Session 5
Session: Developing the City of Ottawa’s 30 km/h Speed Limit Policy Presenter: Kerry-Lynn Mohr, City of Ottawa
Developing the City of Ottawa’s 30 km/h Speed Limit Policy
Transportation Services Department
July 19, 2017
Background • Increased requests to post 30 km/h speed limits.
• Lower operating speeds: – Reduced collision severity and greater chance of avoiding a collision; and, – 30 km/h operating speeds increase the safety and comfort of road users primarily pedestrians and cyclists.
• Issue: – Lower speed limits ≠ lower operating speeds. 1
How Drivers Select Their Speeds ?
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What are the Benefits Of A 30 km/h Policy? • Consistent approach to posting 30 km/h speed limits; • Takes into consideration roadway characteristics that influence operating speed; and, • Expectations of residents can be met as operating speed is in-line with the posted speed limit.
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The Policy Scenario 1: 30 km/h speed limit will be implemented if the current operating speed is ≤ 35 km/h;
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The Policy Scenario 2: There are four components of the policy must be met if the current operating speed is > 35 km/h. These include: • Roadway & Traffic Environment Criteria • Active Transportation Environment Criteria • Roadway Entrance Width ≤ 7 m • Petition Process
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Roadway & Traffic Environment Criteria Roadways with an operating speed greater than 35 km/h must meet all FIVE criteria: 1. Be a local road and/or have a strong pedestrian presence; Strong Pedestrian Presence = a count greater than 20 pedestrians per peak hour, or 60 pedestrians per 4 hours, or 15 elderly/children crossing the roadway during peak hour per block.
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Roadway & Traffic Environment Criteria
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Roadway & Traffic Environment Criteria 2. Have a transit service of no more than 3 trips per hour per direction;
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Roadway & Traffic Environment Criteria 3. Have a combined travel lane width of no more than 7 m;
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Roadway & Traffic Environment Criteria 4. Have a maximum speed limit of 50 km/h; and,
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Roadway & Traffic Environment Criteria 5. Have traffic volumes of less than 2,500 vehicles per day.
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Active Transportation Environment Criteria All roadways meeting the previous criteria must meet at least ONE of the following criteria: • • • • •
An elementary or junior high school, improved parkland or a significant pedestrian generator abutting the roadway; No dedicated cycling facility; No sidewalks; Existing physical traffic calming measures; and, Lack of safe stopping sight distance.
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Roadway Entrance Width ≤ 7 m • Helps drivers recognize the change in environment/ transition to a lower speed; • Funding not available to construct permanent measures; • Work with Councillors to use temporary measures through the temporary traffic calming program; and, • Permanent measures considered when roadway reconstructed or traffic calming study undertaken for roadway. 23
Roadway Entrance Width ≤ 7 m
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Roadway Entrance Width ≤ 7 m
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Roadway Entrance Width ≤ 7 m
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Petition Process •
Operating speed ≤ 35 km/h will be posted 30 km/h without petition; and,
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Operating speed > 35 km/h that meet all necessary criteria require a formal petition: –
Staff create petition – all affected residents (one signature per address);
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Requestor is responsible for visiting every address identified on petition form; and,
–
66% in favour of change.
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QUESTIONS?
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Developing the City of Ottawa’s 30 km/h Speed Limit Policy
Transportation Services Department
July 19, 2017
Background • Increased requests to post 30 km/h speed limits.
• Lower operating speeds: – Reduced collision severity and greater chance of avoiding a collision; and, – 30 km/h operating speeds increase the safety and comfort of road users primarily pedestrians and cyclists.
• Issue: – Lower speed limits ≠ lower operating speeds. 1
How Drivers Select Their Speeds ?
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
What are the Benefits Of A 30 km/h Policy? • Consistent approach to posting 30 km/h speed limits; • Takes into consideration roadway characteristics that influence operating speed; and, • Expectations of residents can be met as operating speed is in-line with the posted speed limit.
11
The Policy Scenario 1: 30 km/h speed limit will be implemented if the current operating speed is ≤ 35 km/h;
12
13
14
The Policy Scenario 2: There are four components of the policy must be met if the current operating speed is > 35 km/h. These include: • Roadway & Traffic Environment Criteria • Active Transportation Environment Criteria • Roadway Entrance Width ≤ 7 m • Petition Process
15
Roadway & Traffic Environment Criteria Roadways with an operating speed greater than 35 km/h must meet all FIVE criteria: 1. Be a local road and/or have a strong pedestrian presence; Strong Pedestrian Presence = a count greater than 20 pedestrians per peak hour, or 60 pedestrians per 4 hours, or 15 elderly/children crossing the roadway during peak hour per block.
16
Roadway & Traffic Environment Criteria
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Roadway & Traffic Environment Criteria 2. Have a transit service of no more than 3 trips per hour per direction;
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Roadway & Traffic Environment Criteria 3. Have a combined travel lane width of no more than 7 m;
19
Roadway & Traffic Environment Criteria 4. Have a maximum speed limit of 50 km/h; and,
20
Roadway & Traffic Environment Criteria 5. Have traffic volumes of less than 2,500 vehicles per day.
21
Active Transportation Environment Criteria All roadways meeting the previous criteria must meet at least ONE of the following criteria: • • • • •
An elementary or junior high school, improved parkland or a significant pedestrian generator abutting the roadway; No dedicated cycling facility; No sidewalks; Existing physical traffic calming measures; and, Lack of safe stopping sight distance.
22
Roadway Entrance Width ≤ 7 m • Helps drivers recognize the change in environment/ transition to a lower speed; • Funding not available to construct permanent measures; • Work with Councillors to use temporary measures through the temporary traffic calming program; and, • Permanent measures considered when roadway reconstructed or traffic calming study undertaken for roadway. 23
Roadway Entrance Width ≤ 7 m
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Roadway Entrance Width ≤ 7 m
25
Roadway Entrance Width ≤ 7 m
26
Petition Process •
Operating speed ≤ 35 km/h will be posted 30 km/h without petition; and,
•
Operating speed > 35 km/h that meet all necessary criteria require a formal petition: –
Staff create petition – all affected residents (one signature per address);
–
Requestor is responsible for visiting every address identified on petition form; and,
–
66% in favour of change.
27
QUESTIONS?
28
