Abstract Manager

In 2020, the City of Ottawa introduced the 2020-2024 Road Safety Action Plan, aimed at reducing traffic-related fatalities and injuries, improving safe mobility, and enhancing community health and well-being. The plan builds on the goals outlined in the 2013 Transportation Master Plan, which supported complete streets and road safety initiatives. The Road Safety Action Plan is a commitment to making Ottawa’s streets safer and more accessible for all road users, including vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists.

A key element of the plan is a series of targeted infrastructure improvements designed to reduce vehicle speeds, improve visibility, and enhance safety for all users. These improvements include traffic calming features such as speed humps, raised intersections, and curb extensions, which help to slow down traffic.  Specific features include road narrowing to reduce vehicle speeds while creating more space for pedestrians and cyclists; addition of new sidewalks and dedicated bike lanes to support active transportation; and better visibility at intersections through improved lighting, signage, and road markings.

Following the release of the Road Safety Action Plan, Robinson Consultants has been carried out several road reconstruction projects that align with the goals of the plan. These projects have implemented many of the speed control measures and design features outlined in the City’s plan but have also presented challenges in terms of design and construction. This presentation will explore some of the key challenges encountered during these projects, including balancing the desire to narrow intersections for safety while accommodating heavy vehicles, maintaining on-street parking while narrowing roadways, and introducing traffic calming measures and expanded pedestrian facilities despite some local opposition. Additionally, the urbanization of a rural corridor has presented unique challenges in the accommodation of oversized agricultural vehicles, where the road transitioned from a high-speed rural environment to a suburban village, on the periphery of a large farming community.

This discussion will highlight the lessons learned from these projects and provide insights into the ongoing efforts to create safer streets across Ottawa.