Pioneer Tower Traffic Calming Review

The traffic calming measures were installed on Pioneer Tower Road this fall. With construction completed, staff will now monitor the new traffic calming measures and collect updated traffic data. Residents will have the opportunity to share feedback through a with a final survey on this page. To be notified when that survey is available, please subscribe for email updates. Add your email to the Stay Informed box on this page, then click 'Subscribe'.

Due to a busy construction season and a backlog of work from both the City's and contractor's end, we will be unable to complete the concrete, asphalt and pavement marking work required for the traffic calming measures in 2022. The City's Engineering and Roads and Traffic team have committed to prioritizing this work along Pioneer Tower Road as early as possible in spring 2023. We apologize for the delay and will update you again in early spring.

If you have any questions, please contact Faranak Hosseini, Transportation Planning Project Manager at faranak.hosseini@kitchener.ca or 519-741-2200 x7152.

On June 13, 2022 city staff presented a report recommending a preferred traffic calming plan be installed along Pioneer Tower Road. Kitchener City Council has now approved this recommendation. Construction of the traffic calming is expected to be completed by late summer or early fall of 2022.

To watch a video of the Council meeting, read the meeting agenda package, or view the minutes with Council's decision, please visit the Community and Infrastructure Services Committee calendar entry for June 13, 2022.

Background

The City of Kitchener initiated a traffic calming review for Pioneer Tower Road in May 2021, in response to resident concerns and evaluation of traffic data. The traffic calming review included an initial survey, a virtual public meeting in November 2021 and a final survey to determine community support for implementation. A survey letter dated February 28, 2022 was circulated to residents of Pioneer Tower Road and the surrounding neighbourhood. This letter served to determine whether there is sufficient support for the implementation of the proposed traffic calming plan for this neighbourhood.

Survey findings

Overall, the results of the final survey show that residents overwhelmingly support the proposed traffic calming plan with 77% support. While the minimum response rate of 50% was not achieved with 42% of all residents responding to the survey, staff are recommending the proposed traffic calming plan to the Community and Infrastructure Services Committee given the strong support demonstrated. Additionally, the initially proposed speed hump adjacent to Settlers Grove Park has been replaced with a speed cushion to address concerns regarding fire and emergency services response times. A speed cushion is a traffic calming measure specifically designed for emergency response vehicles.

Presentation to Council

Transportation Services staff will prepare a report for the Community and Infrastructure Services Committee recommending that the preferred traffic calming plan be installed along Pioneer Tower Road.

Please be advised that Report DSD-2022-196 – Pioneer Tower Road Traffic Calming – Implementation Approval will be presented to the Community and Infrastructure Services Committee on:

Monday, June 13, 2022

Time: To Be Determined

Location: Electronic Meeting

The meeting live-stream video will be available at: www.kitchener.ca/watchnow

To see the time, agenda and report once available, visit calendar.kitchener.ca/council

Register as a Delegation

Beginning March 1, 2022, the City of Kitchener has aligned with provincial changes to COVID-19 restrictions and City Hall is now open for in person services, but appointments are still being encouraged. The City remains committed to safety of our patrons and staff and continue to facilitate electronic meeting participation for members of the public.

Those people interested in participating in this meeting can register to participate electronically by completing the online delegation registration form at www.kitchener.ca/delegation or via email at delegation@kitchener.ca.

You can also register or submit written submissions to Sarah Goldrup, Committee Administrator at Sarah.Goldrup@kitchener.ca. Delegates must register by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, June 10, 2022, in order to participate electronically. Written comments will be circulated prior to the meeting and will form part of the public record.

Get a Copy of the Report

If you would like a copy of the report DSD-2022-196 – Pioneer Tower Road Traffic Calming – Implementation Approval in advance of this meeting please contact me at Faranak.Hosseini@kitchener.ca or 519-741-2200 x7152 (TTY: 1-866-969-9994)

Sincerely,

Faranak Hosseini, P.Eng.

Project Manager, Transportation Safety

City of Kitchener

Transportation Services has assessed the existing traffic conditions along Pioneer Tower Road and developed and evaluated alternative solutions in order to address resident concerns. A draft version of the preferred traffic calming plan was presented to area residents through a virtual public information centre held on November 30, 2021. Based on feedback from residents, the draft preferred plan has been finalized.

The preferred alternative will include the following measures. Please note that measures 1 and 5 are considered critical to traffic safety along Pioneer Tower Road and will be implemented regardless of the survey results.

1. A sidewalk connection from Baxter Pl to Pioneer Grove Ct
2. A sidewalk widening to 1.8m and a road narrowing to 6.0m between Pioneer Grove Ct and Marquette Dr
3. A speed hump between Marquette Dr and Maple Manor Ct
4. A road narrowing to 6.0 m between Maple Manor Ct and Pioneer Ridge Dr
5. Pavement marking and signage improvements at Pioneer Tower Rd and Pioneer Ridge Dr

To indicate your support or opposition to the proposed traffic calming plan, please answer our final survey. We require that 50% of residents respond, with 60% in support of the preferred plan before work can proceed. Please note that each address will only have one vote. All directly affected residents of Pioneer Tower Road, as well as neighbouring roadways, are eligible to take part in this survey.

To request a paper copy of the survey, please contact Faranak Hosseini at 519-741-2200 ext 7665 or by email Faranak.hosseini@kitchener.ca

Thank you to all neighbourhood residents who were able to attend the virtual Public Information Centre on Tuesday, November 30, 2021. We hope that it was informative for everyone and that we were able to answer and respond to all of your questions and concerns.

There feedback form for residents to comment on the preferred design alternative for the Pioneer Tower Road traffic calming plan is now available via the Survey tool on this EngageWR portal. It will be open to residents until January 14, 2022.

If you were unable to attend the meeting and would like to view a copy of the presentation, it can be found in the Documents widget on the main page.

If you have any questions and concerns, please feel free to email me directly at faranak.hosseini@kitchener.ca, or give me a call at (519) 741 2200 ex. 7665.

Thank you,

Faranak Hosseini

On March 9, 2020, the Community and Infrastructure Services Committee approved a recommendation for a formal traffic calming review of Pioneer Tower Road, which was ratified by Council on March 23, 2020.

We completed an initial survey of Pioneer Tower Road and neighbourhood residents earlier this year. Through that survey, residents indicated support to initiate the formal traffic calming review.

The purpose of the review is to address traffic issues and concerns along Pioneer Tower Road. Based on a comprehensive review and input received from residents, we have evaluated several traffic calming measures and developed a draft preferred traffic calming plan.

In order to obtain your input on the draft preferred plan, there will be a virtual public information centre that is scheduled for Tuesday, November 30, 2021 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. This session will be hosted on Zoom. If you wish to attend this public information centre, please join us at:

https://kitchener-ca.zoom.us/j/89828634499

Or One tap mobile :

Canada: +17789072071,,89828634499# or +12042727920,,89828634499#

Or Telephone:

Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):

Canada: +1 778 907 2071 or +1 204 272 7920 or +1 438 809 7799 or +1 587 328 1099 or +1 647 374 4685 or +1 647 558 0588

US: +1 646 876 9923 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 408 638 0968

Webinar ID: 898 2863 4499

If you have further comments or concerns regarding this traffic calming review, please contact Faranak Hosseini.