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Fencing needed near Ladner Trunk intersection?

A look at city road and intersection improvements under review - Part 2
delta fatal pedestrian accident
Delta police last November said it appeared the pedestrian tripped on the median and fell into the path of traffic on Ladner Trunk Road, near the intersection of Harvest Drive.

The city’s engineering department is looking at a lengthy list of road and intersection improvements throughout Delta.

Engineering director Steven Lan noted the civic transportation technical committee continues to discuss various locations and report to council, while staff assessments have continued despite COVID-19.

 

Here’s a few more of the projects done or undergoing analysis:

 

Elliot Street at Ladner Trunk Road:

delta intsersection

 

Due to vehicles encroaching on the pedestrian crosswalk at the north leg of the intersection of Elliott Street and Ladner Trunk Road when stopped at the traffic light, a request was received to paint the decorative crosswalk's concrete bands.

Site observations indicated that vehicles encroached the crosswalk when they were unable to clear the intersection due to traffic congestion in the outbound travel lane.

As the concrete bands serve to define the borders of the crosswalk, painting them white may cause drivers to mistake them for stop bars, the engineering department noted.

However, cleaning the decorative crosswalk and its concrete bands would increase their visibility. Engineering operations have since cleaned the existing decorative crosswalk and its concrete bands at the north leg of the intersection, Lan said.

 

Hornby Drive from 96 Avenue to 104 Avenue:

 

According to the engineering department, due to increase in traffic related to the expansion of the greenhouses on Hornby Drive, a speed limit review was conducted.

Previously, the posted speed limit was 80 km/h.

The findings of the review based on Transportation Association of Canada's guidelines indicated that the recommended speed limit may be reduced to 60 km/h.

Lan said the speed limit has since been changed.

 

48 Avenue:

 

A request for traffic calming devices and an extension of the 30 km/h speed limit between 47A Street and 48B Street on 48 Avenue was discussed by the committee.

Delta police have not received any complaints or issues in this area, according to the engineering department.

Staff will continue to monitor the traffic on the avenue, but additional traffic calming features or extension of the 30 km/h speed limit, however, are unwarranted at this time based on the guidelines outlined in Delta's traffic calming policy, the department notes.

 

English Bluff Road:

 

A request for the installation of traffic calming devices on English Bluff Road at the existing school zone near English Bluff Elementary School was discussed.

The possibility of enhancing the visibility of the school zone speed limit signs for the school was part of that discussion.

Engineering staff were to review the visibility of the signs, the length of the school zone and conduct a school zone warrant study based on Transportation Association of Canada's guidelines.

The analysis indicated that the location's designation falls between that of a school area and a school zone, the engineering department explained.

A school area is defined as a location with just a school area sign, whereas a school zone is defined as a location with both a school area sign and an accompanying reduced speed limit sign.

“As a definitive 30 km/h school zone is not warranted but exists at this location, the committee decided that no further traffic calming devices are warranted at this time. Delta Police also reported that they have not received any complaints in this area and traffic enforcement showed compliance with the posted 30 km/h school zone speed limit,” a memo from the committee explained.

 

16 Avenue at 53A Street:

delta intersection

 

A comment on social media was referred to the committee regarding the possible installation of a portable speed-reader board at 16 Avenue and 53A Street to increase compliance with the posted speed limit.

Delta police agreed to have the community speed watch volunteer group monitor the area and report back.

Police later reported back that they conducted enforcement in the area and found that there is compliance with the posted speed limit.

However, police want to test the accuracy of their new traffic data collection devices by running it concurrently with other traffic data collection devices such as road tubes, radar guns and post mounted radar traffic counters.

 

Ladner Trunk Road at Harvest Drive:

 

Delta Police investigated a fatal accident involving pedestrian on Ladner Trunk Road near Harvest Drive last fall.

Delta’s engineering reviewed the vegetation in the median and some clearing has since been done. However, fencing in the median is not warranted at this time, the department notes.

 

Tactile pads:

 

Tactile pads have a distinctive surface pattern used to alert the vision-impaired of approaching streets and hazardous surface or grade changes.

The committee this year discussed identifying key locations to install pads as well as their advantages and disadvantages.

The engineering department was to contact Delta’s corporate social planner to help identify possible locations.

 

Seaquam Secondary and Sunshine Hills Elementary schools:

 

A request was received for police to enforce traffic violations at Seaquam Secondary and Sunshine Hills Elementary schools, while Delta police said they had received complaints as well and have been enforcing illegal U-turns.

To assist police, one recommendation was to have bylaws staff look at parking infractions.

The principal of Seaquam issued a letter to parents this year about illegal and unsafe driving and parking practices around the school.

Delta’s engineering department, meanwhile, requested bylaws staff look at parking infractions and speak further with the school district.

 

83 Avenue at 112 Street:

 

Police indicated that they received requests to monitor the crosswalk at the intersection due to poor pedestrian visibility.

The engineering department noted the hedges at the location were recently trimmed back to improve sightlines.

In addition, a budget has been set aside in the 2020 capital plan to upgrade the crosswalk with pedestrian activated flashing amber beacons and it would be installed once the budget was approved.

 

96 Avenue at 117B Street:

 

Delta police indicated that they received complaints regarding pedestrian visibility at the crosswalk on 96 Avenue just east of 117B Street.

The engineering department noted that a budget has been set aside to upgrade the crosswalk to include pedestrian activated rectangular rapid flashing beacons and the city would proceed with upgrading the crosswalk once the budget was approved.

 

Leading pedestrian interval crossings:

delta intersection improvements

 

As part of the request from Neilson Grove Elementary’s parent advisory council to make streets safer for children, the committee discussed incorporating leading pedestrian intervals (LPls) at the intersection of Admiral Boulevard and River Road.

This would require a new traffic signal controller unit to be purchased.

LPls assign pedestrians an exclusive three-to-seven second advance signal to begin crossing the street before cars get a green light.

Pedestrians get at least partway into the crosswalk, where they are visible to drivers, before cars are allowed to make turns, thereby enhancing pedestrian visibility, the engineering department explained.

Currently, an LPI is in place at the intersection of Harvest Drive and Ladner Trunk Road, near Delta Hospital.

The City of Surrey plans to implement LPls along the 120 Street (Scott Road) corridor at intersections with high pedestrian activity, which includes the intersection of 75A Avenue and 120 Street.

Delta’s engineering says it will be looking to install LPls at the intersection of Admiral Boulevard and River Road and will be submitting an order for a new traffic signal controller unit.