Neighbourhood Traffic Calming Plan

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Consultation has concluded

Creating safer roads - traffic calming pilot coming to select neighbourhoods

The City of Vaughan is creating safer roads through the Neighbourhood Traffic Calming Plan, also known as the Neighbourhood Area Traffic Calming Policy, Design and Speed Management Plan. This project is one of the major road safety initiatives identified under MoveSmart – the City’s Mobility Management Strategy.

Now that the City has a stronger sense of which tools are best fit for Vaughan, a new draft traffic calming toolbox has been developed. The goal of this toolbox is to help the City address road safety concerns and ensure appropriate traffic calming and speed management approaches are integrated into new and existing roads in Vaughan.

Five neighbourhoods have been selected to pilot the new toolbox. Appropriate traffic calming and speed management approaches will be carefully selected, temporarily installed and actively monitored in each pilot neighbourhood to test their efficacy. Learn more about the five pilot neighbourhoods:

What is traffic calming?

Traffic calming refers to physical features and road designs intended to reduce vehicular speeds as well as the number and severity of collisions, improve pedestrian and cyclist safety as well as the quality of the environment, and potentially reduce traffic volumes.

Traffic calming can take many forms to slow down vehicular speed and create safer roads. This can include the development or installation of curb and sidewalk extensions, roundabouts, narrowed roads, raised crosswalks at intersections, pavement markings, flexi-posts or streetscaping.

Phase 1 Public Consultation

An online survey closed Feb. 13 and included questions about improving livability and road safety in Vaughan neighbourhoods, reviewing options for various traffic calming measures and more.

An online mapping activity also closed Feb. 13 and was an exercise meant to identify specific areas in Vaughan where you may see or experience issues related to traffic calming and speed management.

Phase 2 Public Consultation

A short online survey and interactive map closed June 14 and offered an opportunity to identify roads or intersections where traffic-related concerns are taking place and where specific traffic calming measures might be installed.

A series of virtual open houses were held for each community for residents to learn more about the project and its expected outcomes.

A series of walking tours/design workshops were held for each community for residents to walk the neighbourhood, see where potential measures will be implemented, discuss design options and speak with members of the project team.

Creating safer roads - traffic calming pilot coming to select neighbourhoods

The City of Vaughan is creating safer roads through the Neighbourhood Traffic Calming Plan, also known as the Neighbourhood Area Traffic Calming Policy, Design and Speed Management Plan. This project is one of the major road safety initiatives identified under MoveSmart – the City’s Mobility Management Strategy.

Now that the City has a stronger sense of which tools are best fit for Vaughan, a new draft traffic calming toolbox has been developed. The goal of this toolbox is to help the City address road safety concerns and ensure appropriate traffic calming and speed management approaches are integrated into new and existing roads in Vaughan.

Five neighbourhoods have been selected to pilot the new toolbox. Appropriate traffic calming and speed management approaches will be carefully selected, temporarily installed and actively monitored in each pilot neighbourhood to test their efficacy. Learn more about the five pilot neighbourhoods:

What is traffic calming?

Traffic calming refers to physical features and road designs intended to reduce vehicular speeds as well as the number and severity of collisions, improve pedestrian and cyclist safety as well as the quality of the environment, and potentially reduce traffic volumes.

Traffic calming can take many forms to slow down vehicular speed and create safer roads. This can include the development or installation of curb and sidewalk extensions, roundabouts, narrowed roads, raised crosswalks at intersections, pavement markings, flexi-posts or streetscaping.

Phase 1 Public Consultation

An online survey closed Feb. 13 and included questions about improving livability and road safety in Vaughan neighbourhoods, reviewing options for various traffic calming measures and more.

An online mapping activity also closed Feb. 13 and was an exercise meant to identify specific areas in Vaughan where you may see or experience issues related to traffic calming and speed management.

Phase 2 Public Consultation

A short online survey and interactive map closed June 14 and offered an opportunity to identify roads or intersections where traffic-related concerns are taking place and where specific traffic calming measures might be installed.

A series of virtual open houses were held for each community for residents to learn more about the project and its expected outcomes.

A series of walking tours/design workshops were held for each community for residents to walk the neighbourhood, see where potential measures will be implemented, discuss design options and speak with members of the project team.

Consultation has concluded

  • Speed Cushions

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    A speed cushion is a raised section of a road which encourages drivers to reduce their vehicle speeds. Speed cushions are similar to speed humps but are designed to better accommodate larger vehicles and emergency vehicles by providing areas to “straddle” the cushion.

    Application/Considerations/Outcomes

    • Appropriate for local and collector streets
    • May require special winter maintenance considerations
    • Less impacts to cyclists, transit, and emergency service vehicles compared to speed humps
    • Could result in “reduction in 85th percentile speeds up to 8 km/h” (TAC Canadian Guide to Traffic Calming, 2017)

    Image sources: NACTO, TAC Canadian Guide to Traffic Calming, 2017

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  • Roundabouts

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    Roundabouts are installed at the intersections of two streets and intended to keep the speed to a minimum and increase safety at intersection crossings. Vehicles and cyclists entering the roundabout must yield to pedestrians crossing the crosswalk and circulating traffic.

    Application/Considerations/Outcomes

    • Applicable at intersections with higher traffic volumes, including where collector roads meet or where an arterial road intersects a collector
    • Larger than neighbourhood traffic circles and can accommodate multiple lanes if needed
    • Typically recommends speeds between 25-50 km/h
    • Can accommodate larger volumes of traffic than neighbourhood traffic circles
    • Include marked crosswalks to clarify where pedestrians are crossing
    • Provide yield control for motor vehicles
    • Larger design allows for additional landscaping and/or pedestrian treatments (e.g., crosswalk cut through centre)
    • Where landscaping is added, materials should be selected to maintain sightlines
    • Roundabouts have an excellent safety record, with a comprehensive review of over 200 roundabouts in Minnesota showing an 86% reduction in fatal crashes at intersections where roundabouts are installed. (A Study of the Traffic Safety at Roundabouts in Minnesota, 2021)

    Image sources: WSP, New York City Street Design Manual

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  • Raised Intersection

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    A raised intersection is where the entire intersection area is constructed at a higher elevation than the adjacent roadway. Raised intersections improve visibility for pedestrians and increase motorist awareness. Similar to speed humps and other vertical speed control treatments, raised intersections encourage drivers to reduce speed and yield to crossing pedestrians.

    Application/Considerations/Outcomes

    • Appropriate for local and collector streets
    • Raised intersections should be avoided where grades exceed 8%
    • Not recommended on routes regularly used by heavy vehicles
    • Needs further design considerations on locations with regular bus services, such as providing a gentler ramp grade
    • Installation should be restricted to where approaches have equal priority, such as all-way stop-controlled intersections
    • Can be combined with other safety treatments to maximize safety benefits, such as including curb extensions at the intersection or crosswalk
    • May include bollards along the corners to prevent motorists from crossing into the pedestrian space

    Image sources: NACTO, HUB Surface Systems

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