What is traffic calming: Traffic calming uses a variety of tools to create safer streets, including speed humps, diverters and speed limits, to help reduce vehicle speeds and volumes. This creates more comfortable streets for walking, cycling, and living, while also creating safer driving conditions. Existing examples from Strathcona include the following traffic calming measures:

Existing Traffic Calming examples in Strathcona Program purpose: Strathcona is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in the city, but it is changing. Major projects will be completed in the coming years, including the New St. Paul’s Hospital and a rail underpass along Venables St near Glen Dr. The purpose of this Traffic Calming Update is to address traffic issues and concerns in the short term before longer-term infrastructure projects are realized. The proposed changes focus on local residential streets in the area within the orange boundary on the map below.

Existing Traffic Calming Map

 

Traffic Calming Tools: Our tools consists of quick-build options such as speed humps, vehicle diverters, raised crosswalks, partial and full street closures, one-way streets, chicanes, and curb bulges. Full intersection rebuilds or underpasses are beyond the scope of this program. 

What we’ve already heard:  Through previous community conversations, we heard:   

• concerns about shortcutting through local residential streets as some drivers may seek to avoid arterial streets.
• requests for calmer streets, where vehicular traffic is slowed down and volumes are reduced.

What we’re seeing: Through the Prior St Pilot and recent traffic counts, City staff have observed that:

• The Prior St Pilot was successful in reducing speeds and improving safety, pedestrian comfort and transit waiting conditions on Prior St.
• Recent traffic analysis shows relatively high vehicle volumes on the following streets;
  1. Campbell Ave
  2. Glen Dr 
  3. E Pender St near Dunlevy Ave
  4. Jackson Ave near Hastings St
• Higher volumes on these streets may be due to vehicle shortcutting, commercial activities, or other sources to be further determined from the community in this process.
• Recent analysis shows that vehicle speeds are generally lower than the posted 50km/hr limit on local streets.

Survey

The survey is divided into three parts. The first part highlights recent findings and seeks further community insights on vehicle volumes and speeds on residential streets. In the second part, we’re seeking feedback on potential changes that staff are considering. And finally, the survey asks demographic questions to see if we’ve heard from a representative group of people. 

This survey will be open until Monday, April 4, 2022.

Paper copies are available upon request, and can be submitted by mail.