Cootes Drive, history?

http://www.dundasstarnews.com/news/article/172863

Community apathetic over new Cootes Drive
Controversial road was result of now fading car culture
Craig Campbell, News Staff
Published on May 01, 2009

Dundasians of the mid-1930s were apathetic towards construction of Cootes Drive –as long they weren’t paying for it.

But according to research by former Valley Town resident and transportation activist Randy Kay, the Dundas Diversion project was not without controversy. Local merchants, property owners and town councillors worried about the new road’s route, connections and possible impact on local business.

As Mr. Kay explained to those in attendance at the season-ending Dundas Valley Historical Society meeting, one thing nobody questioned in 1936 or 1937 was destruction of valuable wetland as pavement carved through the Cootes Paradise ecosystem.

Mr. Kay dug into microfiche copies of the Dundas Star and Hamilton Spectator to trace the tale of the road that has raised problems its entire 63-year lifespan. A few months before the road began carrying traffic, town councillors refused to widen King Street West to accommodate a possible connection to the new road.

“From the standpoint of Dundas, the new highway was not a necessity,” Mr. Kay quoted from a 1937 edition of the Dundas Star.

Mr. Kay said Hamilton’s own Thomas McQuesten, who brought McMaster University to west Hamilton and supported the Royal Botanical Gardens, used the Dundas marsh as a site to demonstrate his plan for a new divided highway.

Minister of Highways from 1934 to 1943, McQuesten spearheaded later construction of the Queen Elizabeth Way linking Toronto to Fort Erie, the 401 through Oshawa, the Niagara Parkway and Highway 20 in Stoney Creek.

Mr. Kay said there was no noticeable cry from the community for the road link.

But the natural area between Dundas and Hamilton was not valued. Some considered it useless, or a back-up landfill site.

“In the 1930s, no one was putting up a fight for the marsh.”

Just about anything available was apparently used to fill in the wetland and provide a base for the road. By 1938, there had already been two deaths on Cootes Drive. And speeding was recognized as a problem, as it continues to be today. The Dundas Star of 1938 described Cootes Drive as a “veritable racetrack.”

McMaster University recently placed a radar sign on its bridge over Cootes showing drivers how fast they are travelling. A few years ago, a student crossing the road was struck and killed.

Over the years, Cootes Drive roadkill has contributed to the destruction of several endangered turtle species. Mr. Kay suggested several years ago Cootes Drive should be shut down, torn out and the area returned to a natural space. That wasn’t the focus of the recent presentation, which explained the history of the road’s development when the prestige of a paved road surpassed knowledge of the ecosystem.

Even within that culture, Mr. Kay noted, Cootes Drive wasn’t something the community wanted. And as people move away from cars towards conservation and restoration, perhaps the Cootes Drive of tomorrow will be different.

“I think times are changing. I think we have to change,” Mr. Kay said. “We have to get out of single occupancy cars. We have a habit that we just have to drive everywhere.”

“We’re not going to get rid of cars. It’s about how we use them.”

http://www.dundasstarnews.com/news/article/172863

go further

Work is underway to extend the Cootes Multi-Use Path between Sanders Blvd (the current eastern terminus) and Main Street West.

the nine

nine thin bollards defend the Cootes multi-use path from distracted drivers (i.e. one instance) - TLC had called for a much smaller number of bollards (i.e. one or two) to demarcate the path from the road at this intersection.

This current layout is not bicycle friendly for cyclists entering or exiting the path at the intersection with Olympic.

trail story

Transportation group asks for Cootes Trail safety improvements

Craig Campbell, Dundas Star News,
Published on Jun 06, 2008

A community transportation group has asked the City of Hamilton to install a reflective bollard, or post, between Cootes Drive and a pedestrian path where it intersects with Olympic Drive.

Last week's request by Transportation for Livable Communities representative and Dundas resident Anita Toth came 42 days after Jennifer Skingley was struck from behind by a vehicle as she walked her family dog Holly along the paved pedestrian trail.

Police announced this week the driver of the vehicle will not be charged.

Ms. Skingley was taken to hospital with a concussion. She suffered headaches several weeks after the incident and received ongoing treatment. Holly, a two-year-old Australian cattle dog, was pulled under a wheel. One of her back legs was later amputated.

An unnamed driver accessed the Cootes pedestrian trail as he turned left from Olympic Drive.

"The intersection in question has no signs or barriers indicating that cars are not permitted on this path," Ms. Toth stated in the letter. "Instead, there is a wide, paved section which leads from the road to the path, which can cause confusion for out-of-town or new-to-town individuals."

She notes signs indicating motorized vehicles are not permitted on the pedestrian path are only found once a person is actually on the path.

Ms. Toth and TLC request installation of "a soft, break-away style, yellow reflective bollard, at least 150 centimetres tall" in the centre of the paved section.

The letter suggests placing the bollard no closer than 100 centimetres to the edge of the pedestrian path, and at least 200 centimetres from the edge of the Cootes Drive curb lane, "along with an appropriate sign indicating no access for motor vehicles."

Police determined early in the now seven week long investigation that alcohol was not a contributing factor to the driver entering the pedestrian path at Olympic Drive. He reportedly drove nearly two kilometres along the path before striking the McMaster University student.

Hamilton Police Service spokesperson Sergeant Terri-Lynn Collings said there will be no charges laid against the driver, under the Highway Traffic Act.

But it doesn't appear police are completely finished with the case.

"Police are looking at other ways of dealing with this," Sgt. Collings said. "We will be searching other venues."

She would not elaborate on what other options police might have.

A city staff member said last week the traffic department was reviewing the April 19 incident to see what could be done to prevent it from happening again.

But traffic staff would not comment further, citing pending litigation by Jennifer Skingley's father, Malcolm.

City parks staff say park bylaws do not permit vehicles in parks or on pedestrian trails, but related signage is the responsibility of the traffic department.

http://www.dundasstarnews.com/news/article/131421

never mind the bollards

May 27, 2008

[Letter sent to city councillors Powers and McHattie, city cycling staff, and public works, also local media]:

Transportation for Liveable Communities (TLC) is a volunteer working group of the Ontario Public Interest Research Group at McMaster University. TLC seeks to improve conditions and infrastructure that supports and actively encourages healthy and sustainable transportation modes, including walking, transit, cycling and car pooling.

Earlier this month, a pedestrian and her dog were hit by a car which made a left-hand turn from Olympic Drive onto the Cootes cycling/pedestrian path. The car traveled nearly 2 kilometers on the path before hitting the pedestrian and her dog.

In light of this incident, and on behalf of TLC, I am writing to request a modest change to the intersection of Cootes and Olympic Drive in Dundas, namely in the intersection of Olympic Drive and the Cootes cycling/pedestrian path.

The intersection in question has no signs or barriers indicating that cars are not permitted on this path. Instead, there is a wide, paved section which leads from the road to the path, which can cause confusion for out-of-town or new-to-town individuals. (The former was the case with the above mentioned driver.) Signs indicating no motorized vehicles are only to be found once a person is actually on the path.

Due to this accident and the confusing opening to the Olympic Drive/Cootes path, TLC would like to request the installation of a soft, break-away style, yellow reflective bollard, at least 150cm tall installed in the centre of the paved section not closer than 100 cm to the edge of the Cootes path and at least 200 cm from the edge of the curb lane of Cootes Drive, along with an appropriate sign indicating no access for motor vehicles.

Thank you in advance for your assistance with this important pedestrian and cycling safety consideration.

Respectfully,

Anita Toth

countdown up

Ward One councillor Brian McHattie shared the news with us that the pedestrian countdown timer which TLC requested for the crossing at Cootes drive and Sanders/McMaster was installed Wednesday (May 21)!

TLC's initial request for the countdown timer was refused by the city; a poll conducted by a TLC volunteer at the site and online found overwhelming support (89.1%) for the timer; this information was presented to the city and the councillor and helped to bring about the installation of the timer.

The timer should increase efficiency for pedestrians and cyclists using the crossing, by providing accurate information about how much time remains to make a crossing.

driving distraction on cootes?

Cootes driver investigated

Craig Campbell,Published on May 09, 2008

Police are still investigating a driver who turned left from Olympic Drive onto an uncontrolled pedestrian path last month, eventually striking a 22-year-old woman walking her dog.

Acting Hamilton Police Services Sergeant Walter Johnston said investigators originally thought alcohol was a factor.

"But investigation found alcohol was not a factor. Excessive speed was also not a factor," Sgt. Johnston said.

As he described it, the driver turned left from Olympic Drive through the intersection and directly onto the pedestrian path instead of Cootes Drive itself.

Early in the morning of April 19, McMaster student and Dundas resident Jennifer Skingley took a break from studying for final exams to take her family dog for a walk.

By 12:03 a.m., she was taken to hospital suffering from a concussion and neck injuries. Ms. Skingley was apparently home by last week, but still suffering headaches and will need further tests. Her father, Malcolm Skingley, a Dundas resident, raised concerns about the lack of safety barriers between the roadway and paved path.

"I see a lot of people, seniors and people with children, walking on that path," Mr. Skingley said.

There is in fact no barrier preventing vehicles from driving through the Cootes-Olympic intersection and onto the paved Cootes Drive Trail, and nothing to separate the trail from the other two lanes of traffic on Cootes Drive.

Only a couple of signs facing walkers and bikers indicate vehicles are not permitted.

Much of the 2.5-kilometre long paved trail runs directly along the south side of Cootes Drive, where the posted speed limit is 80 km-h, with no protective barrier between traffic and the trail.

Safety improvements

Mr. Skingley said the City of Hamilton should be pressured into making safety improvements along Cootes Drive and the paved trail to prevent vehicles from accessing it.

City staff was apparently not aware of the accident. A couple of parks department staff members who oversee planning and maintenance of Hamilton trails, including Cootes Drive Trail, said they were not aware of any problems near the intersection of Cootes and Olympic Drive, or previous instances of vehicles turning onto the pathway from Olympic Drive.

"No vehicles are allowed on any parkland or trails under the the park bylaws, except city service vehicles and (Emergency Medical Service), unless granted permission by the City," said Al Dore, manager of parks operations and maintenance.

http://www.dundasstarnews.com/news/article/127546

speed up

10 km increase approved for Cootes

Sign will show drivers how fast they travel

Craig Campbell

Published on May 02, 2008

McMaster University hopes to attach a speed measurement sign to a bridge over Cootes Drive soon, as the City of Hamilton finalizes a 10-kilometer per hour increase to a controversial stretch of road.

City Council supported a motion by Dundas' Russ Powers, last Wednesday, to increase the speed limit around Cootes and a pedestrian controlled crossing at Sanders Boulevard from 40 to 50 km-h.

The new speed zone will stretch 888 metres north, towards Dundas, from Main Street West.

Once the official bylaw is signed by Mayor Fred Eisenberger and sent to the city's traffic engineering and operations department, the increase will mark the third speed limit at the location within the past year.

The speed dropped from 60 to 40 km-h last spring, before its upcoming move to 50 km-h.

City studies showed the change had little effect on driver behaviour, as most cars continued to travel above the original 60 km-h limit.

Hart Solomon, manager of traffic engineering, said the speed limit increase will be co-ordinated with McMaster's installation of a speed sign on the bridge they own over Cootes Drive.

And Terry Sullivan, director of security and parking services at Mcmaster, said the solar powered sign has been delivered and almost ready to put up.

"It will show your speed and the speed it should be," Mr. Sullivan said.

McMaster and the city are sharing the cost of the sign and its installation.

A former Hamilton Police Service superintendent for the division that served Dundas, Mr. Sullivan compared the sign to the small versions seen at some road construction sites, showing drivers if they are travelling above the recommended speed.

"Some say they're ineffective and some say they are effective," he said. "When I go through construction zones with them, I'm always alert.

"It's going to be an extra reminder."

The former police officer supports city council's decision to raise the limit halfway to its former rate.

"I think it was an appropriate response," Mr. Sullivan said. "I think 50 is a good compromise. We're looking forward to that."

Transportation for Liveable Communities, a transit, pedestrian and cyclist interest group based at McMaster, supported the 50 km-h compromise, as long as other recommendations from a 2004 consultant's study were also introduced.

Synectics Transportation Consultants recommended not only the pedestrian controlled crossing that was later adopted, but also a number of other changes to decrease the "hazardous" rate of speed discovered.

Randy Kay, a Dundas resident and TLC member, said a few weeks ago the 50 km-h limit appeared to be the politically acceptable compromise, but even with such a change drivers "will still be speeding at whatever feels comfortable."

http://www.dundasstarnews.com/news/article/126670

60, 40, 50, but 70

Speed limit increasing, but go slow anyway TheSpec.com - Local - Speed limit increasing, but go slow anyway

The Hamilton Spectator, (Apr 26, 2008)

The city is upping the speed limit on Cootes Drive after reducing it for public safety a year ago.

The limit of 40 kilometres an hour, reduced from 60 last May, was just too slow, said Councillor Russ Powers, chair of the public works committee.

"It's an unreasonable speed," he said, noting police handed out numerous speeding tickets. "Nobody drove 40."

As a compromise, the limit is being increased to 50 km/h.

Powers said McMaster and the city have also agreed to split the cost of installing a speed meter on the bridge over the road to tell drivers how fast they are going as they drive in from Dundas. The device costs roughly $25,000.

The city, police and the university have been working to make the pedestrian crossing on Cootes safer. Mac student Heather Watson, 19, was killed at the crossing in 2006.

survey says...

Survey supports current Cootes speed limit
Police believe increase is on the way

By Craig Campbell, Dundas Star News

Apr 11, 2008

A majority of people who responded to an on-line survey about the pedestrian-controlled traffic lights on Cootes Drive support keeping the current 40 km-h speed limit, and adding a pedestrian countdown display to the walk signal.

But Hamilton Police expect the city will soon raise the limit from 40 to 50 km-h. Police apparently have no records of speed enforcement on Cootes Drive just south of Main Street West.

Recent city studies found last summer's speed limit drop had no effect on speeding drivers. A total of 239 people answered at least part of the five question survey.

The current speed limit was preferred by 102 people, or 44 per cent of those who answered the first question, asking which of three speeds the limit at the crossing should be. An anticipated increase to 50 km-h was supported by 29 per cent, while 26 per cent backed a return to the previous limit of 60 km-h.

Just over 80 per cent of those surveyed said they support a digital countdown display for pedestrians.

Although 71 per cent of pedestrians said the wait time for the walk signal is fine as it is, nearly half (44.9 per cent) admitted crossing when there is a break in traffic, rather than waiting for the right-of-way.

That left just over 57 per cent of respondents saying they normally wait for the walk signal before crossing Cootes Drive.

Sgt. Jo Ann Savoie, current crime manager for the West Town zone, said she had been briefed by another officer who attended a meeting about the Cootes speed limit last month. A year ago, previous crime manager Sgt. Tim O'Keefe acknowledged a speeding problem on Cootes Drive and suggested an unofficial enforcment blitz at the time may become common on Cootes Drive.

"Don't be surprised if you hear more news about this spot, because when police officers find a successful spot, they habitually return there," Sgt. O'Keefe said last June.

But since the speed limit dropped to 50 km-h, there's been no evidence of a police presence.

"It's something we don't track," Sgt. Savoie said, when asked if there was any information about speed enforcement on Cootes just south of Main Street West since June.

A 2004 study of Cootes Drive safety by Synectics Transportation Consultants found 85 per cent of drivers travelled up to 100 km-h in the posted 80 km-h zone.

Subsequent studies show lowering the posted limit to 60 and 40 km-h had no effect on that rate of speed.

Synectics found the excessive speeding and high volume of pedestrians and cyclists "create a potentially hazardous situation."

The study recommended a pedestrian-controlled crossing of Cootes Drive, at Sanders Boulevard, lane narrowing, other changes to the roadside to decrease speeding and increased police enforcement.

Originally, the city only adopted the recommended pedestrian-controlled crossing and none of the other suggestions were acted on.

Just a few months after the pedestrian crossing started operating, a McMaster student was struck and killed by a truck in the crosswalk.

The city lowered the speed limit around the crosswalk to 40 km-h and dropped the approaching limit from 80 to 60 km-h, without following any of the other recommendations from the Synectics study.

Dundas resident Randy Kay, of Transportation for Liveable Communities, has called on the city to make the other recommended changes in addition to the crossing and speed lowering.

The group also supports a pedestrian countdown signal, letting walkers and cyclists know how much time they have to get to the other side of Cootes.

"I have no idea where the speed discussion is at," Mr. Kay said this week.

"The compromise politically was looking like 50 km-h but, really, without changes to the roadside environment, cars will still be speeding at whatever feels comfortable."

Hart Solomon, the city's manager of traffic engineering and operations, said this week no final decision on a possible speed increase has been made.

hot dog (Joe)

Well, five winners from the Cootes Drive survey draw are now (or are soon to be) slurping hot fair trade, organic and bird friendly coffee (or tea) at My Dog Joe: they are:

• Tings Chak
• Max Gomes
• Lise Huynh
• Eugene Khayutin
• David Thompson
  

Congratulations to the winners, and thanks again for My Dog Joe for making the prize coupons available.

Cootes Pedestrian Crossing Survey results here.

results?

The results of the Cootes Drive crossing are in, available as a pdf here.
Clearly a countdown signal is preferred (80%) at the location, and 40 km/h the desired speed limit.
Less clear is this: what will the Cootes crossing users get from the city?
At this point there doesn't seem to by any interest in "traffic calming" i.e. fulfilling the recommended speed reduction by narrowing lanes and changing the roadside environment put forward by Synectics.
After an initial refusal to consider a countdown signal for the pedestrian crossing, there may be a willingness to rethink it from the city.
We were hoping to put this whole issue to bed, but it continues to defy closure.

analysis of speed data before and after speed limit change on Cootes Drive

SYNECTICS (October 24, 2004)

“Speed data was collected at two locations: Station 1 (north of the Westaway Road overpass) and Station 2 (immediately north of the study site). Based on a review of the speed data, it was determined that a majority of vehicles at Station 1 are traveling above the posted speed limit (80 km/h). The 85th percentile speeds in the northbound lanes were observed to be higher than speeds in the southbound lanes (100 and 93 km/h compared to 90 and 87 km/h). The relatively high speeds are not surprising, given the roadway environment [emphasis added].

At Station 2, a very high percentage of vehicles were observed traveling above the lower speed limit (60 km/h). Overall, though, speeds are lower than at Station 1. The 85th percentile speeds in the northbound lanes were observed to be slightly higher than speed in the southbound lanes (84 and 76 km/h compared to 75 and 73 km/h).”

- - - -

CITY OF HAMILTON (2008)

“We have the results back from the 3-day speed/volume studies conducted on Cootes between the IPS and the bridge structure. The studies were conducted November 27, 28 & 29th. The results indicate the 85th %'tile speed heading into Dundas was about 71 km/h and heading into Hamilton, the 85th %'tile speed was 75 km/h. For what it's worth, the 15th %'tile speed was over 50 km/h in both directions.”

- - - -

RESULTS COMPARISON:

NORTHBOUND (toward Dundas)

Synectics (Stn2) October 2004	City November 2008
84 and 76 (posted 60)	71 (posted 40)
24 and 16km/h diff	31km/h diff

Reduction in speed (84-71=13 km/h)

SOUTHBOUND (toward Hamilton)

Synectics (Stn2) October 2004	City November 2008
75 and 73 (posted 60)	75 (posted 40)
15 and 13km/h diff	35km/h diff

Reduction in speed (75-75=0km/h)

- - - -

The initial study (Synectics) recommended the lights with traffic calming.

"To address excessive vehicle speeds on Cootes Drive:

• Provision of horizontal deflection, in the form of lane narrowing;

• Provide increased police speed enforcement or use of a speed trailer; and

• Changing the roadside environment to discourage high vehicle operating speeds."

QUESTIONS

“Why is the city not doing traffic calming?” Or, put this way: “If cars are speeding, what is the city doing to slow them down?”

why you should take the survey

The battle over safety on Cootes Drive continues, now into it's fourth year.
Click Here to take a survey on pedestrian safety on Cootes Drive

Some recent letters to the editor in the Dundas Star regarding the issue of pedestrian safety versus convenience of cars (i.e. not having to slow down) after an article showing that drivers continue to speed over the posted limits on Cootes Drive at the pedestrian crossing. Editorial comments added in brackets.

"When driving through this light on a daily basis, the biggest problem I see is not the people in the vehicles. It's the people on foot and on bikes. They have forgotten how to obey a cross walk signal. Don't Walk means Don't Walk! " [and 'don't speed' means 'don't speed!' Ed.]

"My six- and eight-year-olds know the rules about crossing the road. Let's spread the word to the people who cross Cootes Drive on a regular basis, and maybe adjusting speeds and narrowing roads will not be necessary." [why can't adults slow down and obey the rules of the road, like speed limits? Ed.]

or from another person:

"So why are most drivers speeding? I'll tell you. No consulting fees. Free of charge...40 km-h is ridiculous." [unless you consider safety and the direct correlation between speed and injury/death. Ed.]

"And to make it all worse, if you happen to come around the bend and into the 40 km-h zone at some freakishly high speed of, say, 60 km-h or 65 km-h, you will likely face a big fine and a huge jump in your insurance rates." [not if you aren't speeeding! Ed.]

"And if Mr. Kay had his way, there would be a police car there morning, noon and night looking to cash in on us crazy speed demons." [actually, no, we would have what the consultants suggested when they put the lights in: lane narrowing, and other traffic calming to slow speeding cars down. Ed]

Click Here to take survey

Web survey on COOTES DRIVE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING

A very short (four question) survey for pedestrians and cyclists using the Cootes Drive pedestrian activated traffic light/crosswalk at Cootes Drive and Sanders Blvd. Click Here to take survey

Feel free to forward the link to active users of the crossing.

TLC will be out in the field collecting data for this survey in the next couple of weeks - get in touch with tlchamilton(at)gmail(dot)com if you can assist.

dropping speed

Cootes speed drop having no effect

Drivers continue to ignore the law

Craig Campbell

Published on Feb 29, 2008

Speeding is still a problem on Cootes Drive, according to a study completed by the City of Hamilton.

In fact, lowering the speed limit from 60 km-h to 40 km-h on a section of Cootes surrounding a pedestrian controlled stop light, has had no real effect on the excess rate of speed travelled by drivers.

Hart Solomon, the city's manager of traffic engineering and operations said two studies have shown virtually no change in average speeds since the drop.

And while the McMaster-based Transportation for Liveable Communities isn't in favour of the speed increase being considered by the city, TLC representative Randy Kay said the group could possibly compromise at a rate of 50 km/h, as long as the city implements other traffic calming measures originally recommended in the consultant's report that suggested the pedestrian-controlled crossing.

Not addressed

"We still see speeding as a problem," Mr. Kay said. "The original problem hasn't been addressed."

He said more than just speed limit signs are needed on the stretch of road where a 19-year-old McMaster University student was struck and killed by a vehicle while using the pedestrian controlled crossing two years ago.

A 2004 Synectics Transportation Consultants Inc. report found speeding created a safety problem for pedestrians.

Synectics not only recommended a mid-block pedestrian-controlled traffic light crossing, but also lane narrowing, increased police speed enforcement, changing the roadside environment to discourage speeding, a McMaster student targeted education and enforcement campaign, and prevention of pedestrians crossing Cootes at locations other than the controlled crossing.

"I don't know why the city refused to do that," Mr. Kay said of the other Synetics recommendations. "It's dangerous to put the crossing in without those."

countdown on Cootes

Councilor Brian McHattie
City of Hamilton


January 28, 2008

Dear Brian,

I am writing on behalf of “Transportation for Liveable Communities” (TLC), a working group of McMaster’s chapter of OPIRG (Ontario Public Research Interest Group).

TLC members appreciate your work to secure improved pedestrian safety on roads surrounding McMaster University.

In our recent meeting, we discussed councilor Powers’ desire to increase the speed limit on Cootes Dr near McMaster. We perceive this as an irresponsible, ignorant move because it places a few seconds of drivers’ time above basic, sensible safety needs.

In fact, we suggest that the section of Cootes Dr between Main St and the exit to McMaster’s west campus be designated as a residential street given its exceptionally high volume of pedestrian traffic.

We can, however, imagine a compromise involving the typical speed limit of 50 km/h along that section if it includes the following simultaneous modifications:

1. Reduction of the speed limit on Main St between McMaster and Osler Dr to 50 km/h. As we noted in our letter to you from Nov. 2007, there is no justification whatsoever for the current speed limit of 60 Km/h in this section. The change to 50 km/h speed limit on Main St should be accompanied with a proper timing adjustment of the traffic lights to discourage drivers from speeding (i.e. by having a green lane calibrated to 50 km/h).

2. Adjustments to the Cootes pedestrian light to eliminate extensive wait by pedestrians during rush hour traffic. The current wait of up to 1 min and 20 sec is far too long and does not present a proper balance between the preferred traffic modes of walking and cycling and the least desired option of driving. In fact, car drivers are the only ones accommodated during rush hour, perhaps because city staff have failed to recognize that walkers and cyclists share the very same rush hour.

3. TLC has requested last year that the city installs a pedestrian countdown signal but, for unknown reason, city staff objected to this idea. We ask that our proposal would receive another, more thorough consideration given that pedestrian countdown signals have been proven to be effective throughout North America, have been adopted by major Canadian cities including neighboring Toronto, and have been unequivocally endorsed by the Transportation Association of Canada (see TAC News, volume 32, spring 2006).

4. A possible future speed limit of 50 km/h along the Cootes section, where the current speed limit is 40 km/h, must be accompanied with physical measures of traffic calming and speed enforcement. Such traffic calming procedures are increasingly employed throughout North America and have been shown to be highly successful in achieving their goals. An informative web site is www.trafficcalming.org.

We appreciate you ongoing fruitful work on traffic safety and look forward to discussing with you an acceptable compromise.


Sincerely yours,

Reuven Dukas

For TLC

Meeting the need

TLC will meet on Thursday, January 24, at 5:30 pm in the McMaster University Student Centre room 214. All are welcome to attend.

A prime topic on the agenda will be the Cootes Pedestrian Crossing, as TLC seeks ways to ensure the speed limit remains low (40 km/h) on Cootes Drive as it passes through the pedestrian crossing.

Other issues will include the McMaster Innovation Park, Governor's Road (see below), and other sustainable transportation issues in the city, all of which you, and like minded individuals, can have a say on, and more importantly, take action on.

[Photo of Cootes crossing before installation of pedestrian activated traffic lights. Speeding remains an unresolved issue here.]

back-up? Cootes Speed...

TLC representatives have been invited by Ward One councillor Brian McHattie to attend a January 30, 2008 meeting to discuss safety issues relating to the pedestrian crossing on Cootes Drive.

Specifically, the pedestrian crossing's safety is being threatened by Ward 13 councillor Russ Powers' call for increasing the speed limit through the crossing to 60km/h, from the current 40 km/h. [read TLC's letter to Powers here]

The 40 km/h limit was put in place after calls to calm the rampant speeding through this area, busy as it is with pedestrian and cycling traffic crossing the road. A fatality in the vicinity (February 13, 2006) involving a McMaster Student heightened the need for action to ensure a safer environment.

You can check out a City of Hamilton link to the original data, including the October 2004 recommendations by the firm Synectics, who were hired by the City of Hamilton to study the situation on Cootes Drive at the level crossing, and make recommendations.

The full Synectics report, as a large pdf, can be downloaded here.

LOOKING BACK

In January 2004, TLC wrote to the city:

We think that the only alternative that can allow for a safe Cootes crossing is a pedestrian/cyclist activated traffic signal and physical traffic-calming measures to slow traffic (ex. raised table).

TLC letter re: class EA for the proposed
Ainslie Wood/Westdale neighbourhoods transportation master plan

Later that year, in October 2004, the Synectics report for the city came to the same conclusion:

"To address the high pedestrian-cyclist crossing volumes:
Install a midblock pedestrian signal, providing operation that would coordinate the signal with the existing traffic signal at Main and Cootes."

The report also made recommendations to address excessive vehicle speeds, with no apparent follow-up or action by the city:

"Excessive speed – Despite the presence of a posted 60 km/h speed limit, the ATR speed data recorded in the vicinity of the crosswalk indicate that vehicles are for the most part traveling at excessive speeds. The combination of excessive speed and the high pedestrian-bicycle crossing volume create a particularly hazardous situation."

"To address excessive vehicle speeds on Cootes Drive:

• Provision of horizontal deflection, in the form of lane narrowing;
• Provide increased police speed enforcement or use of a speed trailer; and
• Changing the roadside environment to discourage high vehicle operating speeds."
  

Rather than do what is required to reduce speeding, Councillor Powers is suggesting that, since speeding continues, we should simply raise the speed limit. TLC is adamant that this not happen, for obvious reasons of safety, and to fulfil the initial recommendations that came with the need for the pedestrian signal.

Indeed, as reported in the Dundas Star News (May 11, 2007), TLC's position on the 40km/h limit was that signs aren't enough:

"TLC has requested the two lane road be narrowed to one, then widen out again where Cootes meets Main Street West to maintain traffic capacity.

[TLC} believes that's a better way to slow down traffic because drivers will ignore new posted speed limits."

-30-

[excerpt from Synectics report:]

Speed data

Speed data was collected at two locations: Station 1 (north of the Westaway Road overpass) and Station 2 (immediately north of the study site). Based on a review of the speed data, it was determined that a majority of vehicles at Station 1 are traveling above the posted speed limit (80 km/h). The 85th percentile speeds in the northbound lanes were observed to be higher than speeds in the southbound lanes (100 and 93 km/h compared to 90 and 87 km/h). The relatively high speeds are not surprising, given the roadway environment [emphasis added].

At Station 2, a very high percentage of vehicles were observed traveling above the lower speed limit (60 km/h). Overall, though, speeds are lower than at Station 1. The 85th percentile speeds in the northbound lanes were observed to be slightly higher than speed in the southbound lanes (84 and 76 km/h compared to 75 and 73 km/h).

speedy report

Coverage in the local weekly on the Cootes Speed issue:

Results of speed study not yet released to public
Craig Campbell, DUNDAS STAR NEWS
Published on Dec 14, 2007

A local transportation group based at McMaster University and deeply involved in pedestrian and cyclist safety issues in that area is disappointed it wasn't even informed about a speed study on Cootes Drive.

More than two weeks after the three-day recording of vehicle speeds in a 40 km-h zone near a pedestrian-controlled traffic light, results of the study still not available this week.

City of Hamilton traffic technologist Chris Van Berkel said Wednesday morning results had been downloaded from equipment that recorded the speed of every vehicle that drove over it for at least three days. But Mr. Van Berkel needed permission from Councillors Russ Powers and Brian McHattie to release the data.

Transportation for Livable Communities representative Randy Kay wrote a letter on Dec. 6 to Mr. Powers and the Dundas Star News, expressing opposition to the idea of raising the 40 km/h speed limit.

"TLC would like to remind all parties that speed has a direct impact on the survival rates in collisions," Mr. Kay wrote.

Included with the letter is a chart based on United Kingdom statistics that shows 85 per cent of pedestrians struck at 64 km-hr are killed, while only 5 per cent struck at 32 km-h are killed. Mr. Kay's letter stated the lower speed limit at the Cootes crossing was introduced as a safety measure at a very busy pedestrian crossing.

"TLC cannot accept a decision that would allow lack of obedience to the posted limit to result in raising the speed limit. This would be rewarding law-breaking speeders at the expense of traffic safety."

The speed review was sparked by concerns over a drop in the speed limit from 60 km-h to 40 km-hi that most drivers do not appear to be following.

Just three months after the pedestrian controlled crossing was installed, a student was struck and killed by a vehicle while using the crossing.