Agenda Item No.: G.2.b.
Whitemud/Terwillegar Upgrading and Expansion (Results of the Fall 2000 Data Collection
and Followup).
including this study as part of the
Whitemud Drive Expansion Project.
Recommendation:
That the following report be received for
information.
Report Summary
This report outlines the results of data
collection undertaken as a result of the
request for a study of the impacts of
downstream traffic flows on 149 Street in
response to directions from the
Transportation and Public Works
Committee. The report also outlines follow
up monitoring activity.
2. That this report be brought back to
the September 19, 2000,
Transportation and Public Works
Committee meeting.”
Report

Previous Committee Action


At the October 3, 2000, Transportation
and Public Works Committee meeting,
the following motions were passed:
1. “That the September 26, 2000,
Transportation and Streets
Department report be received for
information.
2. That the Transportation and Streets
Department prepare a follow up
report outlining the results of the fall,
2000 data collection and follow up
actions.”
At the July 11, 2000, Transportation and
Public Works Committee meeting, the
following motions were passed:
1. “That the Transportation and Streets
Department meet with members of
the West Edmonton Transportation
Coalition to determine terms of
reference, associated costs for a
study of the impact of increased
traffic on 149 Street corridor and
downstream communities, potential
mitigation and the potential for
Routing:
Delegation:
Written By:
April 30, 2001
File: 2001TS6315

The terms of reference for a study of
potential downstream impacts of
Whitemud Drive upgrading were
developed and attached to the report
considered at the October 3, 2000,
Transportation and Public Works
Committee meeting and are included in
this report as Attachment 1. The terms
of reference were reviewed with the
West Edmonton Transportation
Coalition prior to consideration by the
Transportation and Public Works
Committee. With the exception of the
approach to air quality and health issues,
there was general agreement on the
approach outlined. With respect to air
quality and health issues, the
Transportation and Public Works
Committee requested that the
Administration and West Edmonton
Transportation Coalition meet with the
Capital Health Authority and Alberta
Environment, and the results of this
meeting have been reported in a separate
report.
It was agreed that the collection of
baseline data would be required as the
first step of any study of downstream
impacts. The data collection outlined in
the terms of reference consist of a
mixture of data collection needs that had
already been identified (traffic volumes
Transportation and Public Works Committee
Rick Millican, P. Eng.
Brice Stephenson, P. Eng.
Transportation and Streets Department
(Page 1 of 4)
G
2
b
Whitemud/Terwillegar Upgrading and Expansion (Results of the Fall 2000 Data Collection
and Followup)

and travel times on arterial roadways and
in the vicinity of the Crestwood Traffic
Plan), with the addition of some
additional daily volume counts on some
residential roadways within
neighbourhoods, as well as three
locations where noise tests would be
undertaken.
It was not possible to identify what
specific mitigation measures would be
necessary to deal with the downstream
impacts or what process would be
utilized to address these concerns prior
to the data collection. In addition to
reviewing the current situation, traffic
volume growth associated with
anticipated development in the city and
the planned widening of Whitemud
Drive would be considered for each of
the areas. Based on historical experience
with studies of this type, it was identified
that three possible outcomes could occur
once the data collection was completed:
1. If the data indicates that existing
conditions would not require
mitigation, and anticipated volume
increases associated with growth and
Whitemud Drive widening could be
accommodated with limited
mitigation, then an ongoing
monitoring program would be
proposed and accommodated through
the normal work program.
Development of a mitigation
program would focus on the specific
problem area.
2. If the data indicates that specific
neighbourhood problems exist, or
that a community is at risk of
(Page 2 of 4)
shortcutting traffic problems as a
result of expected traffic growth,
then consideration of a
neighbourhood traffic plan would be
required within a specific
community. It is noted that a number
of communities adjacent to
149 Street and Stony Plain Road
have already implemented measures
to discourage shortcutting traffic (an
inventory of these measures is
included in Appendix A of
Attachment 1). Typically,
neighbourhood traffic plans are done
on a prioritized basis as City staff
resources permit. If a neighbourhood
were to have a study undertaken in
advance of the city- wide priority, it
would require the specific approval
of funds to undertake the work, and
would likely require the use of
consultants.
3. If the data indicates a requirement for
measures that extend over a wide
area, then it is anticipated that a
study using a facilitated process
involving both the communities of
the West Edmonton Transportation
Coalition and users of the arterial
roadways (such as Riverbend and
West Jasper Place). The most recent
example of a facilitated process of
this type was the Southwest
Transportation Study, which
reviewed short term transportation
options for 114 Street and alternative
routes. This study cost
approximately $250,000 and
required over a year to complete.
Again, budget approval for work of
Whitemud/Terwillegar Upgrading and Expansion (Results of the Fall 2000 Data Collection
and Followup)

this type would require consideration
of the priority of this work and
impact on other activities in the
planned work program and budget.
Attachment 2 outlines the results of the
data collection and review of anticipated
impact of further traffic growth. For
each of the impact areas, the conclusions
are as follows:
 Air quality - As noted in the Terms
of Reference (Attachment 1), the
City has provided the West
Edmonton Transportation Coalition
with information on the air quality
data, collected by Alberta
Environment at the northwest site in
the vicinity of 127 Street as an
indication of comparable conditions.
Alberta Environment is currently
monitoring air quality near
Whitemud Drive. The City has
undertaken forecasts of emissions in
the vicinity of Whitemud Drive and
has estimated that overall emissions
will decrease over time (i.e.
improvements in technology will
result in reductions in emissions,
despite an increase in overall
volumes). As lesser volume
increases are forecast to occur on
both 149 Street and Stony Plain
Road, it is anticipated that emissions
will also be reduced along these
roadways.
 Health issues – As outlined in
Attachment 1, meetings have
occurred with the Capital Health
Authority and results are documented
separately.
(Page 3 of 4)
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
Traffic Shortcutting – A review of
data gathered in Attachment 2
outlines that there are currently two
areas experiencing shortcutting
traffic; Crestwood neighbourhood,
focussing on 95/96 Avenue, and
95 Avenue through West
Jasper/Sherwood. In the case of
Crestwood, a neighbourhood traffic
plan was implemented in 2000. In
the case of West Jasper/Sherwood,
the community league was contacted
to determine if there was interest in
pursuing traffic calming along the
section of 95 Avenue between 149
and 156 Street, and the community
league was not supportive of any
traffic restrictions being imposed at
this time. Attachment 2 also
indicates the results of an assessment
of “shortcutting potential” along
roadways with anticipated traffic
growth. Given the intersection
improvements implemented within
the last few years, notably at
87 Avenue – 149 Street and Stony
Plain Road – 149 Street, it was
concluded that there is minimal risk
of additional local or collector
roadways being subject to
shortcutting. It was also noted that
limited traffic growth can occur on
the arterial roadways during peak
periods.
Traffic noise – noise measurements
were undertaken at the three
locations identified in Attachment 1
as these were considered to represent
a “worst case” for homes closest to
149 Street, Stony Plain Road and
Whitemud/Terwillegar Upgrading and Expansion (Results of the Fall 2000 Data Collection
and Followup)


142 Street and flanking these roads.
Although the locations on 142 Street
and 149 Street do exhibit noise levels
near 65 dBA, neither the current
levels or projected levels based on
anticipated traffic volume increases
would result in these properties
exceeding 70 dBA, where the
existing noise policy would require
the City to undertake action. It is
also noted that the fact, that none of
these roadways are now or in the
future planned to be truck routes,
will ensure that minimal change in
noise levels is experienced.
Neighbourhood severance – A
database documenting existing
pedestrian crossing protection on all
arterial and collector roadways was
created to assist the community in
assessing the concern of potential
neighbourhood severance. In
addition, the assessment of potential
for further traffic growth during peak
period was undertaken. It was
identified that a number of pedestrian
crossings have not been recently
assessed for upgraded protection.
Counts at five locations are currently
being undertaken.
Property values – The Asset
Management and Public Works
Department, Land and Buildings
Branch was requested to research
current property values along
149 Street and Stony Plain Road for
current and projected daily traffic
volumes. The assessment concluded
that “there likely will not be any
impacts along Stony Plain Road on


149 Street on residential property
values resulting from downstream
traffic flows associated with the
Whitemud Drive upgrade project.”
Based on the conclusions reached
regarding each of the issue areas, no
specific actions have been identified for
follow up at this time, with the exception
of ongoing traffic volume monitoring
activity (undertaken as part of the
ongoing Department data collection) and
pedestrian vehicle counts at five
crossings. If this monitoring activity
indicates a requirement for mitigation in
specific areas, these mitigation measures
would be followed up at a local level.
The review of the baseline data and
results of anticipated traffic growth do
not indicate any requirement for a
comprehensive area wide study.
It is noted that a number of specific
mitigation measures immediately
adjacent to Whitemud Drive are
identified within the Whitemud
Drive/Terwillegar Drive Concept
Planning Study Report.
Background Information Attached
1. Study of Potential Downstream Impacts
of Whitemud Drive Upgrading – Terms
of Reference.
2. Downstream Assessment Review of
Data Collection and Requirement for
Followup Activity.
Others Approving This Report
1. Bill Burn – Asset Management and
Public Works Department
(Page 4 of 4)