Report to: Development Services Committee                          Date Report Authored: March 2, 2010

 

 

SUBJECT:                          9th Line Proposed Heavy Truck Prohibition & Speed Limit Reduction

 

PREPARED BY:               David Porretta, Traffic Operations Supervisor, ext. 2040

                                            Monday Iyamu, Traffic Coordinator, ext. 4020

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

  1. That the staff report entitled “9th Line Proposed Heavy Truck Prohibition & Speed Limit Reduction”, be received;

 

  1. And that Schedule 14 of Traffic By-law 106-71 be amended to prohibit heavy truck traffic on 9th Line, between a point 200 metres north of Rouge Bank Drive and a point 170 meters south Sanders Drive;

 

  1. And that Schedule 14 of Traffic By-law 106-71 be amended to prohibit heavy truck traffic on Rouge Bank Drive, in its entirety;

 

  1. And that Schedule 14 of Traffic By-law 106-71 be amended to prohibit heavy truck traffic on Fieldside Street, in its entirety;

 

  1. And that Schedule 14 of Traffic By-law 106-71 be amended to prohibit heavy truck traffic on Legacy Drive, in its entirety;

 

  1. And that Schedule “A” (40 km/h) of Speed Limit By-law 105-71, be amended by including 9th Line, between a point 200 metres north of Rouge Bank Drive and a point 170 meters south Sanders Drive;

 

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

 

  1. And that the Operations Department be directed to maintain the signs at the subject locations;

 

  1. And that York Region Police be directed to enforce the posted speed limit and the heavy truck prohibition upon installation of the signs;

 

  1. And that staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

 

PURPOSE:

This report recommends a speed limit reduction from 50 km/h to 40 km/h and a heavy truck prohibition on 9th Line through the Box Grove community.

 

 

BACKGROUND:

Letter of Request from Box Grove Community Association

On November 23, 2009, the Mayor and Council received a letter from the Box Grove Community Association identifying various issues in their community.  Specific to this staff report, the letter requested that the Town consider implementing a heavy truck prohibition and a reduction in the posted speed limit on 9th Line through the Box Grove community.

 

9th Line Road Characteristics

Through the Box Grove Community, 9th Line is a 2-lane roadway with sidewalk on alternating sides of the street.  The current operating speed and average daily traffic volume is 59 km/h and 3,500 vehicles per day, respectively.

 

Following the completion of the Box-Grove By-pass in 2008, The Region of York transferred jurisdiction of 9th Line between Highway 407 and Donald Cousens Parkway to the Town of Markham.  As a result, this portion of 9th Line has been downgraded from a regional arterial to a residential collector road.   All through traffic is now diverted to the Box Grove By-pass and Donald Cousens Parkway, thereby significantly reducing traffic volumes on this portion of 9th Line.

 

DISCUSSION:

In response to the Box Grove Community Association’s request, the Traffic Operations Department conducted an assessment of the subject area to identify the need to implement a heavy truck prohibition and a speed reduction on 9th Line through the Box Grove community.

 

Need to implement a heavy truck prohibition

With the exception of local deliveries, there is no need to have heavy truck traffic on local roads in Box Grove, including 9th Line.  Box Grove By-pass is a regional arterial road that is specifically designed to accommodate heavy truck traffic.  However, with the commercial lands currently being developed on Copper Creek Drive, the likelihood of heavy truck traffic using local residential roads as an alternate route between Box Grove By-pass and 14th Avenue will increase.  Therefore, staff is recommending that a heavy truck prohibition be implemented on key collector roads in Box Grove (see Attachment A).

 

Need to reduce the speed limit on 9th Line to 40 km/h

Public safety is of paramount importance when identifying the appropriate speed limit.  Because this portion of 9th Line has transitioned from an arterial to collector road, the function and characteristics of the roadway have inherently changed – traffic volumes have been significantly reduced and pedestrian activity has increased.  Also, there is a reasonable level of expectation from the local community that traffic should be traveling at a lower rate of speed to reflect 9th Line’s new classification.  Therefore, staff is recommending that the speed limit on 9th Line be reduced from 50 km/h to 40 km/h.

 

 

 

 

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

The cost of materials and installation of the maximum speed limit and heavy truck prohibition signs has been included in the Operations Department account # 83-5399-8402-005. On-going maintenance costs for this installation will be included in future Operations Department operating budgets.

 

ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PRIORITIES:

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

 

DEPARTMENTS 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 – Proposed Heavy Truck Prohibition Map

Attachment B – Heavy Truck Prohibition By-Law Amendment

Attachment C – Maximum Speed Limit By-Law Amendment