Workshop Item: 2 - Robert Therres, Public Services Manager
Title
TRAFFIC STUDY FOR CLUB WEST PARKWAY AT 113TH AVENUE
Background
This spring the Club West neighborhood association was in contact with City Council and City staff regarding traffic complaints on Club West Parkway and the roundabout. Their concerns focused around speeding and pedestrian safety in the corridor and at the roundabout. Staff informed the association president that the City would conduct speed and traffic counts, review the existing traffic control measures and then compile a report to take to Council. The traffic study and supporting materials are attached to this item. A summary of the findings is as follows:
Since 2009, there have been twelve accidents along this corridor, six of which occurred in the 111th Avenue area adjacent to the business areas on either side of the road, three accidents involving impaired drivers located at 111th Avenue, 112th Avenue and the roundabout, single vehicle property damage accidents in the roundabout and 112th Avenue, and one accident at 116th Avenue. The six accidents around the 111th area are due to the amount of traffic generated by the retail business areas on either side of Club West Parkway and were minor accidents with no injuries where vehicles pulled out in front of another vehicle or failed to yield at the merge point.
More than half of the vehicles are traveling at or below the speed limit of 35 mph and 85 percent of the vehicles are travelling at or under 38 mph. Typically when the 85th percentile vehicle speeds are 5 mph or greater over the speed limit, the police department will start targeted speed enforcement. Vehicle speeds entering and exiting the roundabout are considerably slower, with the majority of vehicles entering the roundabout at or under 23 mph and exiting at or under 25 mph.
Club West Parkway is a part of the frontage road system along Highway 65 and is classified as a collector street which carries approximately 11,200 cars per day on the segment south of the roundabout and 4,500 cars per day north of the roundabout. Generally, for a roadway of this type and volume of traffic, the amount of reported accidents and speeds are not out of the ordinary. Vehicles are slowing down considerably for the roundabout and are not exceeding the speed limit through the roundabout, but are cutting the inside corner of the roundabout and driving on the concrete apron which may allow for faster speeds through the roundabout.
Discussion
- Does the Council wish to pursue looking into methods to modify the apron in the roundabout to reduce speeds and direct staff to prepare a report of potential methods and the associated costs?
- Does the Council feel that additional speed enforcement is warranted at this time on Club West Parkway?