East Bayfront Transit Class Environmental Assessment Traffic Assessment Queens Quay Design Alternatives Prepared For: Toronto Transit Commission / Waterfront Toronto January 2010 Table of Contents 1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................1 1.1 East Bayfront Transit Environmental Assessment..............................................................1 1.1.1 Environmental Assessment Study Area ................................................................1 1.1.2 Preferred Alignment and Technology ....................................................................3 1.2 Queens Quay East - Design Options Under Consideration ...............................................3 1.3 Coordination with Other Adjacent Studies ..........................................................................4 1.3.1 Queens Quay Revitalization Environmental Assessment .....................................4 1.3.2 Lower Don Lands Planning....................................................................................6 1.3.3 Gardiner Expressway.............................................................................................6 1.4 This Study ...........................................................................................................................7 1.4.1 Traffic Assessment Study Area..............................................................................7 1.4.2 Study Scope...........................................................................................................7 1.6 Summary and Key Findings................................................................................................8 2. Area Road Context.......................................................................................................................13 2.1 Study Area ........................................................................................................................13 2.2 Existing Road Network......................................................................................................14 2.3 Planned Road Modifications .............................................................................................18 2.3.1 Committed Modifications and New Roads...........................................................18 2.3.2 Planned Major Street Linkages............................................................................18 2.3.3 Potential New Development Related Connections..............................................19 3. Proposed Queens Quay East Options.......................................................................................20 3.1 Centre Transit Option........................................................................................................23 3.1.1 Queens Quay East Cross-Section.......................................................................23 3.1.2 Signalized Intersections .......................................................................................23 3.1.3 Unsignalized Intersections ...................................................................................24 3.1.4 Turning Movement Prohibitions ...........................................................................25 3.1.5 Emergency Vehicle Access .................................................................................25 3.2 South Side Transit Option.................................................................................................25 3.2.1 Queens Quay East Cross-Section.......................................................................25 3.2.2 Signalized Intersections .......................................................................................26 3.2.3 Unsignalized Intersections ...................................................................................28 3.2.4 Turning Movement Prohibitions ...........................................................................29 3.2.5 Emergency Vehicle Access .................................................................................30 3.2.6 Potential Future Pedestrian Crossings ................................................................30 4. Traffic Volume Forecasts ............................................................................................................31 4.1 Approach...........................................................................................................................31 4.1.1 Road Network Assumptions.................................................................................31 4.1.2 Traffic Volume Forecasting Methodology ............................................................31 East Bayfront Transit Class EA, Traffic Assessment 7085-01, January 2010 P:\70\85\01\2008\QQ - Preliminary Traffic Forecasts Report\EBF Traffic Report- Final Draft Jan_2010-Rev 2.doc 4.1.3 Coordination with Queens Quay Revitalization EA..............................................32 4.2 Existing Baseline Traffic Volumes.....................................................................................32 4.2.1 Intersection / Driveway Traffic Count Information................................................32 4.2.2 Volume Balancing – Queens Quay East Corridor ...............................................33 4.2.3 Existing Traffic Redistribution: Planned Area Road Network ..............................33 4.2.4 Existing Traffic Diversion: Queens Quay East to Lake Shore Boulevard East....35 4.2.5. Baseline (Adjusted) Existing Volumes .................................................................35 4.3 New Development Related Traffic Allowances.................................................................37 4.3.1 Traffic Allowances - East Bayfront Precinct.........................................................40 4.3.2 Travel Demand Forecasts – Western Portions of Lower Don Lands ..................46 4.3.3 Travel Demand Forecasts – West Don Lands.....................................................48 4.3.4 Travel Demand Forecasts – Other Central Waterfront Area Developments .......51 4.4 Design Option Volume Forecasts .....................................................................................54 5.0 Traffic Operations Analysis ........................................................................................................58 5.1 Methodology......................................................................................................................58 5.1.1 Analysis Methodology ..........................................................................................58 5.1.2 Options Under Evaluation ....................................................................................58 5.1.3 Road Network and Lane Configurations..............................................................58 5.1.4 Intersections Analysed.........................................................................................59 5.1.5 Signal Timings......................................................................................................59 5.1.6 Pedestrian Activity Assumptions..........................................................................60 5.1.7 Peak Hour Factor - Synchro ................................................................................60 5.1.8 Heavy Vehicle Assumptions ................................................................................60 5.1.9 Base Saturation Flow Rate Assumptions ............................................................60 5.2 Analysis Findings – South Side Transit Option.................................................................60 5.2.1 Traffic Operations Analyses.................................................................................60 5.2.2 Queuing Considerations ......................................................................................62 5.3 Analysis Findings – Centre Transit Option .......................................................................64 5.3.1 Traffic Operations Analyses.................................................................................64 5.3.2 Queuing Considerations ......................................................................................64 East Bayfront Transit Class EA, Traffic Assessment 7085-01, January 2010 P:\70\85\01\2008\QQ - Preliminary Traffic Forecasts Report\EBF Traffic Report- Final Draft Jan_2010-Rev 2.doc List of Tables Table 1 East Bayfront Precinct Plan, Development Floor Areas ............................... 41 Table 2 Trip Generation Dock Side (South of Queens Quay East, Lower Jarvis Street to Sherbourne Park)....................................................................................... 44 Table 3 Traffic Volumes – East Bayfront Precinct ..................................................... 44 Table 4 Traffic Distribution Patterns – East Bayfront Precinct.................................. 45 Table 5 Lower Don Lands- West of Cherry Street- Development Floor Areas.......... 47 Table 6 Trip Generation – Lower Don Lands – West of Cherry Street...................... 47 Table 7 Traffic Distribution Patterns – Western Portions of Lower Don Lands Precinct ....................................................................................................................... 48 Table 8 West Don Lands – Block Statistics Development Floor Area / Units............ 49 Table 9 West Don Lands Precinct – Forecast Traffic Volumes ................................. 50 Table 10 Trip Generation