What is traffic calming?

The City of Waterloo’s Traffic Calming Policy establishes the purpose of traffic calming:

"To restore streets to their intended function by reducing vehicular speeds, discouraging through traffic and minimizing conflicts between street users."

The advantages of traffic calming can include:

• Reduced motor vehicle speeds
• Reduced traffic volumes
• Discouraging short-cutting
• Improved neighbourhood livability
• Reduced conflicts between roadway users

The disadvantages of traffic calming can include:

• Increased emergency vehicle response and transit vehicle operating times
• Reduced ingress and egress from neighbourhoods
• Shifting or diverting traffic volumes or speeding concerns onto other roadways
• Increased maintenance costs, including snow clearing and curbside waste collection
• Increased vehicle emissions

The process to consider traffic calming begins with the City receiving a request in writing. When a request for traffic calming is made, City staff undertake a two-part screening investigation using the warrant criteria described below. Locations that meet the warrant criteria move forward to a traffic calming study.

The City has three categories of traffic calming measures:

• Active Traffic Calming, Vertical Deflections: Measures cause a vertical upward movement of the vehicle. These measures tend to lower speeds because motorists slow to avoid unpleasant sensations. This category includes measures such as speed humps, speed cushions and raised crosswalks.
• Active Traffic Calming, Horizontal Deflections: Measures cause a lateral shift in the travel pattern of the vehicle. These measures can discourage speeding and short-cutting traffic to varying extents. This category includes measures such as narrowed travel lanes, curb extensions and on-road exclusive bike lanes.
• Passive Traffic Calming: Education and enforcement measures are intended to modify driver behaviour and may vary in scope from short- to long-duration programs. Pavement marking and surface treatment measures influence drivers to reduce speed by drawing attention to a specific area or information. This category includes measures such as radar speed signs and pavement warning markings.