Re: Sainte-Geneviève Elementary School (2198 Arch Street) Transportation Overview

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Heather French
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2 March 2015 OUR REF: TO3205TOB00 Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est (CECCE) 4000 rue Labelle Ottawa, Ontario K1J 1A1 Attention: Maguy Eustache Dear Maguy: Re: Sainte-Geneviève Elementary

1 2 March 2015 OUR REF: TO3205TOB00 Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est (CECCE) 4000 rue Labelle Ottawa, Ontario K1J 1A1 Attention: Maguy Eustache Dear Maguy: Re: Sainte-Geneviève Elementary School (2198 Arch Street) Transportation Overview 1. Introduction From the information provided, it is our understanding that CECCE is in the process of obtaining Site Plan Approval for a proposed addition to the existing Sainte-Geneviève Elementary School located at 2198 Arch Street in the Alta Vista Community of Ottawa, ON. The school is located in the northwest quadrant of the Canterbury/Arch intersection. Adjacent land uses include Sainte-Geneviève Church, residential homes, a small retail plaza/restaurant fronting the east side of Arch Street, as well as Canterbury Community Centre/Brian Kilrea Arena (2185 Arch Street), and Arch Street Public School (2129 Arch Street) located further to the north. For context, these land uses, as well as the subject school site, are identified in Figure 1 and the proposed Site Plan is provided as Figure 2. Figure 1: Site Context

2 Figure 2: Proposed Site Plan

3 STOP Page 3 It was confirmed with City staff that a formal Transportation Impact Assessment is not required for this site redevelopment as the proposed addition would result in negligible change to the on-site parking supply and no change to the location of the existing site driveway connections. However, the proposed Site Plan includes a formalized bus lay-by on Arch Street and City Staff have requested that a Transportation Overview be prepared to address concerns associated with the proposed lay-by. As such, this Transportation Overview will focus on the following relevant transportation issues: existing traffic conditions surrounding the school at drop-off and pick-up times; an assessment of the lay-by from a traffic operational and safety perspective; and address the transportation related comments from the City s initial circulation. 2. Existing Conditions 2.1 Existing Road Network Arch Street is a local roadway with a two-lane cross section. The unposted speed limit is understood to be 50 km/h; and during the hours just prior and after school class time the posted speed limit is 40 km/h (7AM to 9AM and 2PM to 5PM). No stopping signs are posted along the east side of the road from Canterbury Avenue to Bangor Drive and along the west side of the road from Canterbury Avenue to Fleming Avenue. The public ROW along Arch Street is approximately 20 m, with an approximate 8.5 m wide roadway. Canterbury Avenue is a collector roadway with an unposted speed limit understood to be 50 km/h. It has a two-lane cross-section and on-street parking is restricted at certain areas along both sides of the road. 2.2 Existing Traffic Volumes Illustrated as Figure 3, are the most recent weekday morning and afternoon school peak hour traffic volumes (7:45AM to 8:45AM & 2PM to 3PM) conducted by Parsons (February 2015) at the Arch/Canterbury intersection. Weekday school peak hour traffic volumes are included as Attachment #1. Figure 3: Existing School Peak Hour Traffic Volumes School Site Arch Canterbury 94(42) 32(29) 37(16) 216(95) 28(26) 121(71) xx (yy) AM School Peak Hour Volumes PM School Peak Hour Volumes It can be seen from Figure 3 that the two-way vehicle volume along Arch Street is approximately 190 and 115 veh/h during the morning and afternoon peak school hours, respectively. This equates to approximately 2 to

Page 4 3 vehicles every minute. During the peak fifteen minutes in the morning (8:00 to 8:15AM), approximately 75 two-way vehicles were observed along Arch Street.

4 Page 4 3 vehicles every minute. During the peak fifteen minutes in the morning (8:00 to 8:15AM), approximately 75 two-way vehicles were observed along Arch Street. This equates to approximately 5 vehicles every minute, which is the busiest fifteen minutes along the roadway adjacent to the subject school. 2.3 Existing Traffic - School Zone School Buses The school bus drop-off/pick-up currently occurs curb side along Arch Street between the school s southern property line and Fleming Avenue. A total of seven (7) buses arrive between 7:50 AM and 8:10 AM at a nonuniform rate from the north. Buses are required to idle until the students are unloaded with the supervision of school staff (approximately 8:05/8:10 AM). During the afternoon pick-up period, a total of seven (7) buses arrive between 2:10 PM and 2:30 PM and dwell on-site until classes are completed at 2:35 PM. All students are escorted from the school directly to their respective buses by school staff. Buses then leave the site together at approximately 2:40 PM, when all children have been loaded onto buses. Signage is posted along Arch Street in front of the school indicating the school bus loading zone. No stopping signage is posted between Fleming Avenue and the school s northern property boundary to give priority to the two buses that are required to stop curb side north of the school s property line (just south of Fleming Avenue). Figure 4 shows the existing curb side school bus drop-off/pick-up along Arch Street. Figure 4: Existing Bus Drop-off/Pick-up Parent Drop-off/Pick-up Parent drop-off/pick-up currently occurs off-site during the same time as the school bus drop-off/pick-up time period (approximately 7:50-8:15AM and 2:10-2:40PM). Vehicles were observed stopping/parking along Arch

5 Page 5 Street within the on-street parking zone and within the no-stopping zone. Vehicles were also observed using the Canterbury Community Centre driveway and parking lot to drop-off/pick-up their children. It is understood that approximately 80 parents use private vehicles to drop-off their children during the morning peak drop-off period and approximately 50 parents pick-up their children during the afternoon peak pick-up period Adjacent Land Use Traffic During the morning and afternoon drop-off/pick-up periods, minimal traffic was observed entering/exiting the adjacent land uses (Church, Community Centre, retail plaza). In addition, no school bus/pick-up/drop-off traffic associated with the Arch Street Public School was observed during the Sainte-Geneviève School s drop-off/pick-up periods. Notably, Arch Street during school drop-off/pick-up periods was reduced to one travel lane as buses blocked the western side of the narrow roadway. Occasionally a vehicle was required to yield to an oncoming vehicle within the school bus drop-off zone. 3. Proposed School Bus Lay-by As shown on the proposed Site Plan (Figure 2), the revised school site will provide an approximate 70 m school bus lay-by between the two existing site driveway connections to Arch Street. The lay-by is proposed along the public ROW and will replace the approximate 3 m grass median that currently exists between the street line and the sidewalk. The lay-by dimensions provide storage space for approximately 5 school buses. It is understood that two buses will continue to park curb side along Arch Street between the school s northern property line and Fleming Avenue. Given the narrow ROW of Arch Street, it is considered beneficial to provide additional width along this section of the roadway to allow two-way traffic to continue unimpeded during periods of on-street school bus activity. The proposed lay-by will reduce the spacing between the existing sidewalk and the roadway. As the lay-by will be used by school buses only and as school staff is present during school bus loading and unloading, this reduction in buffering space is considered acceptable. In addition, based on observation, the loading/unloading is completed in an efficient manner and students do not linger on the sidewalks for any extended period of time. 4. City Comments Transportation comments were received from the City based on the proposed Site Plan. The following transportation related comments, with corresponding responses from Parsons, address any additional concerns from the City that were not addressed in the letter above. Comment 1: Through a use agreement, could the adjacent church parking be used for bus lay-by and student drop-off? Response 1: It is understood that there have been discussions on this subject between the school and the church, and the church is not in a position to accommodate the request given the programming of various activities at the church throughout the day. Comment 2: The proposed 2 metre sidewalk along the proposed lay-by may be too narrow to provide standing space for bus loading as well as circulation. Evaluate and provide sufficiently wider space to address student circulation and loading in this area.

6 Page 6 Response 2: School bus unloading and loading is done in a quick and efficient manner. Students are led by school staff off the bus and directly into the school. Similarly during the afternoon, students are led from the school to their respective buses in an organized manner. The proposed 2 m width of the sidewalk is sufficient for this unloading and loading process as students do not linger on the sidewalk for any extended period of time. Comment 3: Regardless if the lay by is granted or not, the sidewalk in front of the school should be upgraded to provide safe and accessible circulation and the boulevard area required for bus loading must also be paved. Response 3: Noted and the proponent has been advised. However, if the lay-by is granted, there is no longer a boulevard between the curb and the sidewalk. Comment 4: On street lay-by for school bus operations should be discouraged. Opportunities for unloading busses on site should be explored with the Coordinator, School Zone Traffic Safety in the Traffic Services Branch. Response 4: We are advised that the school has insufficient space for on-site bus operations without impacting the playground area. The proposed lay-by represents an improvement from the existing on-street bus operations. Comment 5: The proposed lay-by requires road widening and removal of the grass boulevard. It is understood that maintenance of this area becomes the responsibility of the City once constructed. Response 5: Agreed. Comment 6: If the lay-by is approved, an RMA report will be required. Response 6: Agreed and the proponent has been advised. 5. Findings, Conclusions and Recommendations Based on the foregoing, the following transportation-related findings, conclusions and recommendations are offered: The proposed revisions to the existing school site do not warrant a formal Transportation Impact Study (TIS) as there is no change in the existing driveway connections and negligible change in the existing parking supply. However, as the proposed Site Plan includes an on-street school bus lay-by, this Transportation Overview has been prepared to address concerns associated with this proposed change; Current traffic volumes along the school s frontage are approximately 190 and 115 veh/h during the morning and afternoon peak school hours, respectively. During the busiest fifteen minute period in the morning (8:00 to 8:15AM), approximately 75 two-way vehicles were observed along Arch Street; There is negligible traffic accessing/egressing the adjacent land uses (church, retail, residential and Arch Street School) during the Sainte-Geneviève School s peak drop-off/pick-up hours;

Page 7 The existing bus drop-off/pick-up consists of seven school buses parked along the Arch Street curb (west side) for approximately 20-30 minutes each weekday morning and afternoon while students

7 Page 7 The existing bus drop-off/pick-up consists of seven school buses parked along the Arch Street curb (west side) for approximately minutes each weekday morning and afternoon while students are loaded and unloaded; Observations did reveal that when school buses are parked curbside on Arch Street, there is insufficient roadway width remaining to permit two-way operations, and vehicles yield to facilitate 1- way operation through the bottleneck; The proposed school bus lay-by along Arch Street will provide storage space for 5 of the 7 school buses. The lay-by is considered beneficial to provide additional width along this section of the roadway to allow two-way traffic to continue unimpeded; The proposed lay-by will eliminate the boulevard between the existing sidewalk and the roadway. As the lay-by will be used by school buses only and as school staff is present during school bus loading and unloading procedures, this reduction in buffering space is considered acceptable and would not compromise the safety of pedestrians/school children; As the lay-by is proposed within the City s ROW, the maintenance of the lay-by would be the responsibility of the City and given the existing curb alignment is being modified, a Roadway Modification Approval (RMA) process will need to be completed. Based on the foregoing, the proposed school bus lay-by on Arch Street serving the Sainte-Geneviève Elementary School is recommended from a transportation perspective. If there are any questions, please contact the undersigned. Prepared By: Reviewed By: André Jane Sponder, B.A.Sc. Analyst, Transportation Division Ottawa Operations Mark A. Baker, P.Eng. Manager, Traffic and Transportation Planning Ottawa Operations

8 Attachment #1 Existing School Peak Hour Counts

9 Intersection: Date: Observer: Weather: Time: Arch St & Canterbury Ave February 24, 2015 Alex Buck Clear, Sunny 7:45 AM - 8:45 AM Arch Canterbury Canterbury Arch TIME NBL NBT NBR SBL SBT SBR EBL EBT EBR WBL WBT WBR 7:45 AM :00 AM :15 AM :30 AM TOTAL Notes:

SBL SBT SBR EBL EBT EBR WBL WBT WBR 2:00 PM 0 0 0 6 0 11 5 18 0 0 15 1 2:15 PM 0 0 0 4 0 8 7 19 0 0

10 Intersection: Date: Observer: Weather: Time: Arch St & Canterbury Ave February 24, 2015 Alex Buck Clear, Sunny 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Arch Canterbury Canterbury Arch TIME NBL NBT NBR SBL SBT SBR EBL EBT EBR WBL WBT WBR 2:00 PM :15 PM :30 PM :45 PM TOTAL Notes:

RE: 3605 Paul Anka Drive Addendum #2 to the December 2012 Traffic Impact Study

19 May 2015 BY EMAIL: asaggarwal@gmail.com Manor Park Management 231 Brittany Drive, Suite D Ottawa, ON K1K 0R8 Attention: Mr. Anand Aggarwal RE: 3605 Paul Anka Drive Addendum #2 to the December 2012 Traffic