REQUEST FOR DECISION
DATE: June 13, 2016 Report No. EPW-16-018
TO: Laurie Hurst, Chief Administrative Officer
FROM: Jeff Miller, Director of Engineering and Public Works
SUBJECT:
Title
Norma Court - Traffic Order 1235
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
That Council approves the implementation of Traffic Order 1235 - All Time Parking Restriction on Norma Court, as set out in Staff Report EPW-16-018.
Body
RELEVANT POLICY:
Streets and Regulation Traffic Bylaw, 2005, No. 2607
STRATEGIC RELEVANCE:
Healthy and Liveable Community
BACKGROUND:
Norma Court is located on the west side of Lampson Street just north of Esquimalt Road; the entrance is located off Lampson Street and ends in an offset cul-de-sac (see Attachment 1). The offsetting of the cul-de-sac creates a very short 90 degree bend. The number of on street parking spaces (based on standard parking stall size of 5.5m) is 21. Based on the recommended parking restriction, 6 on street parking spots would be unusable during normal business hours.
When vehicles are parked on both sides of the road at the bend, the available space for navigating around the bend is significantly reduced for larger vehicles (i.e. waste collection/recycling vehicles, emergency response vehicles and private vehicles with trailers). Due to constrained nature of the road at the bend, larger vehicles either just squeeze by or do not attempt to transit down the street for fear of damaging parked vehicles. In the course of waste collection, the second circumstance is encountered on a frequent basis. When this circumstance occurs, crews have to haul the waste bins from the various downstream lots back to the truck. This significantly increases the time and effort required to carry out this work. The other alternative is for the crew to come back at a later time to determine if sufficient space is available to transit the road. As well several of the residents have forwarded their concerns to the Township about how they cannot access the road due to there being insufficient space on the road to turn out of their driveways.
Possible options for providing sufficient space to transit the corridor are:
1. All time parking restriction along the frontage of 1117 Norma Court be put in place.
2. Limited time parking restriction along the frontage of 1117 Norma Court be put in place.
Public Works sent a questionnaire to the 13 lots that front onto Norma Court outlining the two options (see Attachment 2). Responses were received back from five of the residences. See Attachment 3 for a summary of comments received; 3 of the responses were in favour of Option 1 and 2 in favour of Option 2.
ISSUES:
1. Rationale for Selected Option
Staff’s recommendation is that Option 1 (TO 1235) be implemented (see Attachment 1).
The full time parking restriction resolves several aspects of the issue. It will allow larger vehicles (i.e. collection vehicles) the ability to utilize the street at any time. This option will allow for waste collection to occur without any interruptions or slowdowns.
Another benefit this option provides is that the Fire apparatus truck will have access as well at any time. Discussions were held with the Fire Department and as most fire trucks are similar in size/length as the waste collection truck, they would experience the same situation as the waste collection trucks. Fire does have the capacity to access the downstream portion of the street, but access would most likely be on foot and this will impact the response time in an emergency.
2. Organizational Implications
The proposed Traffic Order would improve the ability of the Township (Public Works and Fire) as well as contractors involved in waste management collection to carry out various operational activities on the street.
The Community Safety Services Department would be informed of the parking restriction and add it to their enforcement activities.
3. Financial Implications
The proposed work has no financial implications and can be accommodated into the operational budget of Public Works.
4. Sustainability & Environmental Implications
The recommended TO would reduce idle time and increased travelling for the waste collection vehicles.
5. Communication & Engagement
Information on the new TO will be posted on the Township’s website and linked with other social media forums. Notification would be delivered to the residents of Norma Court advising of the new parking restriction.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. That Council approves the implementation of Traffic Order 1235 - All Time Parking Restriction.
2. That Council directs staff to issue and implement a Traffic Order for Option 1 - limited time parking restriction along the frontage of 1117 Norma Court.
3. That Council does not approve any traffic order and that status quo is maintained.