Margaret Avenue

The Dunvegan Drive and Woolwich Street studies have their own information sections. The information for all three studies, including an explanation of traffic calming, can also be viewed in a single PDF in our Document Library. The maps for the draft plans are not accessible, if you would like this information in an alternate format, please contact the Project Team.

The Margaret Avenue study area falls within the neighbourhood bounded by Lincoln Road to the north, Ellis Crescent to the west, Bridgeport Road East to the south and Highway 85 (Conestoga Parkway) to the east. The study focuses on Margaret Avenue between Lincoln Road and Bridgeport Road East. However, given the available parallel route, the study also includes Ellis Crescent. Mayfield Avenue, Bluevale Street North and Harvard Road will continue to be monitored and may be considered as part of a second phase of the neighbourhood traffic calming plan.

Table 3 summarizes the characteristics of Margaret Avenue Study Area based on the City’s warrant analysis for traffic calming.

TABLE 3: Margaret Avenue Study Area Highlights

The following observations were noted during a site visit on Friday, January 15, 2021:

• Road cross-section is 9.0 metres;
• Sidewalks on both sides of Margaret Avenue. Sidewalk on the west side terminates to the north at Washington Avenue. Sidewalk width is narrow (less than 1.5 metres).
• Some pedestrian crossings at intersections are marked;
• Grade on Margaret Avenue slopes down towards Bridgeport Road West between Vermont Street and Murdock Avenue;
• Grade on Ellis Crescent slopes down towards Neilson Avenue;
• Large mature trees throughout neighbourhood;
• Hydro poles on west side of Margaret Avenue; and
• No on-street parking observed.

Considerations for Traffic Calming

Based on the collected data and discussions with the City, both traffic volumes and speeding are a concern in the study area. Potential traffic calming measures selected for the study area should reduce both traffic volumes and speeds. Margaret Avenue has segments with significant grades (Vermont Street to Murdock Avenue, Washington Avenue to Lincoln Road) which will limit the applicability of certain traffic calming measures. Additionally, the City’s Draft Transportation Master Plan 2020 Update identifies Margaret Avenue as a future physically separated bikeway. Cycling facilities on Margaret Avenue should be included as part of the traffic calming plan.

Both vertical deflection and horizontal deflection measures are anticipated to have benefit in terms of speed and volume reductions. Given the TMP recommendation, on-road exclusive bike lanes were selected as a traffic calming measure for Margaret Avenue. The existing pavement width on Margaret Avenue is 9.0 m; therefore, the new cross-section will consist of 1.5 m bike lanes and 3.0 m travel lanes. Physically separated bike lanes would require reconstruction of the pavement on Margaret Avenue and would need to be considered as a future project. The traffic calming plan can be further supplemented with vertical deflection measures to help reduce speeds and traffic volumes.

Since Ellis Crescent is an alternate parallel route to Margaret Avenue, traffic calming measures were considered. The traffic data indicates speeding is not a substantial issue on Ellis Crescent. Therefore, pavement markings and enhancing safety near the school crossing at Neilson Avenue were the focus of the traffic calming plan on Ellis Crescent.

Proposed Traffic Calming Plan

The Margaret Avenue and Ellis Crescent plan drawing shows the study area being examined. The traffic calming plan created features the following measures (the numbering corresponds to the numbered boxes shown on the plan):

1. Install centre line pavement markings on Margaret Avenue and Ellis Crescent.
2. Install edge line pavement markings on Margaret Avenue to create 1.5 m bike lanes.
3. Install speed humps on Margaret Avenue (5).
4. Construct a speed table on Ellis Crescent across the south leg of the intersection with Neilson Avenue (upgrade to existing school crossing).
5. Install area-wide 40 km/h gateway speed limit signage on the entrances to the neighbourhood; Lincoln Road at Ellis Crescent, Margaret Avenue, Mayfield Avenue, Bluevale Street North and Bridgeport Road East at Ellis Crescent, Margaret Avenue and Bluevale Street North. *Installation of this measure is subject to the City’s ongoing Neighborhood 40 km/h Pilot and Council approval. This measure may not be implemented at the same time as the rest of the proposed traffic calming plan.

The draft Margaret Avenue plan is also available as a PDF

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