Traffic Calming

Traffic calming refers to a set of engineered measures to reduce vehicle operating speeds and improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists and residents. The measures are strategically placed to influence driving behaviour and encourage drivers to be more cautious and attentive.

Pilot project

In 2023, the City implemented a variety of traffic calming measures in deliberate locations to evaluate their effectiveness in addressing traffic safety concerns in our community. During the pilot, we identified three different land use locations:

  1. Residential: Ranchlands Boulevard NE (2024) and Eighth Street SE (2024)
  2. Commercial: Third Street SE downtown at Fourth Avenue SE
  3. Institutional: Eight Street NE near St. Francis Xavier School

Before any measures are implemented, emergency response services perform a test scenario to identify any impacts to access and response times.

The following measures were strategically chosen for deployment:

Curb extensions

Curb extensions using delineators at the intersection of 3 Street SE and 4 Avenue SECurb extensions are curbs that are built further into the street to reduce crossing distance for pedestrians, making them more visible to motorists at crosswalks, and narrowing the roadway to slow down drivers. The pilot program use delineators to create temporary curb extensions.

Pilot location: Intersection of 3 Street SE and 4 Avenue SE downtown (pictured)
Delineators

Photo of cars on road with white delineators separating driving area from curbA traffic delineator is a device, typically a vertical marker, used on roadways to guide and direct traffic. They can take various forms, including flexible posts, cylinders, cones or panels and are designed to be sturdy enough to withstand vehicle impacts, while bending or collapsing upon impact to minimize damage to the vehicle and the delineator itself.

Pilot location: Eighth Street NE near St. Francis Xavier School (2023)
Mini roundabouts

Photo of mini roundabout in Medicine HatA roundabout is a circular design to manage traffic flow and improve safety at an intersection by reducing the potential for severe collisions, reducing vehicle speeds, and minimizing traffic delays.

Pilot location: Eighth Street SE on the Southeast Hill at two intersections (Second Avenue SE and Fourth Avenue SE) (2024)

 

How to navigate a mini roundabout

  1. Slow down, scan for and yield to pedestrians
  2. Yield and give right-of-way to drivers already in the intersection (pictured, bottom left)
  3. If you enter a traffic circle at the same time as another driver, the vehicle to the right has right-of-way
  4. Turn right and travel through the intersection in a counterclockwise direction
  5. After passing the exit prior to your intended exit, activate your right-turn signal (pictured, bottom right)
  6. Watch for, and yield to, pedestrians when exiting the intersection

Car yielding to the right-of-way in a roundabout Car exiting a mini roundabout 

In addition to physical infrastructure, traffic calming often involves the use of signage, pavement markings, and landscaping elements to create a visual and psychological environment that prompts drivers to reduce their speed and be more aware of their surroundings.

Staff will review the effectiveness of the pilot measures over a two-year period. Results and learnings will be incorporated into the City’s:

  • active transportation strategy,
  • transportation safety strategy, and
  • transportation master plan.

Future implementation of traffic calming measures may be considered at that time.

How is traffic calming introduced? 
We receive numerous service requests relating to transportation safety concerns such as residential speeding and ensuring our road network is safe for emerging trends such as active or multimodal transportation. 
Identify need 
A preliminary review of the location allows us to identify or confirm potential issues and prioritize for further analysis. 
Data collection and analysis 
We follow best engineering practices and industry standards/guidelines established by the Transportation Association of Canada. We have established warrant assessment protocols for posted speed reviews and pedestrian crosswalks. Staff will deploy tools to measure operating speed and traffic volumes. Site visits and visual observation help confirm the need for traffic control and/or traffic calming measures. 
Identify the appropriate tool and technique to meet the desired outcomes 
Appropriate traffic calming measures are assessed on various factors including road classification/design, traffic volumes, vehicle types (heavy truck/dangerous goods), residential impact, and available road right-of-way. If traffic calming is recommended, the location is placed on a prioritized list for implementation.