TO: FROM: MEETING DATE: SUBJECT:

Members of the Committee of the Whole W. H. Jackson, Director of Utility Services April 2, 2013 Report USEC13-007 Intersection Improvements - Crawford Drive, Monaghan Road and Johnston Drive

PURPOSE
A report to advise Council of the results of reviews of various geometric designs for the intersection of Crawford Drive, Monaghan Road and Johnston Drive and request direction to proceed with detailed design and implementation of the recommended intersection improvement option.

RECOMMENDATION
That Council approve the recommendation outlined in Report USEC13-007 dated April 2, 2013 of the Director of Utility Services, as follows: That all-way stop control be implemented at the intersection of Crawford Drive, Monaghan Road and Johnston Drive with a channelized right turn for south bound vehicles on Monaghan Drive to west bound on Crawford Drive as illustrated in the recommended conceptual design plan attached in Appendix G.

Report USEC13-007 Intersection Improvements Crawford Drive, Monaghan Road and Johnston Drive Page 2

BUDGET AND FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

Sufficient funds are available in the 2012 Capital Budget (Item 5-3.03) to implement the recommendation of this report. The preliminary cost estimate for the recommended Crawford Drive, Monaghan Road and Johnston Drive intersection improvements is $400,000. This estimate will be refined as detailed engineering drawings are prepared.

BACKGROUND
Council at its meeting of February 23, 2009 received for information Report USTR09001 (Appendix A). That report indicated that all-way stop control was warranted for the intersection but other geometric design alternatives should be investigated and presented to Council for further consideration. 1. Alternative Options Review

A number of geometric design alternatives were reviewed all of which were variations of the following three main geometric designs: 1) 2) 3) Improved stop control; Traffic signal installation; and Roundabout.

Staffs evaluation of each alternative did not result in a clear, preferred alternative. An independent third party peer review was then undertaken by SRM Associates, Consulting Engineers (SRM). SRM was selected because they had an experienced roundabout design division. A copy of the final report executive summary prepared by SRM is included in Appendix B. SRM recommended that a roundabout be constructed at this intersection. However, the report also indicates that stop control for eastbound Crawford Drive was the preferred alternative based on an economic analysis. Table 1 below is from the body of the SRM report that provides a summary of the qualitative evaluation for the three options.

Report USEC13-007 Intersection Improvements Crawford Drive, Monaghan Road and Johnston Drive Page 3 Table 1 Summary of Qualitative Evaluation (Descriptive)*
Evaluation Criteria One-Way Stop Control Signalized Intersection Roundabout Possible need for retaining structure and/or elimination of sidewalk or multi-use trail on east side along Otonabee River. Low, due to slow and even vehicle speeds. Significant, needed to educate public on navigating roundabout. Opportunity to enhance intersection through decorative paving materials, central island landscaping and sidewalk or multi-use trail on east side along Otonabee River. Good sightlines possible for all users. Good speed control possible for all movements. Access for #612 Crawford Drive will be within roundabout. Fewer crashes compared to signalized intersection (about 10-30%). Fewer crashes compared to signalized intersection (about 50-80%), but perception will be that intersection is less safe. May be more difficult to maintain due to small diameter.

Natural

Impact to Otonabee River Floodplain

Status quo.

Status quo.

Vehicle Noise, Fuel Consumption and Emissions Public Outreach

Significant, due to percentage of traffic that stops on Crawford Drive. None.

Significant, due to start/stop driving cycle. Minimal.

Social

Aesthetic Value

Status quo.

Some negative impacts due to presence of signals and guiderail, and headlight glare. Auxiliary signal will be needed southbound. Horizontal curve should limit speeds on Monaghan Road. Impact to #612 and #616 Crawford Drive. Status quo.

Sightlines

Speeding and Driver Behaviour Operational

Meets minimum sight distance standards for drivers. Speeding possible through intersection. Merge conflict on rightturn bypass exit. Impact to #612 Crawford Drive. Sightlines may be insufficient for cyclists on Crawford Drive. Crosswalk on west leg only.

Driveway Access Conditions for Cyclists

Conditions for Pedestrians

Crosswalks on all legs. Audible signals possible.

Road Maintenance Operations

Status quo.

Status quo.

* From SRM Associates, January 12, 2012

Report USEC13-007 Intersection Improvements Crawford Drive, Monaghan Road and Johnston Drive Page 4 1.1 Stop Control for Eastbound Crawford Drive This option maintains the current control condition but adds an island to protect stopped vehicles on Crawford Drive and a channelized right turn from Monaghan Road to Crawford Drive to avoid stopping all the through traffic of this predominant movement. The main benefits of this configuration are that it can be constructed within the existing road platform and has little impact on adjacent lands. This option also has the lowest cost estimate ($400,000) making it the economically preferred option. Disadvantages of this option include the yield condition created by the channelized right, sight line issues for cyclists turning left off of Crawford onto Monaghan Road and the absence of a fully controlled pedestrian crossing across the channelization. The concept design for this option is shown in Appendix C. 1.2 Signalized Intersection The signalized intersection option would see Crawford Drive and Monaghan Road as the main movement with Johnston Drive realigned to tee into the continuous bend. The benefits of this option include improved conditions for pedestrian crossings and possible free flow movement of through traffic when the intersection rests on green for main traffic movement on Crawford Drive and Monaghan Road. Drawbacks of this option are the tight radius corner coming into the intersection and the ongoing operation and maintenance costs. There would also be an impact to the driveway of 612 Crawford Drive which would be within the intersection. The estimated cost for the implementation of this option is approximately $800,000. The concept design for this option is shown in Appendix D.

Report USEC13-007 Intersection Improvements Crawford Drive, Monaghan Road and Johnston Drive Page 5 1.3 Roundabout The main benefits of the roundabout are reduced vehicle noise and fuel consumption, improved speed control and improved sightlines. Drawbacks of the roundabout option are impacts to the floodplain, impact to the driveway at 612 Crawford Drive and the estimated cost of $900.000. This cost estimate does not include monies for environmental approvals or mitigation measures that may result from such environmental approvals. The concept design for this option is shown in Appendix E. 2. Comments

Staff believes that while a roundabout may be a viable alternative there are some additional factors that should also be considered when making the final selection. One, significant factor is that available real estate at the intersection dictates that the roundabout could not be constructed to ideal design specifications. This is especially important in this instance because this would be the Citys first arterial road roundabout and its design should meet all appropriate specifications Appendix F is a concept design showing the preferred geometry. It takes a larger footprint than the available real estate at this intersection and the footprint shown in Appendix E (the consultants proposed roundabout design). Either significant fill within the river or purchase of private lands to support the larger footprint would be required. To reduce the footprint a condensed roundabout concept design was proposed by the consultant that would more suitably fit within the real estate available. This was the roundabout concept shown in Appendix E and the design that was evaluated. This reduced concept would still require fill (although less) within the floodplain. Staff does not believe this reduced geometry concept is appropriate at this location and at this time. Another important consideration is that the geometry of the reduced footprint roundabout would restrict larger trucks from using the roundabout therefore restricting truck traffic along the three arterials of the subject intersection. Construction of either the reduced or full footprint roundabout would require the placement of fill into the river and/or construction of retaining walls to create the necessary platform for the road works. Staff correspondence with environmental agencies indicated that this could be done but would require extensive reviews and mitigation measures to compensate for impacts to the flood plain. This would come at additional costs.

Report USEC13-007 Intersection Improvements Crawford Drive, Monaghan Road and Johnston Drive Page 6 3. Conclusion

Based on the review of the options, staff recommends implementation of the stop control option but with additional stops placed on the Johnston Drive and Monaghan Road legs of the intersection. These additional stop controls will address the sightline issues for cyclists and pedestrian control but will have limited impact given the low volume of traffic on the movements being controlled. The recommended concept design is shown in Appendix G. 4. Next Steps

Following Councils endorsement of the recommendation, staff will complete the detailed design and issue the tender in the spring of 2013 for construction in the summer/fall of 2013.

Summary
Following review of various intersection reconfiguration options for the Crawford Drive, Monaghan Road and Johnston Drive intersection staff is recommending that an improved all-way stop control configuration with a channelized right turn for south bound vehicles on Monaghan Drive to west bound on Crawford Drive as illustrated in the recommended conceptual design plan attached in Appendix G be implemented. Submitted by:

W.H. Jackson, P. Eng. Director of Utility Services Contact Name: Blair Nelson, P.Eng. Manager, Design and Construction Utility Services Department Phone: 705-742-7777 x 1763 Toll Free: 1-855-738-3755 Fax: 705-876-4621 Email: bnelson@peterborough.ca

Report USEC13-007 Intersection Improvements Crawford Drive, Monaghan Road and Johnston Drive Page 7 Attachments: Appendix A: Appendix B: Appendix C: Appendix D: Appendix E: Appendix F: Appendix G: Report USTR09-001 Intersection Control Study Final Report One-Way Stop Control Concept Design Signalized Intersection Concept Design Roundabout Concept Design Preferred Geometry Roundabout Concept Design Recommended Improved Stop Control Concept Design