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Kitchener - Lancaster Street Reconstruction

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Photo showing Victoria Street east of Bruce Street


The Region of Waterloo is considering the reconstruction of Lancaster Street from Wellington Street to Bridgeport Road in the City of Kitchener. The purpose of this project is to replace deteriorated pavement, sanitary sewers, storm sewers and watermains, improve traffic operations at intersections and provide facilities for pedestrians and cyclists. The proposed work will include:

  • Reconstructing the road to a two-lane standard (one lane in each direction) from Wellington Street to Bridgeport Road.
  • Constructing new pedestrian and cycling facilities.
  • Improving the intersections at Bridgeport Road, Elizabeth Street, Louisa Street and Wellington Street to include signal modernization and lane reconfiguration to improve safety and capacity.
  • Replacing storm sewers, sanitary sewers and watermains from Louisa Street to Bridgeport Road.
  • Reconstructing existing sidewalks and retaining walls as necessary.
  • Improving GRT bus stop pads.
  • Installing a pedestrian refuge island at the Hamel Avenue intersection.
  • Relocating utilities where necessary to accommodate the proposed improvements.

Timing

Construction will be scheduled in phases from 2025 to 2027. Property acquisition and utility relocation will happen in 2024.

Public consultation summary and outcomes

Alternative Design Concept #3 - Boulevard Cycle Tracks, which was shared with the public on EngageWR in the last round of public engagement from October 17 to November 10, 2022 is preferred by the project team. The comments received from the public during this consultation focused on three issues:

  1. The need for on-street parking on Lancaster Street.
  2. The interaction between the proposed cycling facilities and the ramps providing vehicular access between Highway 85 and Lancaster Street.
  3. The need for cycling facilities on Lancaster Street between Bridgeport Road and Bridge Street.

The project team has reviewed these issues and provides the following updated information:

1. On-street parking
The Region’s Traffic By-law 16-023 allows on-street parking on Lancaster Street as follows:

  • West side from Elizabeth Street to Guelph Street, parking available for 2 hours from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday. No stopping permitted between 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.
  • East side from Union Street to Ash Street, parking available for 2 hours from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday. No stopping permitted between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. or 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.
  • East side from Arnold Street to Guelph Street, parking available for 2 hours from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday. No stopping permitted between 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Preferred design concept impacts
The preferred design concept being considered includes a narrowing of the existing asphalt road surface width (varies 8.8m to 9.6m) to a consistent width of 8.0m in order to accommodate the addition of cycling facilities while minimizing the amount of property acquisition required. This is the minimum asphalt width required to accommodate projected traffic volumes on Lancaster Street as well as emergency vehicles, buses, and snow clearing equipment. Narrowing the pavement surface will require that on-street parking be eliminated. If on-street parking were to be accommodated, it would require additional property acquisition. In many cases, this additional acquisition would result in the elimination of off-street parking on private driveways.

A study was done from March 20 to April 1, 2023, to document the frequency and duration of existing on-street parking within the limits allowed under By-law 16-023. During the study, it was found that 23 vehicles were parked on the west side of the road and one on the east side for short-term durations of less than 15 minutes.

In light of the relatively low number of vehicles that use on-street parking, and the additional property acquisition that would be required to accommodate on-street parking in order to implement the preferred design concept, the project team recommends that on-street parking be eliminated within the study area.

2. Interaction between cyclists and vehicles at the Highway 85 ramps
The preferred alternative design concept for the reconstruction of Lancaster Street includes boulevard cycle tracks on both sides of the road. These facilities would extend across the Highway 85 overpass to provide cycling access to Bridgeport Road. The existing access ramps from Highway 85 to Lancaster Street create a need for pedestrians and cyclists to cross these ramps in order to continue north and south of Highway 85. Such crossings can create a hazard due to the speed of vehicles on the ramps and restricted sight distances for pedestrians and cyclists crossing the ramps.

Preferred design concept impacts
Regional staff did a study to determine the impacts on traffic volumes and distribution if the existing access ramps at Lancaster Street were closed. The study found that traffic volumes would increase at the Bridgeport Road to Highway 85 access ramps if the Lancaster Street ramps were closed. Vehicular access to the ramps at Bridgeport Road is periodically challenging due to the lack of traffic signals on Bridgeport Road. At the Regional Council meeting of April 19, 2023 a decision was made to maintain the current configuration of the Lancaster ramps.

Regional staff and Ministry of Transportation have discussed the configuration of pedestrian and cycling facilities on the Highway 85 overpass bridge. The number of through traffic lanes on the overpass is proposed to be reduced from four to two in the preferred design concept. This will create sufficient space for separated cycling facilities on the structure. The alignment of the cycling facilities, as they cross the ramps, will be perpendicular to maximize sight distance for cyclists and drivers. Signage will also be required in advance of the crossing.

3. Cycling facilities between Bridgeport Road and Bridge Street
The section of Lancaster Street between Bridgeport Road and Bridge Street is outside the limits of the current Environmental Assessment and Preliminary Design Study. Separate studies are currently underway to consider the feasibility of constructing cycling facilities on Bridgeport Road from Erb Street to Lancaster Street and on Lancaster Street from Bridgeport Road to Shirk Place. These studies will consider the facilities being proposed on Lancaster Street between Bridgeport Road and Wellington Street. In light of these studies, the reconstruction of the Bridgeport Road at Lancaster Street intersection and the resurfacing of Lancaster Street north of Bridgeport Road have been removed from the current project.

Report to Region Planning and Works Committee — Recommended Design Concept

Staff will present a report to Regional Planning and Works Committee on August 15, 2023, regarding the recommended Design Concept for the reconstruction of Lancaster Street from Wellington Street to Bridgeport Road. Members of the public are welcome to attend the meeting. If you wish to attend the meeting as a delegation to express your views to Committee members, please contact the Regions Clerks Department or register online by Tuesday, August 8.

Documents
You'll find information about this project in the Document Library on the right side of this page. These documents include the Information Package that is being shared with Council, and drawings showing the design concepts being considered.

Project updates
Please sign up using the Stay Informed subscribe button to receive notices of project updates.

Questions?
If you have any questions you'd like to ask prior to the August 15 Committee meeting, please contact Marcos Kroker, Head, Region of Waterloo, at mkroker@regionofwaterloo.ca or phone 519-575-4750.


The Region of Waterloo is considering the reconstruction of Lancaster Street from Wellington Street to Bridgeport Road in the City of Kitchener. The purpose of this project is to replace deteriorated pavement, sanitary sewers, storm sewers and watermains, improve traffic operations at intersections and provide facilities for pedestrians and cyclists. The proposed work will include:

  • Reconstructing the road to a two-lane standard (one lane in each direction) from Wellington Street to Bridgeport Road.
  • Constructing new pedestrian and cycling facilities.
  • Improving the intersections at Bridgeport Road, Elizabeth Street, Louisa Street and Wellington Street to include signal modernization and lane reconfiguration to improve safety and capacity.
  • Replacing storm sewers, sanitary sewers and watermains from Louisa Street to Bridgeport Road.
  • Reconstructing existing sidewalks and retaining walls as necessary.
  • Improving GRT bus stop pads.
  • Installing a pedestrian refuge island at the Hamel Avenue intersection.
  • Relocating utilities where necessary to accommodate the proposed improvements.

Timing

Construction will be scheduled in phases from 2025 to 2027. Property acquisition and utility relocation will happen in 2024.

Public consultation summary and outcomes

Alternative Design Concept #3 - Boulevard Cycle Tracks, which was shared with the public on EngageWR in the last round of public engagement from October 17 to November 10, 2022 is preferred by the project team. The comments received from the public during this consultation focused on three issues:

  1. The need for on-street parking on Lancaster Street.
  2. The interaction between the proposed cycling facilities and the ramps providing vehicular access between Highway 85 and Lancaster Street.
  3. The need for cycling facilities on Lancaster Street between Bridgeport Road and Bridge Street.

The project team has reviewed these issues and provides the following updated information:

1. On-street parking
The Region’s Traffic By-law 16-023 allows on-street parking on Lancaster Street as follows:

  • West side from Elizabeth Street to Guelph Street, parking available for 2 hours from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday. No stopping permitted between 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.
  • East side from Union Street to Ash Street, parking available for 2 hours from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday. No stopping permitted between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. or 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.
  • East side from Arnold Street to Guelph Street, parking available for 2 hours from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday. No stopping permitted between 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Preferred design concept impacts
The preferred design concept being considered includes a narrowing of the existing asphalt road surface width (varies 8.8m to 9.6m) to a consistent width of 8.0m in order to accommodate the addition of cycling facilities while minimizing the amount of property acquisition required. This is the minimum asphalt width required to accommodate projected traffic volumes on Lancaster Street as well as emergency vehicles, buses, and snow clearing equipment. Narrowing the pavement surface will require that on-street parking be eliminated. If on-street parking were to be accommodated, it would require additional property acquisition. In many cases, this additional acquisition would result in the elimination of off-street parking on private driveways.

A study was done from March 20 to April 1, 2023, to document the frequency and duration of existing on-street parking within the limits allowed under By-law 16-023. During the study, it was found that 23 vehicles were parked on the west side of the road and one on the east side for short-term durations of less than 15 minutes.

In light of the relatively low number of vehicles that use on-street parking, and the additional property acquisition that would be required to accommodate on-street parking in order to implement the preferred design concept, the project team recommends that on-street parking be eliminated within the study area.

2. Interaction between cyclists and vehicles at the Highway 85 ramps
The preferred alternative design concept for the reconstruction of Lancaster Street includes boulevard cycle tracks on both sides of the road. These facilities would extend across the Highway 85 overpass to provide cycling access to Bridgeport Road. The existing access ramps from Highway 85 to Lancaster Street create a need for pedestrians and cyclists to cross these ramps in order to continue north and south of Highway 85. Such crossings can create a hazard due to the speed of vehicles on the ramps and restricted sight distances for pedestrians and cyclists crossing the ramps.

Preferred design concept impacts
Regional staff did a study to determine the impacts on traffic volumes and distribution if the existing access ramps at Lancaster Street were closed. The study found that traffic volumes would increase at the Bridgeport Road to Highway 85 access ramps if the Lancaster Street ramps were closed. Vehicular access to the ramps at Bridgeport Road is periodically challenging due to the lack of traffic signals on Bridgeport Road. At the Regional Council meeting of April 19, 2023 a decision was made to maintain the current configuration of the Lancaster ramps.

Regional staff and Ministry of Transportation have discussed the configuration of pedestrian and cycling facilities on the Highway 85 overpass bridge. The number of through traffic lanes on the overpass is proposed to be reduced from four to two in the preferred design concept. This will create sufficient space for separated cycling facilities on the structure. The alignment of the cycling facilities, as they cross the ramps, will be perpendicular to maximize sight distance for cyclists and drivers. Signage will also be required in advance of the crossing.

3. Cycling facilities between Bridgeport Road and Bridge Street
The section of Lancaster Street between Bridgeport Road and Bridge Street is outside the limits of the current Environmental Assessment and Preliminary Design Study. Separate studies are currently underway to consider the feasibility of constructing cycling facilities on Bridgeport Road from Erb Street to Lancaster Street and on Lancaster Street from Bridgeport Road to Shirk Place. These studies will consider the facilities being proposed on Lancaster Street between Bridgeport Road and Wellington Street. In light of these studies, the reconstruction of the Bridgeport Road at Lancaster Street intersection and the resurfacing of Lancaster Street north of Bridgeport Road have been removed from the current project.

Report to Region Planning and Works Committee — Recommended Design Concept

Staff will present a report to Regional Planning and Works Committee on August 15, 2023, regarding the recommended Design Concept for the reconstruction of Lancaster Street from Wellington Street to Bridgeport Road. Members of the public are welcome to attend the meeting. If you wish to attend the meeting as a delegation to express your views to Committee members, please contact the Regions Clerks Department or register online by Tuesday, August 8.

Documents
You'll find information about this project in the Document Library on the right side of this page. These documents include the Information Package that is being shared with Council, and drawings showing the design concepts being considered.

Project updates
Please sign up using the Stay Informed subscribe button to receive notices of project updates.

Questions?
If you have any questions you'd like to ask prior to the August 15 Committee meeting, please contact Marcos Kroker, Head, Region of Waterloo, at mkroker@regionofwaterloo.ca or phone 519-575-4750.

Page last updated: 08 Aug 2023, 11:58 AM