Strathcona traffic calming
Community engagement has concluded.
The City of Vancouver is advancing new traffic calming measures in Strathcona on local residential streets. The program area is bound by Prior/Venables St, Clark Dr, E Hastings St and Gore Ave.
What's happening?
- In March and April 2022, we collected community feedback via online discussion sessions and an online survey.
- The purpose of the engagement was to understand local traffic concerns, including which traffic calming measures work well, and how we can implement similar measures elsewhere in the neighbourhood.
- In May 2022, we analysed the feedback received via the online survey, discussion sessions, and other correspondence. You can read our engagement summary.
- With general support for the proposed traffic calming measures, staff have refined the designs and anticipate implementing the changes using temporary materials between summer 2023 and fall 2024. These traffic calming measures will support reducing vehicle speeds and volumes. Staff will monitor their effectiveness in the months following installation. If successful, measures may be upgraded to permanent materials in the future.
The Traffic Calming Update aims to:
- Reduce vehicle speeds and volumes on local residential streets;
- Discourage shortcutting on local residential streets (for example, to avoid traffic congestion on arterial streets);
- Make local residential streets safer and more comfortable for walking, biking and rolling;
- Maintain emergency access;
- Ensure implementation measures are informed by an equitable engagement process.
Your input has helped us:
- Determine where there are traffic concerns in Strathcona
- Determine whether the proposed changes can be implemented and if further considerations are necessary
What next
We are now moving towards implementation of the identified traffic calming measures using quick-build materials. If additional community engagement is needed after implementation, we will return at a later date.
-
Consultation has concluded
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 MapTraffic 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;
- Campbell Ave
- Glen Dr
- E Pender St near Dunlevy Ave
- 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.
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link
