Residents’ concerns about traffic and noise on 8th Street have spurred City council to expedite a planned noise traffic study, which will now be conducted in 2011.
On Dec. 6, during public question period, Woodside residents Rosanne and Larry Tucker brought several concerns forward such as the necessity for a sound barrier fence, increase in speeding, need for a crosswalk on Woodside Cres. and 8th Street and the requirement for left-hand turn signal on 8th Street and 1st Ave. to the attention of council.
“Since 8th Street has been twinned, there is a huge volume of traffic, which is creating additional street noise,” said the Tuckers in a letter to City council.
“When trying to sit in your backyard facing 8th Street, it is not enjoyable because of all of the traffic noise... We need the crosswalk as children have to walk across four lanes of traffic and traffic does not stop for people... It is also getting very dangerous to try and turn left (on 8th Street and 1st Ave.) as you cannot see the oncoming traffic until you are out in the middle of the street.”
Corina Bohnet, the representative for residents affected by the noise on 8th Street, attended council’s Dec. 20 meeting to bring residents’ concerns forward.
“Are you listening to the residents? The fences are different heights and types and the city core is run down. Residents are telling me they want answers,” said Bohnet.
City policy requires a noise study be conducted every three years. The most recent study along 8th Street was conducted in April 2009 at 8th Street and 1st Ave., when noise levels came in at 57.1 decibels.
Under the current policy, fence replacement is considered when noise levels exceed 57.5 decibels.
The next sound monitoring study was scheduled for 2012 but council voted to move it up to 2011.
“When the numbers are that close and we are hearing residents saying that the sound level is a lot higher now with the additional of Shoppers Drug Mart and Sobeys, it seems that the concerns of the residents are warranted and I agree that when you turn left on 1st Ave., you are taking your life in your hands,” said Alderman Kelly Hegg.
“I have also seen people speeding.”
Hegg mentioned the different heights of fencing along 8th Street and asked what the standard is.
“The height of the fence is dependant on a number of factors including the elevation of the roadway in relation to the backyards,” said Lorne Stevens, the City’s director of community infrastructure.
“These communities were built over a number of years and standards have changed in that time as well.”
Bob Neale, engineering services team leader, said City staff has looked into the concerns and directed Airdrie RCMP and municipal enforcement to closely monitor the area to enforce speed restrictions and curb the use of truck engine brakes.
The City conducted a crosswalk study on 8th Street and Woodside Link, a connecting road to Woodside Cres., in November 2009.
The installation of crosswalk signals is based on a warrant system where signals are installed if the reading comes in with a warrant value of 30 or higher.
The study determined that the warrant value of this intersection was 23.
“That area is lower than the minimum number of pedestrians to warrant the pedestrian signal,” said Neale.
“It is rated 10 out of the 20 pedestrian crossings we are monitoring.”
Neale said the current configuration of the southbound left turn on 8th Street and 1st Ave. meets Transportation Association of Canada standards.
There are, however, plans in place to add a dedicated left turn lane to the westbound configuration as a requirement of approval for the Creekside development.
“This is something we have taken a good look at through various studies,” said Neale.
“We have determined there is no need for a left hand turn arrow.”
Stevens said when a roadway is widened there is a perception that traffic flow immediately increases and that is not always the case.
“It is the same level of traffic just spread over two lanes,” he said.
Neale said he is not sure what the cost will be to move the study up from 2012 to 2011, but he is looking into it.
