MEMORANDUM

TO: FROM:

Ms. Carol Holmes Project Manager City of Ottawa Andrew Harkness - Project Manager Morrison Hershfield Limited Lynda Lane Planning Study Progress Report / Evaluation Results

ACTION BY: FOR INFO OF: PROJECT No.: DATE:

PLEASE RESPOND BY: RE:

2084042.00 January 5, 2009

L:\PROJ\2084042\CORRESPONDENCE\APH_CH_ MEMO_03 JAN 05 09.DOC

Project Progress Update To date, Morrison Hershfield has undertaken the following:
Reviewed previous technical analysis and alternatives evaluation; conducted site reviews

and updated site photography; reviewed other background information provided by client (warrants, reports); contacted Parks & Rec and RPAM & obtained plans for new partially implemented Memorial Garden area of Faircrest Park
Conducted initial working meeting with client and project team to review project need &

justification and potential design alternatives

Developed a list of potential design alternatives and draft evaluation criteria; conducted an

initial screening of alternatives; reviewed with client

Developed and costed alternatives; conducted qualitative alternatives assessment and

identified preferred alternatives; met with client to review Problem Statement 1. Pedestrian safety has been identified as the key concern by the City of Ottawa due to:
Lack of sidewalks and illumination on Lynda Lane between Billings Avenue and Smyth

Road where large numbers of pedestrians walk between parked vehicles and moving vehicles.
The number of pedestrians crossing Smyth Road uncontrolled in the vicinity of Lynda

Lane instead of at the existing traffic control signals at Smyth Road and the Ottawa General Hospital Entrance. 2. Traffic control signal warrants have been met twice in the past +/- 8 years. In most years the warrants for traffic control signals have not been met although they are consistently above 90(95)%. Therefore, the justification for traffic control signals at Lynda Lane and Smyth Road is considered to be marginal at this time (particularly vs. other locations within the City where warrants are being consistently and clearly met). In addition, the cost to install signals at this intersection is high due to the need to realign Lynda Lane. 3. It is also important to note that there is a clear demand for low cost and convenient-to-theHospital parking for visitors to the Hospital (as is currently available on Lynda Lane). Parking considerations are therefore of importance to this project.

- 2 Alternatives Under Consideration The following alternatives were considered (see Exhibit 1 which also includes Alt. 4 variations): 1. Do Nothing 2. Ban Parking on Lynda Lane / Provide (Relatively) Low Cost Parking Solution at Hospital 3. Realign Lynda Lane to Connect to Existing Smyth Road / OGH Access Signalized Intersection Add Sidewalks, Illumination on Lynda Lane / Keep Parking 4. Reconstruct Lynda Lane (on current alignment); Add Sidewalk, Illumination / Keep Parking 5. Add Fenced Median (+/- 150 m) on Smyth Road to make Lynda Lane Right-in / Right-out and Discourage Uncontrolled Pedestrian Crossings 6. Construct Triangular Island at Lynda Lane and Smyth Road / Restrict WB & NB Left Turns 7. Add Fence (or other barrier) on North Side of Smyth Road (100 to 150 m) to Discourage Uncontrolled Pedestrian Crossings 8. Implement Turning Restrictions at Existing Lynda Lane Intersection (i.e. No EB RT / No WB LT from 710 a.m. to Discourage Parking on Lynda Lane 9. Combination of 4. and 7. Above Evaluation Criteria The following provides an initial list of Evaluation Criteria that were considered during the evaluation of the above alternatives:
Extent to which uncontrolled pedestrian crossing of Smyth Road is discouraged Extent to which pedestrian safety concern along Lynda Lane is addressed Provides low cost parking for short term visitors to Hospital Addresses traffic control signal warrants Minimizes potential for non-local traffic cutting-through community Minimizes potential for out-of-way travel by residents of community Avoids delays in emergency access to Hospital from community / school (and vice versa) Minimizes impacts to Faircrest Park Minimizes construction cost Maximizes benefit vs. cost Maximizes Hospital return on investment for their parking facilities Guides pedestrians to safe crossing points on Hospital Ring Road Provides equitable distribution of traffic to alternate routes (e.g., Dauphin Road)

- 4 Initial Assessment of Alternatives (G Good, M Medium, P Poor In Comparison) The following table provides our initial assessment of alternatives. ALTERNATIVE CRITERIA
Smyth Road Ped Safety Lynda Lane Ped Safety Safe Crossing of Ring Road Low Cost Parking Hospital Parking ROI Addresses TCS Warrants Cut-Through Traffic Out of Way Travel Equitable Traffic Diversion Emergency Delays Avoids Park Impacts Implementation Cost Benefit Cost Overall Rating

1 P P P G G P G G M M G G M P

2 G M M M P G G G M M G G G G

3 G G G G G G P G G G P P M M

4 P G P G G P G G M M G P P P

5 G P G G G G M M P P G M M M

6 M P P G G G M M P P G G M P

7 G P G G G G G G M M G G M G

8 M P P G G G M M P M G G P P

9 G G G G G G G G M M G P M G

Note: Excludes variations to Alternative 4 (which also affects Alternative 9).

- 5 Results of Initial Assessment As a result of the above initial screening Alternatives 1 (Do Nothing), 4 (Reconstruct Existing Lynda Lane) , 6 (Triangular Island Diverter) and 8 (Turning Restrictions) were screened out from further consideration based on their overall assessment rating of Poor. Alternative 1 (Do Nothing), although not preferred, was carried forward for comparison as a low cost alternative - particularly given uncertainty regarding the severity of the identified problems. As a result of further review, two variations of Alternative 4 (4A & 4B) were created for further consideration in combination with Alternative 7 (i.e. as Alternatives 9A & 9B). Alternative 4A. Reconstruct Lynda Lane (on its current alignment) to Add Sidewalks, Illumination / Keep Parking (Both Sides) - Urban Cross-Section Alternative 4B. Reconstruct Lynda Lane (on its current alignment) to Add West Sidewalk, Illumination / Keep Parking (West Side) - Urban / Rural Cross-Section Concept plans for Alternatives 3, 9A and 9B are provided on Exhibits 2 and 3. (Note: A new 3.0 m connection is shown as part of all three alternatives along the west side of Lynda Lane between Billings Avenue and Pleasant Park Road to complete the missing north-south pedestrian link.) Results of Further Assessment & Costing Comparison Further assessment including order of magnitude cost comparisons (see Attachment #1) resulted in the identification of several baskets of alternatives based on cost as follows: Low Cost Alternatives (in order of preference): Alternative 7 - Add Fence (or other barrier) on North Side of Smyth Road to Discourage Uncontrolled Pedestrian Crossings (Cost +/- $25,000)

Offers low cost solution that could address / ameliorate two of the three key problems.

Alternative 1 - Do Nothing (Cost = $0)

Attractive if problems are not considered severe and project is a relatively low City priority.

Alternative 2 - Ban Parking on Lynda Lane / Provide (Relatively) Low Cost Parking Solution at Hospital (Cost = $5,000 - however excludes cost of Hospital Parking)

Generally attractive but doesnt account for cost of subsidized hospital parking.

Alternative 5 - Add Fenced Median (+/- 150 m) on Smyth Road to make Lynda Lane Right-in / Right-out and Discourage Uncontrolled Pedestrian Crossings (Cost +/- $150,000)

Relatively low cost solution that should address two of the three key problems. However, out-of-way travel and cut-through traffic are likely to result as hospital visitors will continue to want to use free parking along Lynda Lane. Pedestrian safety along Lynda Lane is not addressed and delays to emergency vehicles and hospital access could result.

- 6 Medium Cost Alternatives: Alternative 9B (Combination of 4B and 7) - Reconstruct Lynda Lane (on its current alignment) to Add West Sidewalk, Illumination / Keep Parking (West Side) - Urban / Rural Cross-Section; Add Fence (or other barrier) on North Side of Smyth Road to Discourage Uncontrolled Pedestrian Crossings (Cost +/- $725,000)

Medium cost solution that addresses all three key problems. Few negatives (other than perhaps provision of parking lane on only west side of Lynda Lane).

Higher Cost Alternatives (in order of preference): Alternative 9A (Combination of 4A and 7) - Reconstruct Lynda Lane (on its current alignment) to Add Sidewalks, Illumination / Keep Parking (Both Sides) - Urban Cross-Section; Add Fence (or other barrier) on North Side of Smyth Road to Discourage Uncontrolled Pedestrian Crossings (Cost +/- $1,225,000)

Higher cost solution that addresses all three key problems. Provides sidewalks and parking lanes on both sides of Lynda Lane. Few negatives (other than cost).

Alternative 3 - Realign Lynda Lane to Connect to Existing Smyth Road / OGH Access Signalized Intersection Add Sidewalks, Illumination on Lynda Lane / Keep Parking (Cost +/- $2,000,000)

Highest cost solution. Addresses all three key problems. Provides sidewalks and parking lanes on both sides of Lynda Lane. Several negatives - including high cost, impact to park, community concerns related to increased cut-through traffic.

Cost of Parking and Implications for Project Short term parking at the Ottawa Hospital is currently $7.00/hr to a daily maximum of $13.00. A rough back-of-the-envelope calculation of the cost to replace and subsidize (at say $4/hr) the equivalent amount of parking available on Lynda Lane (50 to 100 spaces) with parking at the Hospital suggests that these costs could be in the order of $400k to $800k per year (or $2.0M to $4.0M over five years). The implication of this is that Alternative 2 above (Ban Parking on Lynda Lane / Provide (Relatively) Low Cost Parking Solution at Hospital) is likely not a low cost solution after all and therefore much less attractive. This calculation also suggests that the medium to higher cost solutions above are not that costly in comparison to the real cost of providing low cost parking at the hospital (not even accounting for potential costs of the parking facility itself and the likelihood of having to also subsidize at least some of the existing short term Hospital visitors who are currently paying the higher parking charges). The ongoing demand for a lower cost alternative to parking at the Hospital indicates that metered parking may be viable along Lynda Lane (probably in conjunction with a formalization of the existing parking arrangement - with a likely urban cross-section, sidewalks and illumination). The cost for metered parking would be set in accordance with City policies, but could perhaps be in the order of $3.00/hr - potentially grossing $300k to $600k per year - a portion of which could offset the cost of modifications to Lynda Lane.

- 9 -

ATTACHMENT #1
CITY OF OTTAWA LYNDA LANE PLANNING STUDY ALTERNATIVES UNDER CONSIDERATION SUMMARY OF PRELIMINARY COST ESTIMATES - DRAFT ALTERNATIVE 1 2 Do Nothing Ban Parking on Lynda Lane/ Provide (Relatively) Low Cost Parking Solution at Hospital (Cost Not Included) Realign Lynda Lane to Connect to Existing Smyth Road/OGH Access Signalized Intersection - Add Sidewalk, Illumination on Lynda Lane/ Keep Parking Reconstruct Lynda Lane (on its current alignment) to Add Sidewalk, Illumination on Lynda Lane / Keep Parking - Urb an Cross-Section Reconstruct Lynda Lane (on its current alignment) to Add Sidewalk, Illumination on Lynda Lane / Keep Parking on One SideUrban/Rural Cross-Section Add Fenced Median (+/- 150 m) on Smyth Road to make Lynda Lane Right-in / Right-out and Discourage Uncontrolled Pedestrian Crossings Construct Triangular Island at Lynda Lane and Smyth Road to Restrict WB and NB Left Turns Add Fence (or other barrier) on North Side of Smyth Road (100 to 150 m) to Discourage Uncontrolled Pedestrian Crossings Implement Turning Restrictions at Existing Lynda Lane Intersection (i.e. No EB RT / No WB LT from 710 a.m.) Combination of 4A. and 7. Above Combination of 4B. and 7. Above Cost $0 $5,000

$2,000,000

4A

$1,200,000

4B

$700,000

$150,000

$75,000

$25,000

$5,000

9A 9B

$1,225,000 $725,000

L:\PROJ\2084042\CORRESPONDENCE\APH_CH_ MEMO_03 JAN 05 09.DOC Design By: DGS

Note 1: Estimates are Preliminary Only and Exclude Engineering, CA, PMgmt. Note 2: For Options 3, 4A & 9A SWM is assumed not to be required.