This week, Calgary
City Council voted in favour of several new traffic safety initiatives,
including consideration of speed-reductions in residential areas, specifically
on un-marked side-streets.
City Council voted in favour of several new traffic safety initiatives,
including consideration of speed-reductions in residential areas, specifically
on un-marked side-streets.
As a result, over the
next year, we’ll be researching the benefits and costs of reducing speeds on
these roads to either 30 km/h or 40 km/h, and providing opportunities for you
to give us feedback.
next year, we’ll be researching the benefits and costs of reducing speeds on
these roads to either 30 km/h or 40 km/h, and providing opportunities for you
to give us feedback.
While this will be an
important conversation, our Safer
Mobility Plan is not just about
reducing speeds. We’ve implemented safety programs and pilots that aim to keep pedestrians,
cyclists, motorists and vehicle occupants all safer on Calgary streets.
important conversation, our Safer
Mobility Plan is not just about
reducing speeds. We’ve implemented safety programs and pilots that aim to keep pedestrians,
cyclists, motorists and vehicle occupants all safer on Calgary streets.
Here’s a look at some of the work we’re doing:
Adaptive Sidewalks
 |
| An adaptive sidewalk along 73 Street SW |
In
2017 and 2018, we built four adaptive
sidewalks as a way to provide a safe, dedicated space for pedestrians
by altering streets.
2017 and 2018, we built four adaptive
sidewalks as a way to provide a safe, dedicated space for pedestrians
by altering streets.
Adaptive sidewalks are used where there’s no
existing sidewalk, or we can’t build a traditional one. They’re intended for
pedestrians, including people who use mobility scooters, wheelchairs, strollers
or children under the age of 14 on bicycles.
existing sidewalk, or we can’t build a traditional one. They’re intended for
pedestrians, including people who use mobility scooters, wheelchairs, strollers
or children under the age of 14 on bicycles.
As part of the Pedestrian Strategy,
we are also looking for ways to build missing connections within the sidewalk
network. Adaptive sidewalks will help eliminate some of the sidewalk gaps or
missing links that exist in our sidewalk network. Providing these connections
will help people walking to safely connect to the destinations they are
travelling to.
we are also looking for ways to build missing connections within the sidewalk
network. Adaptive sidewalks will help eliminate some of the sidewalk gaps or
missing links that exist in our sidewalk network. Providing these connections
will help people walking to safely connect to the destinations they are
travelling to.
Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI)
 |
| The STEP FORWARD action framework |
We are currently
doing a trial on Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI), which is another of the actions
of Calgary’s pedestrian strategy.
doing a trial on Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI), which is another of the actions
of Calgary’s pedestrian strategy.
The Leading
Pedestrian Interval (LPI) is a technique of timing traffic signals to give
pedestrians an advanced walk signal. These give pedestrians a 3-7 second head start
over turning vehicles, allowing them to clear the crosswalk earlier and keeping
them safer when navigating intersections.
Pedestrian Interval (LPI) is a technique of timing traffic signals to give
pedestrians an advanced walk signal. These give pedestrians a 3-7 second head start
over turning vehicles, allowing them to clear the crosswalk earlier and keeping
them safer when navigating intersections.
LPIs also enhance the
visibility of pedestrians in the intersection and reinforce pedestrian
right-of-way over turning vehicles, especially in locations with a history of
conflicts. LPIs have been shown to reduce pedestrian-vehicle collisions as much
as 60% at treated intersections.
visibility of pedestrians in the intersection and reinforce pedestrian
right-of-way over turning vehicles, especially in locations with a history of
conflicts. LPIs have been shown to reduce pedestrian-vehicle collisions as much
as 60% at treated intersections.
LPIs are being
implemented at several locations across Calgary so that we can study their
performance locally.
implemented at several locations across Calgary so that we can study their
performance locally.
Rectangular
Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs)
Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs)
 |
| An RRFB at a crosswalk |
Since 2012, The City has installed
131 pedestrian RRFBs (Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons) at crosswalks across
Calgary. These flashing light crossings are expected to improve vehicle-yielding
compliance to pedestrians and pedestrian safety.
131 pedestrian RRFBs (Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons) at crosswalks across
Calgary. These flashing light crossings are expected to improve vehicle-yielding
compliance to pedestrians and pedestrian safety.
Calgary is the national
leader in implementation of RRFBs and we received the Transportation Association
of Canada Road Safety Engineering Award for the RRFB Pilot. In the next several
years, we’ll evaluate the RRFBs to see what safety benefits they
provide in terms of collisions and injury reduction.
leader in implementation of RRFBs and we received the Transportation Association
of Canada Road Safety Engineering Award for the RRFB Pilot. In the next several
years, we’ll evaluate the RRFBs to see what safety benefits they
provide in terms of collisions and injury reduction.
Traffic calming curbs
 |
| Installing traffic calming curbs |
Over the past three years, we’ve
installed temporary traffic calming curbs (yellow, oval concrete blocks) at
more than 60 locations, including intersections and corridors. Traffic
calming curbs have been shown to reduce speeds, reduce pedestrian crossing
distance, improve pedestrian visibility (resulting in improved vehicle yielding
to pedestrians), improve stop sign compliance, and reduce collisions.
installed temporary traffic calming curbs (yellow, oval concrete blocks) at
more than 60 locations, including intersections and corridors. Traffic
calming curbs have been shown to reduce speeds, reduce pedestrian crossing
distance, improve pedestrian visibility (resulting in improved vehicle yielding
to pedestrians), improve stop sign compliance, and reduce collisions.
We’ll continue to monitor
the effectiveness of these curbs and make recommendations on more permanent
solutions moving forward.
the effectiveness of these curbs and make recommendations on more permanent
solutions moving forward.
Automated/video-based conflict analysis (VBCA)
We
are trialing the new automated video-based conflict analysis technology which
is capable of analyzing video recordings of an roadway to examine collision data
between road users. This new source of data is particularly useful in studying
interactions involving vulnerable road users, which are often less frequent,
but of high severity. In addition, details of events leading up to a
conflict help us understand site conditions and choose the most appropriate
solution to resolve the issue.
are trialing the new automated video-based conflict analysis technology which
is capable of analyzing video recordings of an roadway to examine collision data
between road users. This new source of data is particularly useful in studying
interactions involving vulnerable road users, which are often less frequent,
but of high severity. In addition, details of events leading up to a
conflict help us understand site conditions and choose the most appropriate
solution to resolve the issue.
VBCA
can also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of trials of new and emerging
countermeasures and enables automated data collection techniques, such as
volume counts, speed measurements, and violations.
can also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of trials of new and emerging
countermeasures and enables automated data collection techniques, such as
volume counts, speed measurements, and violations.
School Zone/Playground zone harmonization
Between 2014 and 2016, we
changed 197 school zones into playground zones to make the rules clearer for
Calgarians. A
study by the University of
Calgary found that the
harmonization resulted in a reduction in speeds and an increase in speed
compliance is linked to improved safety for all road users.
changed 197 school zones into playground zones to make the rules clearer for
Calgarians. A
study by the University of
Calgary found that the
harmonization resulted in a reduction in speeds and an increase in speed
compliance is linked to improved safety for all road users.
After these areas were turned into
playground zones, we found:
playground zones, we found:
- The
mean speed decreased from 36 km/h to 30 km/h. - Overall,
the number of collisions involving pedestrians within school and playground
zones decreased by 33%, with a 70% decrease between 5:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Additional work
Other improvements made to
improve traffic, pedestrian and cyclist safety include:
improve traffic, pedestrian and cyclist safety include:
- Continuing to review high pedestrian-collision locations and implementing improvements, which include signal improvements, ladder crosswalks, lighting improvements, among others.
- Installing supplementary side-mounter flashers at pedestrian corridor (overhead flasher) crosswalks to improve safety and visibility.
- Piloting fluorescent yellow-green pedestrian crosswalk signs as part of a national TAC study.
- Implementing and investigating reflective sleeves at pedestrian crosswalks. So far, findings indicated a positive impact to yielding compliance.
- Expanding the SLOWS program – these are the speed trailers on the side of the road that shows motorists how fast they are going.
Provide your input at our Traffic Safety Meetings
In 2019, The City
will engage Calgarians on recommendations to change the speed on some residential
roads to either 30 km/h or 40 km/h.
will engage Calgarians on recommendations to change the speed on some residential
roads to either 30 km/h or 40 km/h.
Prior to that, we
will continue to hold Ward Traffic Safety Meetings at which you will have an
opportunity to provide us with your thoughts on speed, traffic calming,
playground zones and trouble spots.
will continue to hold Ward Traffic Safety Meetings at which you will have an
opportunity to provide us with your thoughts on speed, traffic calming,
playground zones and trouble spots.
And you do not need
to live in the Ward to attend these meetings – they are open to everyone. For
more information about these meetings including dates, times and locations,
visit the Ward Traffic
Safety Meetings page on Calgary.ca
to live in the Ward to attend these meetings – they are open to everyone. For
more information about these meetings including dates, times and locations,
visit the Ward Traffic
Safety Meetings page on Calgary.ca