Traffic calming measures help to address vehicle speeding to make streets safer for all road users and are an important part of encouraging safe and healthy communities. If you have community traffic concerns that you would like the City to investigate, please review the following:
Requests for speeding enforcement or reports of unsafe drivers should be directed to the Ottawa Police Service at 613-236-1222 extension 7300 or file a report online at ottawapolice.ca.
Community traffic concerns should be directed to the City by email at 311@ottawa.ca or by calling 3-1-1. Be specific in highlighting your traffic issues with the operator and they will forward your request to the appropriate City staff for review.
Residents' initial contact with the City's 3-1-1 system will generate a service request number which you can use to track your concern. The City will evaluate reported traffic concerns considering context, history of concerns, land use and transportation access, road user and traffic characteristics (e.g. volumes and speeds) and may conduct site visits and collect data to confirm conditions.
In reviewing traffic concerns, City staff consider a range of potential solutions described below:
Operational/Safety: A significant safety issue may require an immediate response, such as a missing stop sign or malfunctioning traffic signals. These issues are immediately referred to the appropriate City department for action.
Referral: For some issues, traffic management measures may not be appropriate or effective, for example land use issues, commercial operations, road maintenance, transit service and utilities. These issues will be referred to the appropriate department.
Local road request to change the posted speed limit: The City offers residents the ability to request, by means of a petition, a reduction in the posted speed limit to 40 km/h (or 30 km/h if applicable) on streets designated as local residential in the Transportation Master Plan. To qualify, there must be a consensus among a minimum of 66 per cent of residents on the entire street, confirmed via a petition process.
Communication and Enforcement Measures: These options focus on informing and educating motorists to drive appropriately. This can include use of signage, other educational campaign exercises, and targeted enforcement.
Minor Adjustment Measures: These options focus on cost effective solutions that can be implemented with limited intrusion on the existing form and function of streets. Solutions may include, but are not limited to, flex post signs, pavement markings and speed display boards. These types of ‘seasonal/temporary’ measures are typically implemented through the City’s Temporary Traffic Calming Measures Program, which provides a funding allotment for each Ward. Feasible locations are selected in consultation with the Ward Councillor.
Engineering Measures: These options focus on permanent, engineered, physical changes to streets that encourage appropriate motorist behaviour and speeds. These measures can take years to implement whether as part of road reconstruction projects or stand-alone retrofit projects through the Neighbourhood Traffic Calming Program. More information about the types of Engineering Measures suitable for City streets can be found here.