Restore Cootes

Excerpted from Synectics Transportation Consultants Inc. October 2004
Cootes Drive at Sanders Blvd - Pedestrian and Cyclist Crossing Safety Review (City of Hamilton)

[Some insight into the traffic situation on Cootes from this study on the level crossing on Cootes at Sanders Blvd and McMaster University]

"Traffic was free flowing on Cootes Drive with some platooning occurring. Motorists were driving in excess of the speed limit and generally did not adjust their speed when pedestrians were observed waiting to cross Cootes Drive.

Pedestrian activity at the study site was significant and would generally peak at the beginning or ending of class times (thirty minutes past the hour). During these times, pedestrians would cross Cootes Drive in large groups (up to twenty pedestrians at a time).

On McMaster Campus, it was noted that pedestrians dominate the internal campus road network. In all cases, vehicles yield to pedestrians. It is speculated that some pedestrians are taking this mindset with them as they cross at Cootes Drive, having the view that drivers should yield to them, which there is no legal obligation for motorists to do.

Bicycle-vehicle conflicts were also observed. These were less common in occurrence, but were identified as higher severity. Similar to the pedestrian-vehicle conflicts, the bicyclist commenced their crossing during a gap in traffic that required an approaching vehicle or vehicles to either brake or swerve or the bicyclist needed to either retreat back to the curb or accelerate to avoid a collision. In each of the bicycle-vehicle conflicts, it appeared that the bicyclists misjudged the adequacy of the gap in traffic due to this fact.

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). Measured speeds were significantly above the posted speed limits.

At Station 1, posted speed limit 80 km/h, the 85th percentile speeds in the northbound lanes were between 100 and 93 km/h and in the southbound lanes, between 90 and 87 km/h. At Station 2, the 85th percentile speeds in the northbound lanes were between 84 and 76 km/h, and between 75 and 73 km/h in the southbound lanes.

Vehicle counts

A total of 25,858 vehicles passed by the study site during the twenty-four hour period. The morning peak hour occurred between 7:45 – 8:45 am, (2,143 vehicles) and the afternoon peak hour occurred between 4:15 – 5:15 pm, (2,177 vehicles).

The ATR count data also provided information on headway. During the peak traffic periods, the average headway between vehicles ranged from 3 – 10 seconds in the northbound lanes and 4 – 6 seconds in the southbound lanes. During peak traffic conditions, both pedestrians and bicyclists encounter vehicular traffic at the study site that requires them to wait for gaps prior to crossing Cootes Drive. During periods of heavy traffic, pedestrians and bicyclists are accepting shorter gaps to achieve their crossing.

Pedestrian and bicycle counts

During a count taken between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm, a total of 3,712 individuals were observed crossing at the study site. The observations were carried out while McMaster University was “in session”, as opposed to on summer break.

Approximately 75% of the individuals crossing were pedestrians, 20% on bicycle, 4% rollerbladers and the remaining 1% were wheelchair users, pushing a stroller or on a skateboard.

Warranting conditions

Three different warrants (Ontario Ministry of Transportation, Transportation Association of Canada and City of Calgary) were reviewed to determine whether or not conditions exist at the study site that would warrant a higher degree of traffic control. Conditions in all three warrants were satisfied, indicating that some higher degree of traffic control may be warranted at the study site.

Problem Statement

Based on the site visit, the conflict analysis, the review of the vehicle, pedestrian and bicycle count and speed data, and the application of the volume and speed data to the three warrants, the following problem statement was developed.

While no collisions involving pedestrians or bicyclists have been recorded as having occurred at the study site, conditions exist such that the potential for a pedestrianvehicle or bicyclist-vehicle collision could occur in the future. Several factors were noted that are contributing to these conditions, as follows:

High pedestrian-bicycle crossing volumes – Pedestrian-bicycle crossing volumes are extremely high averaging 6 crossings per minute. The study site represents a unique situation in that it is an uncontrolled mid block crossing with high volumes of pedestrians concentrated at single crossing location. Application of these volumes to the three warrants reviewed demonstrated that a higher level of traffic control should be considered;

Excessive speed – Despite the presence of a posted 60 km/h speed limit, speed data recorded in the vicinity of the crosswalk indicates that vehicles significantly exceed the posted speed limits. The combination of excessive speed and the high pedestrian-bicycle crossing volume create a particularly hazardous situation.

Unsafe pedestrian-bicyclist behaviour – Some pedestrians and bicyclists are choosing short gaps in which to cross and either darting across the roadway or are requiring approaching vehicles to brake/swerve to avoid a collision.

Recommendations

Several treatments were identified that have the potential to reduce the likelihood of a pedestrian/cyclist-vehicle collision. In addition the identified treatments should not negatively impact vehicle operations, vehicle safety or pedestrian-cyclist operations.

The following treatments are recommended for the consideration of the City of Hamilton in conjunction with the Hamilton Police Services and McMaster University.

To address the high pedestrian-cyclist crossing volumes:

To address excessive vehicle speeds on Cootes Drive:

For the unsafe pedestrian-cyclist behaviour:

Cootes Drive at Sanders Boulevard
Pedestrian and Cyclist Crossing Safety Review
City of Hamilton
Synectics Transportation Consultants Inc. October 2004