CNCL-20-115 One-Way / Two-Way Downtown Street Conversion Study
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Public Report To: Council in Committee of the Whole From: Warren Munro, HBA, RPP, Commissioner, Development Services Department Report Number: CNCL-20-115 Date of Report: June 17, 2020 Date of Meeting: June 22, 2020 Subject: One-Way / Two-Way Downtown Street Conversion Study Update File: B-1210 1.0 Purpose On September 30, 2019 Development Services Committee considered DS-19-174, Notice of Motion – Reconversion of Streets into Two-way Thoroughfare, and adopted the following resolution: “That staff be directed to update the previous report on the feasibility of the reconversion of the following streets into two-way thoroughfares: 1. King Street and Bond Street 2. Simcoe Street and Centre Street; and, That Regional Staff be consulted where appropriate and that the report come back to the Development Services Committee by the end of Q2, 2020.” The purpose of this report is to respond to the September 30, 2019 Development Services Committee directive and to provide an update on the One-Way Conversion Study that was undertaken by the City in 2001. Attachment 1 is a copy of the 2001 One-Way Conversion Study. Attachment 2 is a copy of DS-01-25, a joint report of the Commissioners of Development Services and Operational Services regarding the One-Way Conversion Study Final Budget. 4 Report to Council in Committee of the Whole Item: CNCL-20-115 Meeting Date: June 22, 2020 Page 2 2.0 Recommendation It is recommended to City Council: 1. That Report DS-20-115 dated June 17, 2020 concerning the One-Way / Two-Way Downtown Street Conversion Study Update be received for information. 3.0 Executive Summary Not applicable. 4.0 Input From Other Sources . Region of Durham 5.0 Analysis 5.1 Background At its meeting of September 30, 2019, Development Services Committee approved DS-19- 174 and directed staff to update the One-Way Conversion Study that was undertaken by the City in 2001 and report back to the Development Services Committee by the end of Q2, 2020. 5.2 2001 One-Way Conversion Study - Findings In 2000, the City retained Stantec Consulting to undertake an investigation of the feasibility, cost and other impacts of converting the King Street /Bond Street and Simcoe Street/Centre Street one-way couplets to two-way operations. The study utilized a combined technical and economic approach (see Attachment 1). The transportation study area involved the complete King/Bond and Simcoe/Centre one- way corridors, while the economic impact study area focused on the downtown core area bounded by Division Street, John Street, McMillan Street/Queen Street and Colborne Street. The criteria used to assess the transportation impacts of the conversion options were: . Pedestrian safety . Network operations . Intersection conflicts . Transit service . Potential traffic diversion The criteria used to assess the economic impacts of the conversion options were: . Exposure to potential clients . Traffic speed and friction . Parking 5 Report to Council in Committee of the Whole Item: CNCL-20-115 Meeting Date: June 22, 2020 Page 3 . Elements of intimacy . Physical and Psychological Barriers . Construction/Disruption The transportation analysis of the study concluded: . There was no feasible way to partially convert the King Street /Bond Street or Simcoe Street/Centre Street one-way street pairs. If on-street parking is to remain, from a traffic operations perspective, the existing network of one-way pairs is preferred, followed by the conversion of the Simcoe Street/Centre Street one-way pair. The conversion of the King Street/Bond Street one-way pair was determined to be impractical due the poor traffic operations that would result, the significant loss of on- street parking and the complexity of converting the transition areas at each end. The conversion of the Simcoe Street/Centre Street one-way pair was determined to be feasible, subject to further analysis. A preliminary estimate revealed that the cost to convert King Street/Bond Street couplet to two-way operation was estimated to be between $2.5 and $3.1 million (in year 2000 dollars). The cost to convert the Simcoe Street/Centre Street couplet was estimated to be between $1.0 and $1.5 million (in year 2000 dollars). These estimates did not include potential costs for utility relocations, parking replacement, modifications to transit operations or public education and promotion. In 2020 dollars, these costs are estimated to be between $3.5 million and $4.4 million for the King Street/Bond Street couplet and between $1.4 million and $2.1 million for the Simcoe Street/Centre Street couplet. The economic analysis of the study concluded: . The conversion of either one of the one-way couplets or both would result in an increase in annual retail sales in the downtown by improving many of the transportation-related conditions needed for successful retailing including an increase in traffic exposure and a reduction in traffic speeds. The above findings were presented to a joint meeting of the Development Services and Operational Services Committees on January 23, 2001 as part of staff Report DS-01-25 (see Attachment 2). At that meeting, the Joint Committee referred Report DS-01-25 and the consultant’s report to staff for consultation with the public and other stakeholders, and requested staff to report back to the Development Services Committee on a recommended course of action following public consultation. Following the Joint Committee meeting, a public consultation meeting was held and direction was required on funding for the next phase of the report. Funding for Phase 2 of the One-Way Conversion Study was not approved by Council through the annual budget process. 6 Report to Council in Committee of the Whole Item: CNCL-20-115 Meeting Date: June 22, 2020 Page 4 At the November 24, 2008 City Council meeting, Council reviewed DS-08-473, the Development Services Committee’s Outstanding Items Status Report and removed DS-01- 25 from the outstanding items list since the next phase of the report was not funded by Council through the annual budget process. 5.3 2001 One-Way Conversion Study Update As directed by the Development Services Committee staff undertook a technical review of the 2001 One-Way Conversion Study. The technical review focuses on the comparison of existing vehicular traffic to the traffic data in the 2001 report. The 2001 study utilized traffic data from 1997 to 1999 to compare the afternoon peak hour traffic volumes along King Street, Bond Street, Simcoe Street and Centre Street in the study area. The combined traffic volumes during the afternoon peak hour along King Street and Bond Street ranged between approximately 2,300 to 3,700 vehicles per hour, with King Street carrying slightly higher volume. Along Simcoe Street and Centre Street, the combined traffic volumes during the afternoon peak hour ranged between approximately 1,700 to 2,200 vehicles per hour, with slightly higher volumes along Simcoe Street. Using available traffic data from the Region for signalized intersections along King Street, Bond Street, Centre Street and Simcoe Street from 2016 to 2018, a similar comparison of the afternoon peak hour traffic volumes was undertaken. Along King Street and Bond Street, the combined traffic volumes appear to be consistent with the 2001 volumes and ranged between approximately 2,400 to 3,200 vehicles per hour. The minor differences in volumes may be accounted for by the timing of data collection (winter versus summer). Along Simcoe Street and Centre Street, the combined traffic volumes also appear to be consistent with the 2001 study during the afternoon peak hour and ranged between approximately 1,600 to 2,200 vehicles per hour. 5.4 Impacts of Other Projects In recent years, there have been transit and streetscape projects proposed along the King Street/Bond Street and Simcoe Street/Centre Street one-way couplets that may affect traffic patterns and require space and property resulting in impacts on the feasibility of the conversion to two-way. These projects include: . King Street East Streetscape Project being undertaken by the City; . Simcoe Street Bus Rapid Transit Project being proposed by the Durham Regional Transit; . Durham-Scarborough Bus Rapid Transit Project being undertaken by Metrolinx; . Lakeshore East GO Service Extension to Bowmanville proposed by Metrolinx; and, . Road Rationalization. The first phase of the King Street East streetscape project included removing the on-street parking along the north side of King Street East between Ontario Street and Mary Street North to widen the sidewalk, allowing for additional space for pedestrians, landscaping, outdoor patios/cafes, streetscape amenities and businesses. The second phase of the 7 Report to Council in Committee of the Whole Item: CNCL-20-115 Meeting Date: June 22, 2020 Page 5 project will focus on the widening of the sidewalk on the north side of King Street East between Simcoe Street North and Ontario Street. The Simcoe Street Bus Rapid Transit Project proposes the implementation of bus rapid transit along Simcoe Street between the future Central Oshawa GO Station and Highway 407 East. The project includes the possible re-purposing of existing traffic lanes in each direction for the exclusive use of transit for that portion of Simcoe Street between Conlin Road and the future Central Oshawa GO Station. The Durham-Scarborough Bus Rapid Transit project is intended to provide approximately 36 kilometres (22 mi.) of dedicated transit infrastructure along the Highway 2 corridor to connect Durham Region and the City of Toronto. The project is intended to enhance inter- regional mobility and connect residents and employment. The technically preferred option for the project proposes to convert the curbside general traffic lanes along King Street (northern most lane) and Bond Street (southern most lane) to dedicated transit lanes.