CALMING ARTERIALS IN TORONTO

Abstract

Traffic calming is usually considered in the context of local streets. A different approach, however, is needed in considering calming for arterial roads. On arterials, the primary function of the road is carrying (rather than the multitude of functions which local streets serve). Traffic calming on arterials needs to be more subtle, with less impact on speeds than can be contemplated on local streets. In particular, speed humps are considered inappropriate for a number of reasons, including the impact on emergency service and transit vehicles, the noise levels which would emanate from trucks and other vehicles (braking, accelerating and the jostling of loads) and the generally accepted role of arterial roads as traffic streets. In Toronto, most calming installations are on local or collector streets. Furthermore, most arterial roads have not been considered for calming for a variety of reasons. But calming has been implemented successfully on a number of arterial streets carrying up to 20,000 vehicles per day. In general, requests for calming on these streets have been based on concerns about pedestrian and cyclist safety, excessive motor vehicle speeds in residential areas, and pedestrian accessibility and parking availability in retail areas. Toronto's arterial road calming has relied on three main techniques (medians, road narrowings and bicycle lanes) which all have in common a reduction in the number of lanes.