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Pelham Street north speed study results
As a result of a petition for a three-way stop sign at Pelham Street and Shorthills Place received by Council in October, the Town of Pelham conducted a speed study, presenting the results to Council on November 16.
As a Collector Road, Pelham Street's function is to move traffic to and from local roads, as well as deliver traffic from rural areas and neighbouring municipalities to the north.
The intersection of Pelham Street and Shorthill Place is approximately 200m South of the Urban Boundary. North of the Urban Boundary, Pelham Street is categorized as a Rural Road Section. South of the Urban Boundary, Pelham Street transitions into a collector road recently reconstructed with curb and gutter and includes sidewalks on both sides of the roadway starting at Shorthill Place heading south.
Although the roadway did not pass the pre-screening assessment, due to road's section proximity to the urban/rural transition and the petition received by Council, staff completed a vehicle traffic study in the area. Road sections near the urban/rural transition often experience higher traffic speeds and complaints.
The study commenced on October 29, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. and concluded on October 30, 2020, at 2:00 p.m, lasting a total of 24 hours as per industry standards. Two Mhcorbin NC350 Traffic Analyzers were set up on Pelham Street, 50m South of Shorthill Place, to record both north and south-bound traffic volume and speed data.
The total recorded volume for the 24 hour period or Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) was 1126 vehicles. The peak traffic volume of 23 vehicles was recorded south bound between 3:45 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. During the peak time, the headway, or time observed, between vehicles was 37.5 seconds. 37.5 seconds provides sufficient time for turning movements onto and off of Pelham Street, as well as pedestrian crossings. The headway time may also explain the low compliance to the stop sign at Shorthill Place, observed by staff while attending the area.
At least half of all vehicles were travelling in the 50 to 60 km/h range or lower in both directions. The combined average speed was recorded at 53.5 km/h. Northbound speeds were slightly higher with the 85th percentile of 68 km/h, while the 85th percentile for south bound traffic was 61.5 km/h. The 85th percentile represents the speed, at or below, of which 85 percent of all vehicles are recorded travelling.
The next step in the Neighbourhood Traffic Management Policy is to complete a Traffic Calming Point Assessment utilizing the traffic data and further staff investigation. The Traffic Calming Point Assessment has not yet been completed.
A Dynamic Speed Display has been installed near the intersection of Pelham Street and Shorthill Place as a passive traffic calming measure. Staff continues to evaluate its performance both as a calming measure and its overall reliability.
September 2020 Financial Reports
Appendix 1 of the report summarizes operating revenues compared to budget as of September 30, 2020, with approximately 75 per cent of the year lapsed. Total revenues were at approximately 74 per cent of the budget. The financial impact from the closure of facilities and cancellation of programs that resulted from COVID-19 is evident in transit and MCC revenues and certain miscellaneous user fees and charges for services. Most other revenue sources such as grants, transfers from reserves, and property taxes are in keeping with the budget. The MCC opened on July 6 with one ice pad and summer programming. On July 27, the second ice pad opened due to the high demand for summer ice in Niagara. Eight months of water and wastewater had been billed and are at 72 per cent of the budget because consumption tends to be higher in the summer months. The Safe Restart COVID-19 funding of $159,016 has been included in the report to offset the direct COVID-19 expenses incurred to September 30, 2020.
Appendix 2 to this report summarizes operating expenditures compared to budget on September 30, 2020. Total expenses were at approximately 70 per cent of the budget and appeared to be on track because there are still significant debenture principal and interest payments to be paid. This report includes $159,016 of direct costs related to COVID-19, such as purchasing computer equipment and additional cleaning costs.
Appendix 3 summarizes the revenues and expenditures related to the MCC at September 30, 2020. MCC revenues were at 62 per cent of the budget and trending below the prior year due to closures from COVID-19 from mid-March to July 6. MCC expenses were at 65 per cent of the budget, which is below the expectation for the first eight months of the year as a result of reduced wages from the facility closure and lower hydro rates; which are partially offset by full year insurance expensed and cost of supplies that are related to the servery revenues. It is anticipated that revenues for the MCC will be below budget at year-end due to the pandemic's impact. With the MCC opening in July and August, the revenue from ice and summer programming is $163,199. The ice times were booked solid for July and August due to the high demand for ice since other municipalities did not have their ice pads operational. Revenues are lower in September because schools have re-opened, but are continuing at strong levels given the impact of COVID-19 on capacity limitations.
Appendix 4 summarizes revenues and expenditures related to Pelham Transit. Approximately $154,000 in provincial gas tax funding has been received, with $50,000 deferred and placed in a reserve fund for future expenditures, and $100,000 of Community Transit grant has been received. Effective August 17, 2020, The Niagara Region has taken over the transit service delivery with on-demand service by a third-party provider VIA. Transit expenditures were at 50per cent of the budget due to the reduced cost of contracted services in April and May, but any cost savings are expected to result in reduced grant funding. Also, the Town has not yet paid the Region for contracted services for September.
Appendix 5 to this report includes the 2020 capital report at September 30, 2020. Most capital projects are proceeding, totaling $3.7 million, and of those, 66 per cent of the budget had been spent. $2.7 million in projects have been deferred to 2021, and $955 thousand in projects are red-circled pending further information or funding. Projects carried forward from prior years totaled $3.9 million, and 83 per cent of the carry forward amount had been spent.
View the report and corresponding appendixes.
Electronic Council meetings to continue into the New Year
Council, the Committee of Adjustment and advisory committees have regularly met through electronic means since the spring of 2020. Further, Public Meetings under the Planning Act have been successfully convened allowing for full public participation.The current Council Chamber configuration does not allow for all Members of Council and the Senior Leadership Team to physically attend meetings while adhering to physical distancing requirements. While plexiglass barriers have been designed to provide some means of protection between meeting participants, this solution is not ideal. Therefore, electronic participation is likely to be required for some time into 2021.
Given the requirement for individuals to stay home when ill, there is potential that even when in-person meetings resume it would be challenging to achieve a quorum particularly during the cold and flu season. Members of Council who may be suffering from a minor cold would not be permitted to attend an in-person meeting given the Health Assessment protocols. In order to ensure quorum availability, staff recommends extension of this provision in the Procedural By-law to allow participation electronically.
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