2. Data Collection and Results

2.1 Highway 417 Mainline Volumes

MTO provided the most recent available data from the Highway 417 inventory count stations located within the Study Area. This data included three-season inventory counts from 2000. For each inventory count, data from the three weekdays counted was averaged together to produce average weekday a.m. peak hour and p.m. peak hour volumes and an Average Weekday Daily (AWD) traffic volume. Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) volumes were estimated from the AWD volumes using the 2000 MTO seasonal adjustment factors for an Urban Commuter volume pattern. The results are summarized in Appendix A.

The Fall 2000 counts were selected for use in establishing existing mainline traffic volumes in the Study Area, since they were considered to be representative of an average weekday condition and consistent with the ramp counts completed in Fall 2001. Fall 2000 data was available at the following inventory count stations:

• 700 m west of Pinecrest Road/Greenbank Road;
• 800 m west of Maitland Avenue;
• 650 m west of O'Connor Street;
• 100 m west of Metcalfe Street;
• 850 m west of Ottawa Road 174/Aviation Parkway
• 650 m west of Innes Road;
• 1.1 km west of Walkley Road; and
• 2.9 km west of Russell Road (east of the Walkley Road interchange).

Average weekday a.m. peak hour, p.m. peak hour and daily volumes for mainline sections without inventory counts were interpolated from the inventory count sections by adding and subtracting the intervening on and off-ramp volumes. The MTO seasonal adjustment factors were used to produce an estimate of AADT and design hour volume (DHV) for each section. The results are summarized in Appendix A.

Figure 2.1 - 2000 Highway 417 Mainline AADT by Section

Data in table format

Figure 2.1 shows the variation of AADT volumes through the Study Area. AADT volumes peak at approximately 150,000 between Parkdale Avenue and Rochester Street and between Nicholas Street and Vanier Parkway. Between Pinecrest Road/Greenbank Road and St. Laurent Boulevard, current AADT volumes range from approximately 120,000 to 150,000. From Highway 416 to Pinecrest Road/Greenbank Road and St. Laurent Boulevard to Ottawa Road 174, the AADT volume ranges from 93,000 to 112,000. From Ottawa Road 174 easterly to the Study Area limits, current AADT volumes diminish at each interchange, from 66,000 west of Innes Road to approximately 30,000 east of Walkley Road.

Figure 2.2 - 2000 Highway 417 Mainline Peak Hour Volumes - Eastbound

Data in table format

Figure 2.2 shows the variation by section of eastbound a.m. and p.m. peak hour volumes through the Study Area. Figure 2.3 shows the corresponding information for westbound traffic. These figures illustrate the directional flows of commuter traffic to and from the Ottawa downtown core. In the a.m. peak hour, the peak travel direction is eastbound from Highway 416 to Bronson Avenue and westbound from Anderson Road to Bronson Avenue. In the p.m. peak hour, the peak direction is westbound from Nicholas Street to Pinecrest Road/Greenbank Road and eastbound from Nicholas Street to Anderson Road.

Figure 2.3 - 2000 Highway 417 Mainline Peak Hour Volumes - Westbound

Data in table format

The highest a.m. peak hour volumes, approximately 7,500 vehicles, occur eastbound between Carling Avenue/Kirkwood Avenue and Rochester Street. Peak direction volumes vary between approximately 5,500 and 7,500 in the a.m. peak hour over the entire section between Richmond Road and Ottawa Road 174. In the p.m. peak hour, the highest volume, approximately 7,700 vehicles, is eastbound between Nicholas Street and Vanier Parkway. In other areas between Richmond Road and Ottawa Road 174, p.m. peak hour peak direction volumes vary between 5,500 and 7,000.

Eastbound and westbound peak hour flows through the central part of the Study Area are better balanced than typical commuter routes due to the influence of major residential and employment areas with overlapping origin-destination patterns through central Ottawa, as well as major employment centres at the east and west ends of the Study Area. Peak hour flows are more directional at the east end of the Study Area, beyond Ottawa Road 174.

2.2 Highway 417 Mainline Truck Percentages

The following MTO classification counts were used to estimate the percentage of heavy vehicles on Highway 417 in the Study Area:

• Highway 416 ramps, Fall 2000;
• 800 m west of Carling Avenue, Fall 1997;
• 650 m west of Innes Road, Fall 2000;
• 1.1 km west of Walkley Road, Fall 2000; and
• 2.9 km west of Russell Road, Fall 2000.

Analysis of the data from these counts indicated that, on average, truck traffic comprises approximately 5% of Highway 417 peak period mainline traffic volume between Highway 416 and Ottawa Road 174 and approximately 7% from Ottawa Road 174 easterly. These truck percentage estimates were applied in the traffic operations analysis.

2.3 Ramp Volumes

Counts on all ramps in the Study Area, except at the Highway 416 interchange, were carried out during the last week of September 2001. The counts were done using automatic traffic recorders (ATR's) and covered a duration of either three weekdays or seven days, depending on the location. The seven-day counts were done at locations that experience high weekend volumes as a result of their proximity to major shopping or recreational activity nodes. A review of the data showed that in all cases, weekday peak hour volumes were higher than weekend peak hour volumes.

Data for the Highway 416 interchange ramps was provided by MTO. The data was from three-day inventory counts completed in October 2000.

For each ramp, data from all available weekdays (noon Monday to noon Friday) was averaged together to produce average weekday a.m. peak hour, p.m. peak hour and daily (AWD) volumes. An AADT estimate for each ramp was calculated by applying the 2000 MTO seasonal adjustment factor for an urban commuter pattern to the AWD volume. A summary of the ramp volume counts/estimates is provided in Appendix A.

2.4 Intersection Volumes

Turning movement/classification (TMC) counts were acquired for all ramp terminal intersections within the Study Area as well as for intersections near ramp terminals, in corridors where signal progression analysis may be required to help quantify the impacts of interchange modifications. Most TMC counts were provided by the City of Ottawa. The counts were conducted on various dates between 1999 and 2002, with the majority in 2001. Each of the counts includes a minimum of eight hours of data and provides detailed breakdowns of car, truck, pedestrian and cyclist volumes by movement in 15-minute increments.

MTO provided the TMC counts used for analysis of the intersections of: Innes Road and the Highway 417 eastbound ramps; Lemieux Street, Labelle Street and the Highway 417 westbound off-ramp at St. Laurent Boulevard; and Walkley Road with the Highway 417 eastbound ramps.

The a.m. and p.m. peak hour volumes from each intersection turning movement count are summarized in Appendix A.

2.5 Pedestrians and Cyclists

While pedestrians and cyclists are prohibited from using Highway 417, there is significant pedestrian and cyclist activity on many of the crossing roadways that interchange with the highway. Pedestrian and cyclist volumes drawn from the ramp terminal intersection turning movement counts are summarized in Table 2.1. Designated bicycle routes, as indicated on the current City of Ottawa Cycling Map, are indicated in the table.

Table 2.1 - Summary of Existing Pedestrian and Cyclist Volumes: Approximate Volumes Through Interchange *

Crossing Roadway	Designated Bicycle Route	a.m. Peak Hour Pedestrians	a.m. Peak Hour Cyclists	p.m. Peak Hour Pedestrians	p.m. Peak Hour Cyclists
Holly Acres Road	Yes	1	10	1	11
Richmond Road	Yes	0	0	1	1
Pinecrest Road / Greenbank Road	Yes	47	11	33	14
Woodroffe Avenue		8	10	13	17
Maitland Avenue		16	34	6	10
Carling Avenue		36	6	48	14
Parkdale Avenue		30	19	35	34
Rochester Street		36	25	18	28
Bronson Avenue		91	17	115	18
Lyon Street		8	3	6	11
Kent Street		18	7	15	8
O'Connor Street	Yes	51	11	28	21
Metcalfe Street		25	10	55	15
Lees Avenue (Hwy 417 EB)	Yes	42	68	38	86
Lees Avenue (Hwy 417 WB)		8	8	14	10
Vanier Parkway		2	6	7	9
St. Laurent Boulevard		13	10	29	17
Innes Road	Yes	1	16	3	12
Walkley Road	Yes	0	1	6	1

* Total of NB/SB or EB/WB pedestrian and cyclist counts across Hwy 417 ramp(s), as applicable; higher volume used where two ramp terminal intersections counted

The data shows significant pedestrian and cyclist activity through the ramp terminal intersections at most of the interchanges in the Study Area. In general, the volumes are higher through the central section of the Study Area and lower at the east and west ends. With the exception of Lees Avenue, the designated bicycle routes do not appear to attract significantly more cyclist traffic than other roads. Pedestrian and cyclist volumes can be expected to grow in future, particularly in the developing east and west sections of the Study Area. Growth in bicycle traffic can be expected to be concentrated on the designated routes as the bicycle network matures.

2.6 Supporting Data

In addition to the traffic counts, the following data was obtained to support the INTEGRATION modelling, traffic operations analysis and safety review:

• Digital aerial orthophoto mosaic (flown 1998-1999);
• CAD base plans, developed by MTO from the aerial photos;
• Detailed drawings and traffic signal timing plans for all signalized intersections for which counts were obtained, provided by the City of Ottawa;
• A complete listing of all Highway 417 mainline, ramp and ramp terminal intersection collisions for the period 1998-2001, provided by the City of Ottawa;
• Transit route and schedule information for routes along and crossing Highway 417 in the Study Area, from the OC Transpo Web site; and
• Digital mapping and 1999 aerial photo mosaic of the City of Ottawa, accessed through the City's Web site.

In addition, TSH Transportation Department staff visited the Study Area in August 2001. Observations were recorded with field notes, video tape and photos. Information collected through the site visit included existing road and traffic conditions (including peak hours) as well as posted speeds on the Highway 417 mainline and ramps. TSH Ottawa staff completed an additional site visit to record the posted speeds on crossing roadways.

Staff from Synectics Transportation consultants completed a positive guidance/safety review of the primary Study Area in August 2002. This review is described in Section 7.2.

Numerous meetings and discussions among TSH, MTO and City of Ottawa staff have contributed to amore complete understanding of the operational characteristics of the corridor.

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Contents | Summary | Introduction | Data Collection | Demand Forecasting | Traffic Volumes
INTEGRATION Modelling | Operations Analysis | Safety Review | Conclusions