Staff Report: Florence Lake Road at McCallum Road - New Signal Light (Engineering)

Background

In the Spring of 2016 the McCallum Road Connector was opened providing a connector between the Millstream Interchange and the Leigh Road Interchange. This new connector was extended between the existing terminus of McCallum Road at Cavalcade Terrace at the north or east end and at Florence Lake Road at the south or west end. In the two years since the connector opened traffic has increased.

A review of the traffic volumes in the area and the projected increase in traffic from the development of 790 McCallum Road (land across from Costco) indicate that a signal light is required on McCallum Road at Florence Lake Road.

The purpose of this report is to seek Council approval to construct this new signal light.

Commentary

Figure 1: Proposed new signal light location on McCallum Road at Florence Lake Road

Staff approached ICBC to see if any funding was available to offset the costs to install a new signal light at McCallum Road and Florence Lake Road. ICBC have responded that they will contribute $51,500 towards this project that would include pedestrian countdown timers if the project is completed by March 31, 2019.

The new signal at Florence Lake Road is part of overall future improvements to McCallum Road between Millstream Road and Florence Lake Road that are proposed to be constructed in 2019 by the developer of 790 McCallum Road. The proposed improvements in 2019 will focus on the laning between Millstream Road and the lower driveway to Costco and will include a new signal at the lower Costco driveway. During that construction staff wish to divert traffic from the Trans Canada Highway to Exit 15 (the Shell Station location). This same diversion was used during the Millstream Overpass improvements in 2018. Having the new signal installed at Florence Lake Road prior to any construction starting on McCallum Road near Millstream Road will help provide better traffic flow during construction.

The signal installation on McCallum at Florence Lake Road would begin in January and complete by the end of March 2019. On Point Engineers are already designing this new intersection as part of their work with the developer of 790 McCallum Road. PBX Engineering are undertaking the electrical design. The City would contract Raylec, under our existing agreements, to provide and install the signal infrastructure.

Financial Implications

The McCallum Road improvements are in the Road Development Cost Charge (DCC) program.

The new signal is estimated to cost $300,000 to install. ICBC will contribute $51,500 towards the project. The developer of 790 McCallum Road is proposing to fund $125, 000 toward the signal project and in return be granted Road Development Cost Charge (DCC) credits. Staff are proposing that the City fund the remaining $125,000 from the Road DCC program account.

This project is preceding the overall Engineering 2019 budget discussions and needs to be completed by March 31, 2019 to take advantage of ICBC funding, therefore staff are seeking approval now for this improvement project.

Legal Implications

None noted.

Options

That Council:

1. Direct staff to proceed with the construction of the new McCallum Road at Florence Lake Road signal light;

AND

2. Fund the new signal light on McCallum Road at Florence Lake Road through a combination of $51,500 from ICBC, $125,000 from the City’s Road Development Cost Charge program and a $125,000 contribution from the developers of 790 McCallum Road (1054105 BC Ltd.);

OR

3. Not install a signal light on McCallum Road at Florence Lake Road at this time.

Respectfully submitted,

Submitted by:
Michelle Mahovlich, P.Eng, P.Geo, Director of Engineering

Concurrence:
Matthew Baldwin, MCIP, RPP Director of Planning

Concurrence:
Chris Aubrey, Fire Chief – Approved via email 20181102

Concurrence:
Michael Dillabaugh, CPA, CA, Director of Finance

Concurrence:
Braden Hutchins, Director of Corporate Services

Concurrence:
Darren Kiedyk, Chief Administrative Officer

:mm