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Okanagan Lake Second Crossing Project

Highway 97 – Peachland Transportation Study Preliminary Options

Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure

Consultation CompanionOpen House — November 2016

2 Highway 97 – Peachland Transportation Study

Staying InvolvedThank you for participating in this consultation for the Peachland Transportation Study. This Consultation Companion document provides an introduction to the work being done to assess options for the Highway 97 corridor in Peachland for the short, medium and long term.

To stay involved and help plan for the future of Highway 97 through Peachland, you can:

• Visit www.gov.bc.ca/peachlandtransportationstudy to find background and technical information

• Attend an open house event (schedule below)

• Arrange a presentation / dialogue session for your group or organization (details below)

• Read this Consultation Companion and complete a Project Comment Form by December 23, 2016. Forms are available online at www.gov.bc.ca/peachlandtransportationstudy or in hard copy at open house events

• Sign up to receive ongoing updates by submitting a request to [email protected] or calling 250-712-3660

Public Open House Schedule

Date Time Venue

November 21, 2016 4:30 pm – 8:00 pm Peachland Community Centre

2017 (To be confirmed) Peachland Community Centre (To be confirmed)

Stakeholder Committee Meetings

In addition to open houses and online consultation, the project team is meeting with a Community Liaison Committee and a Technical Advisory Group established by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. These groups will continue to help identify opportunities, considerations, issues and concerns.

Arranging a presentation or dialogue session for your group

Presentations and dialogue sessions with local groups and organizations can be arranged by contacting the project team at [email protected] or 250-712-3660.

HWY 97

District ofPeachland

How to use this Consultation Companion

This booklet is designed to work as a companion to open house information displays and the comment form.

Your responses, combined with those of other participants, will be considered in the development and, eventually, selection of future transportation improvement options.

HWY 97C

3Consultation Companion | Open House – November 2016

Project BackgroundThe appeal of the Central Okanagan area has been reflected in strong economic and population growth, accompanied by increased highway traffic volumes. The Highway 97 corridor is the only north-south link connecting Okanagan communities and is vital to the region’s economy. The segment of this corridor through Peachland is the last remaining two-lane portion between Penticton and Vernon. The time for safety and mobility improvements is approaching.

The Highway 97-Peachland Transportation Study will result in the identification of preliminary options within two scenarios:

• one preliminary option using the existing route

• one preliminary option using an alternate route

The study will not choose between these scenarios; that choice will be made by the Ministry in the future following careful consideration of the study results and community input.

Project StatusAn existing conditions assessment is complete and a summary of findings was presented to the public during an open house held on June 21, 2016. A summary of findings can be found in the Recap of Existing Conditions section of this document (pages 4-7) and online at www.gov.bc.ca/peachlandtransportationstudy. The project team is now in the process of exploring options within the existing route and alternate route scenarios. This process includes significant stakeholder engagement and public consultation, as well as considerable technical analysis and design.

Our purpose in consulting you is to present several possible options for each scenario and gather your input on the issues, concerns, and opportunities associated with each option. Your input will be considered as the study team evaluates and refines the routes down to one preferred option for the existing corridor, and one preferred option for the alternate corridor.

Winter 2015-16

Spring 2016

Summer 2016

Fall 2016

Winter 2016-17 2017

Project Initiation

Current Conditions Assessment

Future Conditions Assessment

Options Generation & Assessment

Option Recommendations

Public Engagement

OPEN HOUSE #1

OPEN HOUSE #2

WE ARE HERE

OPEN HOUSE #3


Community ContextPeachland is primarily a residential area with a population of approximately 5,200. The local economy is reflective of the regional economy with a focus on tourism, recreation, agriculture, agri-business, construction and service industries.

The proportion of residents 65 and over in Peachland exceeds the rest of the Central Okanagan Region, and nearly half of households are “empty-nesters”.

Peachland also falls within the territory of First Nations represented in the Okanagan Nation Alliance.

Population GrowthFor the purposes of this study, the options to be developed will be based on a 2040 population of 7,700 with a sensitivity analysis considering up to 13,000.

Peak Travel TimesDuring weekdays and weekends, peak morning traffic coincides with the opening of shops and services around 10 a.m. The highest volumes of the day occur in the afternoon between 4 and 5 p.m. regardless of the time of year.

Travel PatternsHighway 97 through Peachland serves as an important route for locals as well as long-distance traffic. About one-third of traffic that originates in Peachland, stays in Peachland.

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Weekday Traffic DistributionHwy 97 South of Hwy 97C, September 2015

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Weekend Traffic DistributionHwy 97 South of Hwy 97C, September 2015

Southbound

Northbound

Trips from Peachland - AM Peak Hour

Remain in Peachland29%

South on Hwy 972%

West on Hwy 97C< 1%

North on Hwy 9769%

Trips from Peachland - PM Peak Hour

Remain in Peachland37%

South on Hwy 972%

West on Hwy 97C< 1%

North on Hwy 9761%

Recap of Existing and Future Conditions


Traffic VolumesHighest congestion occurs during the summer, with daily August traffic more than 30% higher than the annual average. The highest congestion occurs on spring and summer long weekends and when there are special events.

Top 5 Hours1. Sunday, Victoria Day, 1pm2. Monday, BC Day, noon3. Sunday, Victoria Day, 2pm4. Saturday, August 10, 11am5. Sunday, August 11, noon


Okanagan Lake

Peachland

HWY 97C

HW

Y 97

Hardy Street

Renfrew Road

Princeton Avenue

Ponderosa Drive/13th StreetClements Crescent

Chidley Road/Todd Road

Trepanier Bench Road

Buchanan Road (East)/Huston RoadBuchanan Road (West)

Drought Road

Seclusion Bay Road

2014 2040 Greater than 50 seconds 35 - 50 seconds Less than 35 seconds

Average Wait Times on Streets Intersecting Highway 97

Wait Times


Traffic Growth, Congestion and SafetyCongestion is expected to increase gradually but noticeably in the future. Traffic growth has been slow, but travel times through Peachland may increase by up to three minutes from north of Highway 97C to south of Peachland in the next 25 years. With this growth, it is expected that crossing and turning onto the highway will become more challenging, which may cause risk-taking behavior by drivers as intersection wait times grow.

Estimated Travel Time Changes 2014 - 2040

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Peac

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HWY 97C

HWY 97

North of Hwy 97C to South of Peachland AM PM2014 8.5 min 9.5 min 2040 10 min 12.5 minChange +1.5 min +3 min

South of Peachland to North of Hwy 97C AM PM2014 9 min 9.5 min 2040 10 min 11.5 minChange +1 min +2 min

+1 min (AM peak)

+2 min (PM peak)

+1.5 min (AM peak)

+3 min (PM peak)

Total Collisions on Hwy 97 Between Greata Ranch Rd. and Hwy 97C 2004 - 2014


Key Public Input Public input on the Highway 97-Peachland Transportation Study has been gathered in a variety of ways including a public open house, feedback forms, emails, and letters from the public. The study team also continues to meet with:

• The District of Peachland

• Local First Nations

• Peachland Council

• A Technical Advisory Group (staff-level expertise from the District of Peachland, Regional District of Central Okanagan, First Nations and BC Transit)

• A Community Liaison Committee (reflecting a cross-section of Peachland citizens and stakeholder groups).

The public has identified several considerations for the study team to keep in mind when designing and evaluating possible alternate and existing route options. These include:

Traffic Congestion and VolumeCommunity members felt that congestion and volume, especially during the summer months, reduced safety along the highway and at key intersections. Members also noted that getting onto and across the highway, and accessing residential areas from the highway was tricky and sometimes felt unsafe. They also asked that the safety and noise impacts of truck traffic along the corridor be considered.

Safety ConcernsCommunity members noted that the speed of vehicles travelling through the community was an important consideration and felt that the risk of accidents along the highway could increase as traffic volumes grow in the future. They also felt that safety accommodations for pedestrians and bikes should be considered.

Safe and easy access to the highway and the town was felt to be important, with particular consideration for children, seniors and those with disabilities. There was also a desire to have an alternate way out of the area in the event of an emergency.

Community ImpactsCommunity members noted that any potential disruption to the small town community feel of the area was an important consideration. Potential land acquisition was also a consideration for the community as were any impacts on land value. Community members also noted the need to evaluate the effects of options on local businesses, tourism and the economy. They asked that future growth in the area and growth of traffic volumes be considered and that noise, pollution, and other environmental impacts be evaluated.


Alternate Route Options

How Alternate Route Options Were DevelopedIn developing alternate route options, the terrain of the surrounding area was the primary consideration. Terrain presents a challenge because modern highways are designed to keep the grade, or steepness, of the road below a certain threshold. In B.C., highways are generally designed not to exceed a 6% grade (or a 6-metre vertical rise over 100 horizontal metres of roadway). Keeping grades within this range allows many different kinds of vehicles to operate efficiently and safely in most weather conditions.

The project team explored options for keeping the grade of the highway within this acceptable range while also trying to minimize the amount of rock cutting that would be required into hillsides to achieve it. Reducing the amount of cutting improves construction feasibility and minimizes scarring of the hillside.

Keeping these considerations in mind, the study team developed five alternate route options.

What do you think?The alternate route options have been reviewed with the Technical Advisory Group, Community Liaison Committee and local officials, and these groups have provided us with some key considerations for each route. What important considerations do you see for each alternate route option?


Option OneDistance: 13.4 km

Max. elevation: 858 m

Characteristics:• Takes advantage of the valley west of McCall Lakes

• Furthest from populated areas and generally not visible

• Maximum 6% grade for most of the route

• Intersects Highway 97C approximately 8.5 km west of the Highway 97/97C junction

Option TwoDistance: 15 km


Characteristics:• Follows a route over Pincushion Mountain, to the west of

the peak

• Longest and highest of the options, with significant cuts at the top required

• At maximum 6% grade for approximately the same distance as Option 1; remainder is relatively flat

• Intersects Highway 97C at the same point as Option 1

Option ThreeDistance: 13.4 km


Characteristics:• Follows approximately the same route as developed by the

Highway 97 Task Force

• Stays well above most populated areas along the west and north sides of Pincushion Mountain

• At maximum 6% grade for approximately half the length

• Intersects Highway 97C at approximately Trepanier Road, 6 km west of the Highway 97/97C junction

Option FourDistance: 12.6 km


Characteristics:• Follows the base of Pincushion Mountain

• Comes within 100m of existing development at the top of Ponderosa Drive

• Northern portion is generally flat, with a maximum 6% grade at the south end

• Intersects Highway 97C at approximately Trepanier Road

Option FiveDistance: 10.3 km


Characteristics:• Most of the alignment is the same as Option 4, except the

southern 4 km, which follows a shorter, more direct route

• The southern portion passes through areas of existing development, particularly as it crosses Princeton Avenue below Vernon Avenue

• Flattest and shortest of all options, with least amount of rock cut required

Characteristics of the Five Alternate Route Options


Existing Route Options

Dividing the Existing Route Into SectionsAs shown on the map below, the existing route of approximately 12 kilometres is broken down into five sections. This division is based on the way the highway and intersections interact with each other, and how local traffic accesses Highway 97. Each of the five sections can be upgraded in more than one way and these configurations are presented in the following pages. When it comes to identifying solutions that will best meet future needs, each section will be evaluated separately.

South of Princeton Avenue

pages 27-28

Princeton Avenue/Beach Avenue

page 25-26

Ponderosa Drive to Todd Road

page 23-24

Trepanier Bench Road to Huston Road

pages 18-22

Drought Hilllpages 16-17


How Existing Route Options Were DevelopedExisting route options were developed to support the role of Highway 97 as a connecting route for Central Okanagan communities, the provincial highway system, and activity centres of provincial significance. In addition, these options provide connections for the Peachland community and, as much as possible, attempt to enhance pedestrian and cycling crossings of Highway 97.

Existing route options can be developed progressively as new needs emerge over time, and includes:

• Short-term improvements to address problems that currently exist.

• Long- term improvements to address problems that will emerge over the next 25 years or so, and beyond.

Connecting PeachlandAny option on the existing corridor needs to address the future traffic demand and allow for easy turning on and off the highway. The options have been developed to balance the highway traffic movement and safety needs with providing important connections within Peachland for all modes of travel.

Currently, there are only four locations to safely cross the highway on foot or by bicycle – at each of the signalized intersections and via the underpass at Todd Road. As a minimum, crossings at these locations will be maintained or improved in the future. As the crossing distances will be longer at the signalized intersections, the amount of time provided for the pedestrian crossing signal must be increased accordingly. Signalized intersections will remain one of the most convenient and safe locations to cross. With the future existing corridor options, an additional signal would provide another crossing point at either Trepanier Bench Road or Huston Road/Buchanan Road.

Overpasses can provide a direct, local street connection over or under the highway, allowing pedestrians, cyclists and local traffic to cross the highway without any interaction with highway traffic. Where possible, overpasses have been suggested in locations that do not require a change in elevation of the local street. This reduces the effort required for pedestrians and cyclists to cross and places priority on the local streets.

Did you know?Intersections are often the first place a problem is noticed. When traffic volumes begin to outgrow the design of a road, delays at intersections will be noticed long before issues on other parts of the roadway.

Short Term(Existing)

Long Term (25 Year Horizon

and Beyond)

Considerations for “Very High

Growth”


Progressive Stages of Intersections

Unsignalized Intersection

Signalized Intersection

Adding Capacity Interchanges

The Evolution of Intersections Along the Existing RouteIntersections are the key elements in the existing route options, and each intersection requires something a little different to keep it functioning effectively over the long-term. At most intersections, there will need to be two through lanes in each direction on the highway within the next 25 years to handle expected traffic volume. For this reason, all existing route options include four lanes along Highway 97.

Unsignalized Intersections (Intersections without Traffic Signals)As traffic on the highway increases, turning onto the highway – particularly left turns – becomes difficult. In many areas, including Peachland, this is because both the number and size of gaps in traffic are not adequate to allow drivers to make the turns. This makes turning uncomfortable, and in some cases may lead to risk-taking as drivers become frustrated waiting for a gap. Often, the most efficient way to address challenges at unsignalized intersections is to close left turns onto the highway and provide those turns at different locations, or via the local street network.

Signalized IntersectionsSignalized intersections (ntersections with traffic signals) can feel more comfortable for drivers turning at an intersection, but can actually be less safe if they are installed in the wrong location. Signals are implemented only after significant analysis. Where signals do exist, a range of options are available to help the intersection accommodate growing traffic volumes. This includes improving the timing and phasing of signals (how the amount of green, amber, and red time is allocated), or how the signals work together. It also includes consideration of advance arrows to help drivers make more difficult movements.


Adding Capacity

As delays at signalized intersections grow, it will become necessary to provide additional capacity. This capacity can be added directly at the intersection, such as adding more lanes, or can be a new connection at another location that will draw traffic away from a congested location. Some of the most common ways to provide additional capacity are:

• Four laning on the highway – Expanding the highway to four lanes increases the number of vehicles that can move through an intersection when the signal is green. Not only can this increase the capacity for highway traffic, it may also allow more signal time to be given to the intersecting street, reducing delays for all traffic. Signals at intersections on four-lane roads can support very high volumes of traffic. It is not uncommon for signals to operate at locations where the traffic volumes are over 50,000 vehicles per day. By comparison, the current daily volumes on Highway 97 in Peachland are around 24,000 vehicles per day in summer.

• Additional turn lanes – Where the volume of turning traffic is high, additional turn lanes may be appropriate. Like four laning on the highway, additional turn lanes, such as double left turn lanes, allows more traffic to be moved in less time, meaning more vehicles can get through each green signal.

• Alternative locations to make turns – Once a highway has been expanded to four lanes, left turns onto the highway are often restricted for safety reasons. However, left turns off the highway onto local streets can often work very effectively and safely. This allows some of the traffic to turn at a location other than a signalized intersection, reducing the amount of traffic at the signal, which in turn creates extra capacity. An example of an unsignalized intersection with left turns off is Elk Road in West Kelowna.

• Overpasses: Overpasses provide a connection across the highway between local streets. They allow local traffic to move within the community without having to use the highway. This reduces the amount of traffic at signalized intersections, and if used in conjunction with right-on/right-off accesses to the highway, can replace signalized intersections.

Interchanges

Interchanges provide both a highway crossing and highway connections. They are most commonly used to connect higher volume roads to major roads or highways, or in locations where uninterrupted, high-speed travel on the highway is desired. For example, the local connecting traffic volumes on the Coquihalla Highway are low, but interchanges are provided to allow high-speed travel on the Coquihalla. Since high-speed, uninterrupted highway travel is not a goal within Peachland, interchanges would only be considered where the traffic demand at a signalized intersection will be greater than the capacity. The only road in Peachland that has the potential traffic demand in the future to warrant an interchange is Princeton Avenue.

LEGEND HIGHWAY CONNECTION HIGHWAY REALIGNMENT LOCAL ROAD NEW HIGHWAY RAMP


What do you think?The existing route options have been reviewed with the Technical Advisory Group, Community Liaison Committee and local officials, and these groups have provided us with some key considerations for each section. What important considerations do you see for each of the five existing route sections?

Drought Hill Option 1: Parallel Local Road

New connection between Robinson Place and Drought Road

New connection between Seclusion Bay Road and Drought Road

Right in/right out turn only at Drought Road

Four lanes across entire segment, including median barrier

Right in/right out turn only at Seclusion Bay Road

KEY CONSIDERATIONS

By 2040, this area will need to address:

• Delays getting onto the highway

• Delays on the highway due to higher traffic volumes




Drought Hill Option 2b: Seclusion Bay Road & Drought Road Overpasses




Close Seclusion Bay Road access to Highway 97

Connect Drought Road underneath Highway 97 to new Seclusion Bay Road extension

Provide new right in/right out turn only at new Seclusion Bay Road extension

Drought Hill Option 2a: Drought Road Overpass


New connection between Seclusion Bay Road and Drought Road



Close Seclusion Bay Road access to Highway 97

Create Drought Road overpass

Connect to local road network

Connect to local road network

Connect Seclusion Bay Road to local road network underneath Highway 97



Trepanier Bench Road to Huston Road Option 1a: Signals at Trepanier Bench Road

KEY CONSIDERATIONS


• Two-lane highway will be at capacity; four-laning is required by 2040



Traffic signals at either Trepanier Bench Road or Huston/Buchanan are currently under consideration as part of a separate study

Close Buchanan Road (West) access to Highway 97

New traffic signal at Trepanier Bench Road

Right-in/right-out turns only at Huston Road and Buchanan Road

Four lanes across entire segment



Trepanier Bench Road to Huston Road Option 1b: Signals at Huston Road / Buchanan Road


Right-in/right-out turns only at Trepanier Bench Road

New traffic signal at Huston Road/ Buchanan Road




Right in/right out turns only at Huston Road and Buchanan Road

Trepanier Bench Road to Huston Road Option 2a: Lang Road Connection


Close Trepanier Bench Road access to Highway 97

New connection between Lang Road and Eyre Road

Lang Road crosses over Highway 97

For Options 2a, b and c, the right-in/right-out can be provided at Huston Road and/or Trepanier Bench Road. The illustrations have shown this right-in/right-out at Huston Road.



Trepanier Bench Road to Huston Road Option 2b: Shaw Road Overpass



Highway 97 crosses over new Shaw Road connection to Buchanan Road

Right in/right out turn only at Huston Road and Buchanan Road

Shaw Road and Huston Road extensions




Right in/right out turn only at Huston Road and Buchanan Road

Trepanier Bench Road to Huston Road Option 2c: Trepanier Bench Road Overpass


Trepanier Bench Road crosses over Highway 97 to connect to Buchanan Road



Ponderosa Drive to Todd Road Option 1: Retain Signals at Ponderosa Drive and Clements Crescent

KEY CONSIDERATIONS


• Safety, particularly at the intersections of Ponderosa Drive/13 Street, and Clements Crescent


• Delays on the highway due to high traffic volumes

Connect Chidley Road to Clements Crescent

Right in/right out turn only at Todd Road


Maintain existing traffic signal at Ponderosa Drive/ 13 Street

Maintain existing traffic signal at Clements Crescent

Close Chidley Road access to Highway 97



Ponderosa Drive to Todd Road Option 2: Overpass at Ponderosa Drive

Right in/right out turn only to Highway 97 at Clements Crescent

New connection between Ponderosa Drive and Clements Crescent

New northbound on-ramp to Highway 97 from Todd Road

Connect Chidley Road and Todd Road underneath Highway 97

Connect Ponderosa Drive to 13 Street over Highway 97

Close 13 Street /San Clemente Avenue access to Highway 97


New northbound off-ramp to 13 Street




Signal maintained at Princeton Avenue and Beach Avenue

Princeton Avenue/Beach Avenue Option 1: Signalized Intersection

KEY CONSIDERATIONS






New northbound off-ramp to Princeton Avenue and Beach Avenue

New northbound on-ramp to Highway 97

Princeton Avenue/Beach Avenue Option 2: Interchange

Right-in/right-out turn only at new connection between Princeton Avenue and Highway 97

Connect Princeton Avenue and Beach Avenue underneath Highway 97



South of Princeton Avenue Option 1: Small Realignment at Antlers Beach

Right-in/right-out turn only at Renfrew Road

Right-in/right-out turn only at Hardy Street

Right-in/right-out turn only onto Highway 97

Princess Street connection to Lipsett Avenue

KEY CONSIDERATIONS



Hardy Avenue connection/crossing to be determined based on future development needs


Upgrade Renfrew Road

Highway 97 realignment



South of Princeton Avenue Option 2: Short Bypass

Lipsett Avenue crosses over or under Highway 97

Highway 97 realignment



Next Steps The options for the Highway 97 corridor in Peachland will now be evaluated from a number of perspectives to better understand how the options within each scenario compare to each other. When complete, the evaluation is meant to provide a balanced assessment of the options that takes into account all of the important variables, including public input.

Once the evaluation is complete, the study team will present a preferred existing route option and a preferred alternate route option to the public for input and discussion.

You can sign up to receive ongoing project updates by submitting a request to: [email protected] or calling 250-712-3660. Or stay informed by visiting the project website at www.gov.bc.ca/peachlandtransportationstudy.

ScreeningRemove

redundant options & show-stoppers

RefinementRefine remaining

options & address issues raised

during screening

EvaluationApply evaluation

framework to alternate route

options & existing route options

Preferred Options

Identify preferred alternate route & preferred existing

route options


Notes:

Contact Information:

Highway 97 - Peachland Transportation StudyMinistry of Transportation and Infrastructure#300 – 1358 St. Paul StreetKelowna, BC V1Y 2E1250-712-3660

Sources:

BC StatsDistrict of PeachlandHDR ConsultantsMinistry of Transportation and InfrastructureParsons - Central Okanagan Planning StudyStatistics Canada

All of the information provided in this Consultation Companion is based on the most recent complete data available.

Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure

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