Traffic Calming

We get many requests for traffic calming to help with speeding and short-cutting through neighborhoods. Our Traffic Calming policy has a warrant and prioritization process. This helps staff evaluate requests and applying traffic calming devices. Currently, the City is in process of updating its Traffic Calming Policy. Find out more at EngageStJohns.ca.

Understanding traffic calming

Our road network consists of local, collector and arterial roads. We classify roads based on their function:

• Local roads provide access to adjacent properties. Traffic volumes and speeds on these roads are expected to be low.
• Collector roads serve to collect and distribute traffic between local and arterial roads.
• Arterial roads provide links for through traffic. Traffic volumes are expected to be high.

Traffic calming uses mostly physical traffic management techniques that aims to reduce these issues. While the purpose of traffic calming is to make improvements, there are sometimes drawbacks to traffic calming. Some measures may cause minimal delays to emergency response times and buses. Also, during the winter, they can delay snow removal operations because of the added time needed to clear snow around the traffic calming measures.

Common traffic calming measures

The following are traffic calming measures:

• curb extensions, mini roundabouts, raised median islands, and chicanes
• speed humps, tables and cushions, raised crosswalks, and raised intersections
• directional closures, right-in/right-out islands, raised medians, and intersection channelization

The most common traffic calming measures implemented in our city are curb extensions, speed humps, tables and cushions.

What types of traffic calming are appropriate for my street?

It depends where you live. If your street is a local road, almost any traffic calming measure may be implemented. If you live on a collector or if your street is a transit route or primary emergency response route, then some measures will not be appropriate.

Our traffic calming policy does not permit traffic calming on arterials. Arterials exist to move traffic. Installing restrictive measures will likely shift traffic onto lower roads and into neighbourhoods.

Request traffic calming

The City's Traffic Calming Policy is currently being updated. More information about the new process for requesting and implementing traffic calming is coming soon. If you would like to request traffic calming, or discuss a concern about traffic in your neighbourhood, please contact our Transportation Division, or contact Access St. John's.

Traffic calming resources

• Institute of Transportation Engineers
• Transport Canada
• United States Federal Highway Administration
• TrafficCalming.org