MARCH 9, 2021
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
REPORT NO. CW-029-2021
SPEED LIMIT REDUCTION ON COUNTY ROAD 3 FROM HIGHWAY 401 TO THOUSAND ISLANDS PARKWAY
MELANIE KNOWLES, MANAGER ENGINEERING AND OPERATIONS, PUBLIC WORKS
RECOMMENDATIONS
THAT Committee of the Whole recommends reducing the speed limit from 80 kilometres per hour to 60 kilometers per hour on County Road 3, from 875 meters north of Granite Ridge Road to the 1000 Islands Parkway in the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands; and
THAT the necessary By-Law be prepared.
BACKGROUND
The Counties have received resident complaints of uncomfortable driving conditions on County Road 3 between Highway 401 and the Thousand Islands Parkway due to tight curves and sight lines combined with an 80 km/h speed limit
DISCUSSION/ALTERNATIVES
In the summer of 2020 staff undertook a field survey to analyze the geometry of County Road 3 and compared it to current design standards.
A ball-bank indicator test was performed by Counties staff to determine a safe travelling speed on County Road 3 between Highway 401 and the Thousand Islands Parkway. A ball-bank indicator is commonly used to determine advisory speeds on curves and is prescribed in the Ontario Traffic Manual, Book 6, Warning Signs. Tests were conducted Page 2 SPEED LIMIT REDUCTION ON CTY RD 3 FROM HIGHWAY 401 TO THOUSAND ISLANDS PARKWAY COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE 70km/h were unsafe speeds for most of the curves along County Road 3, and that 60 km/h is a safe travelling speed for all curves along this section of County Road 3. Based on the latest traffic data on County Road 3, the 85^^ percentile speed is 95 km/h with a median speed of 80 km/h. Based on the Transportation Association of Canada Geometric Design Guide for Canadian Roads, the radii of the curves on County Road 3 do not meet the minimum radii required for a speed of 80 km/h. All radii on County Road 3 meet the requirements for a 60 km/h speed limit.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATiQNS
ATTACHMENTS
Appendix A: Proposed Speed Reduction Zone Map 8i Sign Placement
February 24, 2021
MELANIE KNOWLES, DATE MANAGER OF ENGINEERING AND OPERATIONS PUBLIC WORKS
ViL?a[a riCK KESTER DATE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
W\;icrk ANDY BROWN (/ DATE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER Page 3 SPEED LIMIT REDUCTION ON CTY RD 3 FROM HIGHWAY 401 TO THOUSAND ISLANDS PARKWAY COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
Appendix A: Proposed Speed Reduction Zone Map & Sign Placement
I a