New criteria for permanent traffic calming measures in Ottawa cause for concern: expert
CTV
Speed continues to be a problem on Ottawa's residential streets with many demanding more be done to slow people down, but now the city has gone the other way.
Speed continues to be a problem on Ottawa's residential streets with many demanding more be done to slow people down, but now the city has gone the other way.
"From what I gather, the criteria is an almost impossible threshold to meet. So no matter how bad the problem is, it's going to be nearly impossible for a threshold to be crossed," said Ottawa resident, Jonathan Robart.
Last year the city developed a new speed screening process in order for a residential street to qualify for permanent traffic calming measures. This cut the list of problem streets in half from 140 to 70, including Hunter's Run Drive in Orleans, which was waiting more than a decade for permanent measures like speed bumps.
"It can take a number of years, even once identified as qualifying for a traffic calming project, for the work to be complete. So by changing the threshold it allowed projects to actually progress through," said Alta Vista ward Coun. Marty Carr.
In order for a street to now qualify for permanent traffic calming measures, the average speed on a street needs to be 45 km/h and an 85th percentile of 55 km/h or more during a 24-hour or 48-hour period.
In other words, 15 per cent of drivers need to be speeding at least 15 km/h over the posted speed limit in residential areas. The old standard was lower, at 10 km/h.
"The criteria used by the city of Ottawa is now too high and seems to be unsafe," said Essam Dabbour, a traffic safety expert.
