The goal of traffic calming is to improve safety on on residential streets. Reducing speeds is a big part of that, but road design that makes safety a priority for drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and transit users. is what makes for lasting safety measures.

One of the ways we're doing that is through our VISION ZERO strategy that's comprised of Evaluation, Engineering, Enforcement, Education and Engagement. Since it began in 2022 there has been a 15% reduction in speeds on residential streets. You can learn about VISION ZERO HERE

Part of VISION ZERO is our COMPLETE STREETS program. Complete Streets are designed to be safe and comfortable for everyone. A street is “complete” when it works well for pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders and motorists. Complete streets also contribute to sustainability, health and social priorities, while providing beautiful streetscapes and places to enjoy. ​The brief COMPLETE STREETS GUIDE is HERE  You can read the full version HERE

Kitchener has 3 streams of Traffic Calming; Formal, Seasonal and Resident led. Details on each are HERE
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​Information on the Traffic Calming Process is HERE
On Monday October 18, 2021 Kitchener Council passed a motion to reduce speeds on Residential Streets from 50kmh to 40kmh.  Neighbourhoods have begun to be converted to the lower speed limit.  The lower speed limit is in effect in a given neighbourhood when “gateway” signs are installed at the entrances and exits to the neighbourhood. Major city roads and all regional roads will remain at 50 km/h.
​The lowering of speeds is important for safety. Lower speeds allow drivers to scan the roadway and intersections for pedestrians, children, or unusual movement and that lowers the potential for a collision to happen. If a pedestrian is hit by a car travelling 50km/h their chances of survival are about 15%.  When travelling a 40km/h their chances of survival increase to 70%. Lower speeds increase safety.
Speed on Residential Streets is an issue residents contact me often about. I welcome your concerns.  I've been involved with 5 Traffic Calming Projects in our Ward.  The challenge our staff face is how to change driver behaviour so the speed limit is followed. Below are some common items that come up as requests to calm speeding.

Speed Humps are often requested as a solution.  The unfortunate result of Speed Humps is drivers slow down temporarily, but then speed up to make up for the time they perceive they lost slowing down for them. Heritage Drive off of Ottawa Street is one of the most heavily speed humped streets in the City and we still receive speeding complaints on that street.  Another consideration is from our Fire Department and Emergency Services.  They must meet Provincially regulated response times.  Each speed hump they encounter slows them down by 10 seconds, so responding to a fire or medical incident is delayed. Fire Services are the first to arrive at a medical emergency to administer CPR or a defibrillator. They attend to the patient and keep them alive until Ambulance Services arrive.  Speed Humps add extra time for Ambulance Services to arrive and then to transport the patient to a hospital. In a medical emergency every second matters.  If adding speed  humps would cause them to not meet their legislated response time, speed humps cannot be used.  

Stop Signs are also frequently requested. They are under the control of the Ministry Of Transportation and can only be used to control traffic, not speed.  Statistics show that stop signs can have the opposite effect on speed. Like with Speed Humps, drivers want to make up for lost time and speed up after stopping.

Traffic Lights are another common request. They are controlled by the Region of Waterloo who must follow the regulations set by the MTO (Provincial Ministry Of Transportation). The Region provides this information on their website:

The Region follows the warrant practice established by provincial standards developed through the Ministry of Transportation Ontario (MTO).  Criteria used to establish the need for traffic control signals includes collision history, vehicle and pedestrian volume and a detailed assessment of the roadway features.
We follow signal warrants to:
  • Make sure signals are installed on a fair and equal basis
  • Promote an efficient, environmentally friendly transportation network
  • Be consistent with other jurisdictions
A common misconception is that traffic signals should be used for safety.  Although this may be true under rare circumstances, traffic signals generally result in an increase in collisions, especially rear-end collisions.
In Waterloo Region, on average, more than twice as many collisions occur at signalized intersections compared to a stop-controlled intersection with similar volumes.
Collisions usually increase when a new signal is installed.  Regional staff compared 2 years of collisions at 47 intersections within Waterloo Region before and after installing signals.  Traffic volume increased an average of 3 percent during this time, while overall collisions increased by 20 percent and pedestrian collisions jumped from 2 to 8.  Excluding angle collisions, injury collisions increased by 70 percent.

The MTO requires multiple justification to approve a traffic signal. You can see those requirements from a  section of their traffic manual HERE

Police Enforcement doing radar patrol and ticketing on a street is often asked for. Waterloo Region Police Service look after, Kitchener, Waterloo and the Townships. They receive more requests than they have the resources to fulfill. You can flag Speeding Issues and report things like erratic and dangerous driving and school bus or truck violations with WRPS HERE   

Region Of Waterloo Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) Camera Program:  The Region of Waterloo has begun administering Automatic Speed Enforcement.  In Kitchener, they are only in school zones under the Region Of Waterloo's jurisdiction which are major arterial roads. These cameras detect speeding, take a picture of the license plate and a ticket is issued for speeding. Information on the Region's ASE program can be found HERE  Their Staff Report explaining the ASE program can be read  HERE

We can play a significant role by observing the speed limit when we drive on all residential streets and especially in and around school zones and streets that feed smaller residential streets in a neighbourhood.
​I initiated the project for free Please Slow Down signs.
​REQUEST A FREE PLEASE SLOW DOWN SIGN FOR DELIVERY (WARD 2 RESIDENTS ONLY)
I'm happy to deliver one to any Ward 2 resident.
If you live outside Ward 2, contact your councillor and request one.
​Council's contact information can be found HERE
AUTOMATED SPEED ENFORCEMENT CAMERA UPDATE
The Region of Waterloo, not the City Of Kitchener, is expanding their Automated Speed Camera Enforcement program. 

Beginning in early 2025, The Region of Waterloo will add 16 new Community Safety Zones around Schools where ASE Cameras will be operating. Enforcement of speeds in these zones will be 24/7. 365 days of the year. The list of planned expanded locations for 2025 is HERE

More locations and cameras will be added each year until all 175 identified locations at critical community hubs are completed in 2028.  

Provincial legislation stipulates that ASE Cameras can only be operated in Community Safety Zones. The Province's Highway Traffic Act, also stipulates that the fine in these zones is doubled.

To challenge a ticket or explain circumstances related to paying a ticket, The Region is using the AMPS (Administrative Monetary Penalty System) You can get connected to a screening officer by calling their Contact Centre at  519.575.4400  or by using their contact form HERE

Signage will be posted to inform drivers that an ASE Camera is coming and  when is in operation.
KITCHENER'S TRAFFIC SAFETY AND TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS
Kitchener has various Traffic and Transportation Projects. 
​Click on the project below for details

VISION ZERO,
COMPLETE STREETS,
BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE
FORMAL, SEASONAL & RESIDENT LED TRAFFIC CALMING

​For information on
40 KM/H NEIGHBOURHOOD SPEED LIMIT,
DELTA STREET CONVERSION TO TRAIL & GREEN SPACE
Click HERE
Details on Kitchener's Formal, Seasonal and Traffic Calming Programs are found HERE

Details on Resident Led Traffic Calming through our Neighbourhood Strategy Love My Hood Program are HERE