REPORT MEETING DATE: JUNE 19, 2017 FROM: Engineering and Construction Department DATE: May 29, 2017 SUBJECT: Flashing 40km/h Zone Sign Program LOCATION: Town-wide WARD: Town-wide Page 1 RECOMMENDATION: 1. That Flashing 40km/h Zone Sign Program, as detailed in the staff report from the Engineering and Construction Department dated May 29, 2017, be received. 2. That the costs ($156,000) for the Flashing 40 km/h Zone Sign Program be referred to the 2018 Budget Committee for a planned implementation in 2018. KEY FACTS: The following are key points for consideration with respect to this report: In 2016, Council received two staff reports: o Speed Limit Review o Traffic Calming Process Update One of the report recommendations was the consideration for the implementation of additional Flashing 40km/h Zones (F40Z) - this was referred to the 2017 budget process During the 2017 budget process, Council referred the implementation of the F40Z so that information regarding potential Provincial implementation of Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) or photo radar in school zones could be received and considered prior to implementing additional F40Zs and approval of the associated funding. Bill 65, the Safer School Zones Act, which allows municipalities to implement photo radar in school zones, was approved by the Ontario Legislature on May 30; implementation timing and costs for ASE; however, are still unknown. Conditions which led to staff s recommendation of F40Zs still exist and staff are recommending the implementation costs ($156,000) be referred to the 2018 Budget Committee for consideration. F40Zs would be implemented in 2018,
Page 2 BACKGROUND: Staff presented two reports to Community Services Committee of April 25, 2016 to address previous staff direction to consider opportunities to lower speed limits in residential areas. Speed Limit Review Traffic Calming Process Update The Speed Limit Review report included a recommendation for the installation of Flashing 40 Zones (F40Z) at schools along town arterial and major collector roads. F40Zs would lower the speed limits in front of these schools from 50km/h to 40km/h during school arrival and dismissal times. The costs associated with these signs and beacons was referred to the 2017 budget process. Prior to the finalization of the 2017 budget process, the potential for Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) or photo radar in school zones was announced by the Province. Council decided to defer the implementation of F40Zs so that information regarding potential Provincial implementation of Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) or photo radar in school zones could be received and considered prior to implementing additional F40Zs and approval of the associated funding. The following direction was provided to staff: That the additional funding for traffic calming (flashing 40 km/hr zones signs program) be referred to the 2018 Budget Committee for consideration subject to Council considering a staff report on the potential use of photo radar technology and that staff report to Council on the potential use of photo radar. Bill 65, the Safer School Zones Act, 2017, was passed by the Ontario Legislature on May 30, 2017. The Act will provide municipalities more tools to fight speeding and dangerous driving in their communities, including ASC technology, which will help catch speeders. Municipalities will have the option to use this technology in school zones and also in community safety zones on roads with speed limits below 80 km/h. However, it is yet unknown how municipalities would implement ASE or what the upfront capital/operating costs would be. F40Z s are all about making drivers aware of a lower speed limit in vulnerable areas; ASE technology, while a deterrent to speeding, is about the enforcement of the speed limit. The F40Z s and the photo radar are two separate approaches which are complimentary in mitigating speed (one does not preclude the other). Since implementation timing for ASE in Ontario is still unknown and the conditions that led to staff s previous recommendation for F40Zs continue to exist, staff recommend proceeding with the implementation of F40Zs. The effectiveness of
Page 3 these zones will be reviewed using speed surveys and this information would help determine candidate and recommended sites for ASE when it becomes available for use in Oakville. COMMENT/OPTIONS: Oakville has a practice, similar to many other municipalities, of lowering the speed limit to 40km/h where schools front local and minor collector roads. To complement the posted 40 km/h limit, physical traffic calming has also been implemented in school zones on local and minor collector roads. With some exceptions, the speed limit in front of schools on major collectors and minor arterials has remained at 50km/h. Based on the staff review presented in staff reports from April 2016, permanent 40km/h zones are not recommended in front of schools on major collectors or arterials, but time of day F40Zs are recommended. These recommendations would apply to elementary and high schools, publicly-funded and private schools. F40Zs would extend 150m on either side of the frontage of the school. F40Zs are recommended at: White Oaks Secondary School McCraney Street East Iroquois Ridge High School Glenashton Drive Abbey Park High School Glen Abbey Gate Garth Webb Secondary School Westoak Trails Boulevard Holy Trinity Secondary School Sixth Line St. Ignatius of Loyola Secondary School Nottinghill Gate St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School Rebecca Street Clanmore Montesori School Lakeshore Road East Dearcroft Montessori School Lakeshore Road East Chisholm Academy Cornwall Road The cost to install signs at these 10 locations would be $136,000. In addition, there are three school locations on major collector or arterial roads that are currently posted 40km/h and where staff recommends adding flashing beacons to highlight the school zone and speed limit. These locations are: St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School Dorval Drive Oakville Christian School Third Line Appleby College Lakeshore Road West The cost for the flashing beacons in these locations would be $36,000.
Page 4 Therefore, the total estimated cost for the installation of the flashing beacons and signs is $156,000. Staff are recommending these costs be referred to the 2018 Budget Committee for consideration with a planned implementation for 2018. Effectiveness of Flashing Beacons in Reducing Speeds When the Speed Limit Review staff report was presented to Community Services Committee in April 2016 (and subsequently to Council), staff were directed to report back on the historical effectiveness of time of day flashing beacon speed limit signs at reducing speeds. The town has limited data regarding the historical effectiveness of these signs and flashing beacons at reducing speeds. Our speed survey data collection program has historically been designed to support the traffic calming program or to respond to concerns raised by staff, councilors or residents, rather than a regular monitoring program of specific locations. As a result, we do not have comprehensive data to allow us to identify whether the speeds have decreased and remained at a lower rate than prior to the installation of the flashing beacons. A review of studies from other jurisdictions has shown varying levels of speed reduction following the installation of flashing beacons. Installing flashing beacons will further highlight the presence of the schools mentioned in the report and the beacons are a tool to remind drivers to slow down in school zones. Staff have planned for before and after speed surveys in the locations identified in this report in order to quantify the speed reduction as a result of the installation of flashing beacons. This information would help determine candidate and recommended sites for ASE when it becomes available for use in Oakville. CONSIDERATIONS: (A) PUBLIC Public consultation regarding posted speed limits was conducted as part of the Speed Limit Review report presented to Community Services Committee in April 2016. (B) FINANCIAL This report recommends that the cost of installing F40Zs ($156,000) be referred to the 2018 budget process.
Page 5 (C) IMPACT ON OTHER DEPARTMENTS & USERS Roads and Works Department would be responsible for the installation the signs and flashing beacons relating to the implementation of F40Zs throughout town. (D) CORPORATE AND/OR DEPARTMENT STRATEGIC GOALS This report addresses the corporate strategic goal to: continuously improve our programs and services be accountable in everything we do (E) COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY The safe operation of our intersections and roadways is an important component of the social pillar of community sustainability. APPENDICES: Appendix A: Speed Limit Review Report to April 25, 2016 CSC Meeting Submitted by: J. Stephen, P. Eng. Senior Manager, Transportation Strategy Engineering & Construction Department Recommended by: D.M. Cozzi, P. Eng. Director, Engineering & Construction Department