity. However, any on-street parking will impede the flow of traffic, as it requires vehicles to change lanes to avoid the parked vehicle. This can be especially problematic during the AM and PM peak periods where traffic volumes are high.
Most on-street parking activity is occurring on Rodick Road, adjacent to the Jamatkhana mosque, located at the northeast corner of Rodick Road and Apple Creek Boulevard. Approximately 10 vehicles are parked along this section of Rodick Road, typically during hours of worship that are outside of the AM and PM peak traffic periods. This parking activity is posing a safety concern, as the parking occurs along a reverse curve, where visibility is limited and operating speeds often exceed 60 km/h.
Since 2002, there have been six collisions along the reverse curve adjacent to the mosque. One of the collisions involved a pedestrian attempting to cross the street at the reverse curve.
OPTIONS/DISCUSSION:
The Engineering Department has assessed the parking conditions along Rodick Road and has formulated three options for consideration:
- No Stopping Anytime, between Apple Creek Boulevard and just north of Morrison Crescent
- No Stopping (7am – 9am; 4pm – 6pm), between Highway 7 and 16th Avenue
- No Stopping Anytime, between Highway 7 and 16th Avenue (Preferred)
Option 1 – No Stopping Anytime, between Apple Creek Boulevard and just
north of Morrison Crescent
This option directly addresses the parking concerns associated with the reverse curve adjacent to the Jamatkhana mosque. Any displaced on-street parking can be accommodated either on-site or at the mosque’s overflow parking facility directly across the street, on the south side of Apple Creek Boulevard. This facility can accommodate approximately 300 vehicles. Parking conditions elsewhere on Rodick Road, including the areas of concern, would remain (see Attachment B). Therefore, this option is least preferred.
Option 2 – No Stopping (7am – 9am; 4pm – 6pm), between Highway 7 and 16th
Avenue
This option proposes prohibiting stopping on both sides of Rodick Road, between Highway 7 and 16th Avenue during the AM and PM peak periods only (See Attachment C), where maximum lane capacity is required for the safe and efficient movement of traffic.
Despite being more accommodating
to on-street parking, there are difficulties in implementing this option. Unlike most other Town streets, traffic
volumes on Rodick Road are high throughout the day, ranging anywhere between
500 and 1000 vehicles per hour between the hours of 7 AM and 7 PM. Based on current growth trends, this will
likely continue for the next decade.
Also, concerns with sightline visibility will continue to be a problem
along the reverse curves.
Option 3 – No Stopping Anytime, between Highway 7 and 16th Avenue
Similar to Option 2, this option proposes prohibiting stopping on both sides of Rodick Road, between Highway 7 and 16th Avenue, anytime (see Attachment D). Providing prohibitions such as this is common on several four-lane major collector roads in Markham (i.e. Rodick Road south of Highway 7, Apple Creek Boulevard, Esna Park Drive, John Street, and Birchmount Road). These streets have similar road geometry, traffic volume and land use characteristics to that of Rodick Road and therefore require the full lane capacity of the roadway to facilitate the safe and efficient movement of traffic.
The properties on Rodick Road are industrial and commercial and have sufficient parking and delivery facilities on-site to accommodate any displaced vehicles. Therefore, this option is most preferred.
Recommendation
After considering the implications of all three options, Engineering staff recommend Option 3. This will address the deficiencies with respect to the parking restrictions on Rodick Road, thereby improving the safe and efficient flow of current and future traffic demands.
At the time of this report, notice letters were issued to all affected property owners. An update will be provided at the Development Services Committee meeting with respect to any concerns received by the property owners and tenants.
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:
The cost of materials to install
the signs is included for in the 2008 Engineering
budget, account #8402. On-going maintenance costs for this installation
will be included in future Operations Department budgets.
BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:
The Operations Department has
reviewed this report and their comments have been incorporated.
RECOMMENDED BY:
________________________ ________________________
Alan Brown, C.E.T. Jim Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P
Director
of Engineering Commissioner,
Development Services
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A – Existing Parking Regulations on Rodick Road
Attachment B – Option 1: No Stopping, from Apple Creek Boulevard to just north of
Morrison Crescent
Attachment C – Option 2: No Stopping
(7am – 9am; 4pm – 6pm)
Attachment D – Option 3: No Stopping Anytime
Attachment E – By-law