Residents are reminded to use caution around creeks, ponds and the lake.
Traffic calming is a measure available to the town that can be used to mitigate speeding in instances where higher speeds have been observed and conventional methods of speed deterrence, such as enforcement and education, have not been effective. Some examples of include line markings, radar speed display signs, speed cushions and roundabouts.
To initiate a traffic calming process a candidate location must first satisfy Warrant 1 – 85th Percentile Speed. Warrant 1 is obtained following a 48-hour speed survey conducted either in the spring and/or fall.
Warrant 1 requires 15 per cent of motorists to be driving at a speed greater than:
If Warrant 1 is met, locations will first receive a Radar Speed Display Sign (RSDS) unit. If speeds remain above the threshold after the RSDS is removed, the location then qualifies for line markings. If line markings are already present, the town will directly proceed to implement physical traffic calming measures.
Three roadways qualified for physical traffic calming in 2017.
An additional speed survey will be collected in the spring of 2019 to measure the effectiveness of the implemented measure.
The Town of Oakville Great Lakes Boulevard Traffic Calming Study is recommending physical traffic calming measure along Great Lakes Boulevard between Creek Path Avenue and Lakeshore Road West.
The recommended plan (pdf) includes measures to reduce the effective pavement width of the road and provide greater buffer between cycle lanes and driving and parking lanes. These measures include a series of centre-road medians, islands in the parking lanes and moving the bike lanes to beside the curb to keep cyclists away from traffic. In addition, a pedestrian crossover (PXO) at Buena Vista Court is recommended based on the Town's Pedestrian Safety Program (2017).
The recommended plan was identified through an assessment and evaluation of the alternatives considering technical criteria, and feedback received from the public and technical agencies. Physical traffic calming measures that were considered included: raised centre median, curb extensions, roundabout, and combination of these.
Speed surveys conducted by the town indicated that traffic speeds are higher than posted speed limits and the traffic calming threshold. Therefore, this study was undertaken to consider reduction fo traffic speeds, safety of pedestrian and cyclists and ease of access for emergency services.
Community input was vital to this study. The key points of consultation included:
The project next steps will include staff report to Community Services Committee in late spring 2019. Pending Council approval, the detailed design and construction will be referred to the 2020 Capital Forecast.
April 2, 2019 - Following public input, Council voted to remove all speed cushions along Pinegrove Road from Fourth Line to Warwick Avenue. The cushions are planned to be removed by the end of June 2019.
Traffic calming on Pinegrove Road was driven by ongoing concerns from local residents regarding speeding and aggressive driving on their street. A speed survey conducted by the town in 2016 confirmed that speeding was an ongoing issue. The speed survey also found that traffic volumes on Pinegrove Road were substantially higher than what is expected for a local road.
Through the public consultation process, residents voted in favour of physical traffic calming and selected speed cushions as the preferred option. Thirteen speed cushions were implemented on Pinegrove Road in November 2018, from Fourth Line to Warwick Avenue. Review the current speed cushion layout on Pinegrove Road.
Based on public feedback, a recommended alternative traffic calming design was developed that would remove the existing 13 speed cushions and replace them with seven modified cushions. The recommended modified cushions would extend across the entire width of the road removing the need for centre bollards. The recommended cushions would still be the industry standard height to help reduce speeding, but would be flatter and smoother to drive over and feel lower to drivers.
A staff report outlining various options to address traffic calming on Pinegrove Road was presented at the Community Services Committee meeting on March 25, 2019. Review the staff report (item 3 on the agenda).
Pinegrove Road is a local road intended to carry local traffic. Traffic calming on Pinegrove Road was driven by ongoing concerns from residents regarding speeding and aggressive driving on their street. As well as speeding, the speed survey found that traffic volumes on Pinegrove Road were substantially higher than what is expected for a local road, suggesting that motorists from outside the area were using the street to quickly bypass the major roads intended for through traffic. Speed cushions help deter through traffic from local roads and divert it to the collector roads, keeping residential areas safe.
To be effective, speed cushions are placed between 80-120 metres apart. This spacing prevents vehicles from speeding between the cushions and defeating their purpose. Pinegrove Road is 1,350 metres long, resulting in 13 cushions.
Speed cushions are built to the town’s specifications following the Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) Traffic Calming Guidelines. Other municipalities (i.e. City of Burlington, City of London) follow the same design.
Unfortunately, people speed and studies and past experiences show that lowering the speed limit alone does not have considerable impact on the operating speeds of road users.
A stop sign is not a speed control device; it is a traffic control measure to assign the right-of-way at intersections. Intersections at Pinegrove/Warminster and Pinegrove/Maplehurst were reviewed to see if all-way stop signs were required. Neither of them met the all-way stop warrant criteria.
The yellow bollards are markers to help guide emergency vehicles around the speed cushions in an emergency. They are flexible and easily bend out of the way of the emergency vehicle. We’ve noticed that some have been removed or vandalised and we will be replacing them in the coming weeks. We are working with the Halton Regional Police to monitor this situation.
In 2016 – Following concerns from residents, a speed survey was conducted on Pinegrove Road. Average operating speeds were found to be 59 km/hour in the westbound direction and 62 km/hour in the eastbound. Based on the 62 km/hour speed results, physical traffic calming was warranted.
MAY 2017 – A traffic calming survey was distributed to residents of Pinegrove Road asking them if they supported physical traffic calming on their street. The majority of respondents living on Pinegrove Road voted in favour of traffic calming.
NOVEMBER 2017 – An invitation to a public information meeting was sent to residents. Two traffic calming designs were presented at the meeting: speed cushions and chicanes (curb extensions that periodically narrow a two-lane road to a one-lane road). Speed cushions were selected as the preferred option. Residents were notified of the decision to proceed with the speed cushion design.
OCTOBER 2018 – Notice was sent to residents about the start of construction of the speed cushions.
Consistent with TAC guidelines, the town’s traffic calming process includes a post-implementation review and possible modification or removal of the traffic calming measures.
The town continues to welcome input from area residents. As the speed cushions were installed at the request of the residents living on Pinegrove Road, the town surveyed residents in early 2019 to gather their feedback on the layout. Following resident’s input, motion was made at the Community Services Committee meeting on March 25, 2019 to remove all speed cushions from Pinegrove Road. Committee recommendations will be presented to Council on April 2 for final decision.
Residents of Ridge Drive also voted in favour of speed cushions, as the most preferred physical traffic calming measure. Three sets of speed cushions were implemented from Sixth Line to Kent Avenue in the fall of 2018. Review the current speed cushion layout on Ridge Drive.
An additional speed survey will be collected in the spring of 2019 to measure the effectiveness of the implemented measure.
Thank you for your input! The Speed Limit and Traffic Calming survey is now closed.
We're currently preparing a review of the traffic calming process and posted speed limits, as well as an update on automated speed enforcement (ASE), or photo radar in Ontario. The information gathered through the survey will be used to help shape the future of the town's traffic calming program.
The Town of Oakville strives to make our community safe for people of all ages to walk, cycle and drive to and from school, work and leisure activities. Our traffic calming program can be effective in addressing issues related to vehicle speed, excessive traffic volume and overall neighbourhood safety.
In May 2018, the town initiated a study on potential traffic calming options for school zones on major collector and minor arterial roadways. In total, the project will treat 20 school sites located across the town.
On June 19, 20 and 21, 2018 we held information sessions to gather public input and discuss ideas, concerns and potential treatments for the 20 school zones that are included in the study.
If you were not able to attend any of the meetings in person, we'd still like to hear from you and we welcome your input via email.
Matt Colwill
IBI Group
mcolwill@ibigroup.com
Dragana Crkvenjas
Town of Oakville
dragana.crkvenjas@oakville.ca
Detailed information about Traffic Calming Process Update and Speed Limit Review can be found on the April 25, 2016, Community Services Committee agenda.
If you have any questions regarding the traffic calming program, or wish to initiate a request please contact ServiceOakville at 905-845-6601 or by email at service@oakville.ca.