Report to: Development Services Committee         Date Report Authored: September 29, 2009

 

 

SUBJECT:                          Rodick Road & Calvert Road Heavy Truck Prohibition

PREPARED BY:               Bob Nicholson, Manager, Business & Technical Services, ext. 4893

                                            David Porretta, Supervisor, Traffic Operations, ext. 2040

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

1)                  That the report entitled “Rodick Road & Calvert Road Heavy Truck Prohibition”, be received;

 

2)                  And that Schedule 14 of Traffic By-law 106-71 be amended to rescind the heavy truck prohibition on Rodick Road, between Highway #7 and Fairburn Drive;

 

3)                  And that Schedule 14 of Traffic By-law 106-71 be amended to prohibit heavy truck traffic on Rodick Road, between Apple Creek Boulevard and Woodbine Avenue;

 

4)                  And that Schedule 14 of Traffic By-law 106-71 be amended to prohibit heavy truck traffic on Calvert Road, between Woodbine Avenue and Rodick Road;

 

5)                  And that the Operations Department be directed to install & remove the appropriate signs at the subject locations, funded through the Operations Department account # 83-5399-8402-005;

 

6)                  And that York Region Police be directed to enforce the heavy truck prohibition upon installation of the signs;

 

7)                  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 (HR, Strategic, Affected Units)                                   6. Attachment(s)

PURPOSE:

This report recommends removing the heavy truck prohibition on Rodick Road, south of Highway 7.  This report also recommends prohibiting heavy truck traffic on Rodick Road, between Apple Creek Boulevard and Woodbine Avenue and on Calvert Road, between Woodbine Avenue and Rodick Road.

 

BACKGROUND:

On September 17, 2002, Council directed staff to implement a heavy truck prohibition on Rodick Road, south of Highway 7, to discourage heavy truck traffic generated by the ConStrada Recycling Facility from using Rodick Road to access Highway 7 (see Attachment A).  It was intended that the prohibition be lifted once Rodick Road was extended south of Yorktech Drive, so that it could fulfill its intended use as a major north-south collector road, servicing nearby industrial and employment lands.

 

Rodick Road is a major north-south collector road, with an average daily traffic volume of approximately 10,700 vehicles.  Since the opening of the Highway 407 overpass in 2006, traffic volumes on Rodick Road have increased significantly.  Rodick Road is a vital component of the Town’s transportation network, providing a direct route from 16th Avenue to 14th Avenue and eventually Esna Park Drive.

 

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

Heavy truck prohibition on Rodick Rd., south of Highway 7 is no longer justified

Despite the current truck prohibition, heavy truck traffic activity exists along this section of Rodick Road.  This activity is expected to increase once the extension to Esna Park Drive is completed, tentatively scheduled for late 2010.

 

Given the adjacent industrial and employment lands and road classification as a major north-south collector road, police enforcement of the existing prohibition is ineffective and unnecessary.  Therefore it is recommended that the heavy truck prohibition on Rodick Road, south of Highway 7 be rescinded, so that it can fulfill its intended use as a major north-south collector road for all vehicle classifications (see Attachment A).

 

Need to prohibit heavy trucks on Rodick Rd., north of Apple Creek Blvd.

From Apple Creek Boulevard north to Woodbine Avenue, Rodick Road travels through a residential community; there are no commercial or industrial lands being serviced.  However, it is anticipated that heavy truck traffic from Woodbine Avenue or 16th Avenue will increase along this portion of Rodick Road once the extension to Esna Park Drive is complete.  To mitigate any future impact to residential properties adjacent to Rodick Road, it is recommended that a heavy truck prohibition be implemented on Rodick Road between Apple Creek Boulevard and Woodbine Avenue (see Attachment A).

 

Need to prohibit heavy trucks on Calvert Rd., from Woodbine Ave. to Rodick Rd.

Truck traffic from Woodbine Avenue may use Calvert Road as an alternate access to Rodick Road, thereby bypassing any heavy truck prohibition signs that would be posted on Rodick Road. Therefore, a heavy truck prohibition on Calvert Road, between Woodbine Avenue and Rodick Road is also recommended (see Attachment A).

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS AND TEMPLATE: (external link)

The cost of materials to install the heavy truck prohibition signs is included for in the Operations Department account # 83-5399-8402-005.

 

ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PRIORITIES:

This report aligns with the community safety component of transportation/transit strategic priority.

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

Not applicable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

RECOMMENDED BY:  

 

 

 

________________________                           ______________________________

Paul Ingham,                                                      Peter Loukes,

General Manager, Operations                            Director, Operations 

 

 

 

________________________                                                                                                   Brenda Librecz,

Commissioner, Community & Fire Services

 

 

 

 

ATTACHMENTS:

Attachment A – Rodick Road Heavy Truck Prohibition Map

Attachment B – Heavy Truck Prohibition By-law

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

F:\Operations and Asset Management\Reports\2009\Operations\Business & Technical\Traffic Operations\2009\NOV\Rodick Road TRUCK PROHIBITION REPORT\Rodick Road REPORT.doc