Naskapi Drive Traffic Calming Study

The City has developed a conceptual traffic calming plan for Naskapi Drive between Ogilvie Road and Rothwell Drive and we are looking for your feedback! Your input is important to assist the study team in finalizing the ultimate recommendations for this roadway. To view the proposed traffic calming plans, please see the Recommended Traffic Calming Plan section below.

Over the spring of 2021, an initial online survey was conducted to gather feedback on traffic issues and to ensure that there was a reasonable level of community support to initiate a traffic calming study along Naskapi Drive. Since then, the feedback has been reviewed and analyzed.

A total of 93 people responded to the initial online survey. Here are some key findings:

• 75 per cent of respondents indicated that they support a traffic study that could lead to localized street changes on Naskapi Drive.
• The two main concerns along Naskapi Drive are:
  • Speeding – 46 per cent of respondents indicated that speeding is a concern
  • School Safety – 45 per cent of respondents indicated that school safety is a concern
• 72 per cent of respondents indicated that they support any/some of the traffic calming measures as shown below
  • Speed Humps/Speed Tables
  • Raised Crosswalks
  • Intersection Narrowing
  • Mid-block Narrowing
  • Curb-Radii Reduction
  • Medians
• The most common feedback from the survey included:
  • There is a speeding issue along Naskapi Drive
  • The speed limit on Naskapi Drive should be reduced
  • Vehicles do not stop at stop signs
  • Intersection of Naskapi Drive at Rothwell Drive has visibility issues
  • There is a lack of crosswalks/safe places to cross the street
  • There are concerns for children’s safety especially near the school
  • There are visibility issues at the intersection of Ogilvie Drive at Naskapi Drive
  • Vehicles parking in no parking zones
  • There is lack of parking.

Complete survey results are provided in an As We Heard It Report [ PDF 629 KB ]

Based on the results and further technical analysis, a potential traffic calming plan was developed and can be viewed at Traffic Calming Plan-Naskapi Drive [ PDF 2.040 MB ]. The concept plan includes several recommended traffic calming measures/geometric modifications at locations described below:

Rothwell Drive/ Naskapi Drive intersection

• Narrowing the southwest corner and constructing pedestrian refuge areas as required. The purpose of narrowing is to better align the intersection and to provide a safe space for pedestrians to wait before they cross the street.
• A raised crosswalk on the west leg of the intersection and a painted crosswalk on the south leg of the intersection. The purpose of the raised crosswalk is to help slow down vehicles through this intersection and to better highlight the presence of pedestrians crossing.
• Relocate stop controls/bars. There is currently a stop control in the middle of this intersection (heading westbound). Many residents commented that drivers do not stop at this location. Relocating the stop control should encourage drivers to make a complete stop.

Naskapi Drive just east of Ludgate Court

• One speed hump near the elementary school. The purpose of the speed hump is to encourage drivers to slow down near the school.

Naskapi Drive/Marquis Avenue (west) intersection

• Raised crosswalk on the east leg of the intersection and a landing pad on the north side. The raised crosswalk should help slow down vehicles through this intersection and provide a safe space for pedestrians to cross.
• Realign existing pathway located on the north to connect it to designated crossing.

Naskapi Drive between Marquis Avenue (west) and Ogilvie Road

• Three speed humps to help reduce speed along this section of the street.

Recommended traffic calming measures – potential impacts

There are many benefits to implementing traffic calming measures along a street including reduced vehicular speeds and increased safety for all road users. The following section will provide an overview of the potential benefits and disbenefits of the recommended traffic calming measures along Naskapi Drive, which includes a combination of speed humps, raised cross walks and an intersection narrowing.

Speed humps

Four speed humps are proposed along Naskapi Drive between Ogilvie Road to Ludgate Court.

Speed humps are defined as a raised section of the road that causes a vertical deflection of both the vehicle’s wheels and frame. The image below provides an example of a typical speed hump.

The benefits of speed humps include reduced vehicular speeds and that they are self-enforcing. Some disbenefits include that it may affect emergency response time, could create noise and vibrations, and may cause discomfort to some drivers and passengers at high travel speeds.

Raised crossings

Raised crossings are proposed at two intersections i) Naskapi Drive at Rothwell Drive (west leg) and ii) Naskapi Drive at Marquis Avenue West (east leg).

Raised crossings are defined as a controlled pedestrian crosswalk at an intersection or mid-block constructed at a higher elevation than the adjacent roadway. The image below provides an example of a raised crossing. The raised portion of the crossing can be built using concrete or asphalt.

The benefits of a raised crossing are like those of speed humps with some additional advantages such as it reinforces drivers to stop at stop-controlled intersection, improves drivers yielding to pedestrians by increasing visibility & emphasizing their priority and increases pedestrian comfort. The potential disbenefits are like those of speed humps.

Intersection narrowing

An intersection narrowing is proposed at the southwest corner of Naskapi Drive/Rothwell Drive intersection

Intersection narrowings (also called bulb outs) are horizontal intrusions of curbs into roadways resulting in narrowing section of road surface area/travel lane. The image below provides an example of an intersection narrowing.

The benefits of such measure are that it reduces crossing distance for pedestrians, improves visibility and helps reduce speed. The disbenefit is that large vehicles may need to cross adjacent travel lanes to negotiate turns at intersections.

Other concerns

Through the initial public consultation in the spring of 2021, some residents voiced their concerns about visibility, on-street parking, and a need of an additional safe crossing along Naskapi Drive. The three main areas of concern included:

Concern #1 – Visibility issue at intersection at Naskapi Drive at Ogilvie Road

The posted speed limit on Ogilvie Road is 50km/hr. Based on speed survey conducted in 2017, the operating speed within this section of Ogilvie Road is 63km/hr. According to Geometric Design Guide for Canadian Roads, for this operating speed; the required Stopping Sight Distance is 90 m. Stopping Sight Distance is the distance traveled while the vehicle driver perceives a situation requiring a stop, realizes that stopping is necessary, applies the brake, and comes to a stop and the requirement is based upon operating speed of the roadway.

A site visit was conducted on May 31st, 2022 to identify available stopping sight distance at this intersection. The review indicated that sightline is adequate as it meets the minimum criteria of 90 m visibility from a point where vehicles are stopped at Naskapi Drive to turn left or right to Ogilvie Road.

Concern #2 – Need of additional parking along Naskapi Drive

Currently, parking is restricted on both the north and south side of Naskapi Drive between Beaconwood Drive East and Beaconwood Drive West. If there is enough support confirmed through the online survey, we can consider changing parking regulations from ‘No Parking’ to ‘2-hour parking’ from the north side within this section of Naskapi Dr.

Concern #3- Need for a pedestrian crossing on Naskapi Drive between Beaconwood Drive East and Beaconwood Drive West

A site visit is planned this summer to identify if this section of Naskapi Drive meets warrant for pedestrian crossing. The warrant result is expected to be available by Fall 2022. If the location is found to be warranted, we can consider adding a pedestrian crossover (PXO). Pedestrian crossovers (PXO) are designated areas that allow pedestrians to safely cross streets where vehicles must yield to pedestrians when crossing. For more information about PXO: please visit Pedestrian Crossovers.

The City of Ottawa has initiated an NTC study along Naskapi Drive due to traffic concerns raised by residents including speeding and school safety.

The purpose of an NTC study is to address community concerns related to traffic on existing streets by recommending localized roadway modifications that do not involve redesigning/reconstructing the entire street. The Naskapi Drive NTC study will focus on key locations within the means of the NTC Program. This study will:

1. Confirm community support and seek feedback on community concerns / ideas.
2. Investigate traffic conditions on Naskapi Drive.
3. Develop recommendations for permanent traffic calming measures.

Traffic calming is the combination of mainly physical measures that reduce the negative effects of motor vehicle use, alter driver behaviour, and improve conditions for non-motorized street users. Potential traffic calming measures for Naskapi Drive could include speed humps / tables, raised crossings, narrowings, corner tightenings, medians, etc.

Once the NTC study recommendations have been finalized and funding secured, the approved traffic calming plan would proceed to design and construction. The timeline for NTC studies (from study initiation to final construction) typically takes 2.5 to 4 years.