Study Profile

Study Area Profile

The Town of Fort Erie is preparing a neighbourhood traffic calming plan for Farr Avenue between Gorham Road and Ridge Rd North in response to resident concerns. The map (at right) shows the section limits for the study.

Study Area Characteristics

The table below highlights key study area features and observed traffic conditions on Farr Avenue:

Characteristic	Farr Avenue
Characteristic	Gorham Road to Park Street	Park Street to South Mill Street
Road Classification	Collector Road, Local Bicycle Network
Segment Length	605 m
Cross-Section (Sidewalks)	Two-lane (mostly) Rural (North Side only)
Two-way 24-Hour Traffic Volume*	2350 vehicles per day	1810 vehicles per day
Estimated Cut-Through Traffic	91%	93%
Speed Limit	40 km/h	40 km/h
85th Percentile Operating Speed*	61.3 km/h	62.1 km/h
Vehicles Travelling at 10 km/h or More Over Speed Limit*	54.0%	51.1%
Reported Collisions (Last 3 Years)	0

* Based on automated traffic count data collected by the Town between July 26 and August 1, 2023, for Gorham Road to Park Street and between June 6 and June 13, 2023, for Park Street to South Mill Street

Candidate Traffic Calming Measures

Using its Traffic Calming Toolkit, the Town has identified the following 10 candidate traffic calming measures to address speeding, then cut-through traffic as the priorities for the Concession Road neighbourhood traffic calming plan.

Vertical Centreline Treatments

Speed Cushions

Curb Radius Reductions

Curb Extensions

Lane Narrowing

Peripheral Transverse Bars

On-Road ‘Sign’ Pavement Markings

Intersection Channelization

Right-in/Right-out Islands

Speed Display Devices

The table below summarizes the assessment completed to identify the traffic calming measures, with the preferred treatments (ü) highlighted in gray. The remaining measures were characterized as either:

Possible Option (p) – May be a candidate if the preferred treatments deemed not appropriate after further investigation; or
Not Recommended (Ò) – Not suitable or feasible under the circumstances.

Selection and design of the final traffic calming measure(s) (including location and frequency, configuration, and materials) will require further detailed investigation. Resident and stakeholder input will also play an important role in confirming the final measures and developing the recommended Neighbourhood Traffic Calming Plan.

Assessment of Potential Traffic Calming Measures
	Measure	Considerations	Candidate
1. Vertical Deflection
1.1	Raised Crosswalk	Implement to facilitate pedestrian connections. Consider only if sidewalk on at least one side of road.	Ò
1.2	Raised Intersection	Site specific, considered as part of road reconstruction projects or new development	Ò
1.3	Speed Cushion	Primary measure	ü
1.4	Speed Hump/Speed Table	Implement where a speed cushion is not effective	p
2. Horizontal Deflection
2.1	Chicane (One-Lane, Two-Lane)²	Implement under special circumstances. Consider only if volume ≥ 750 vpd.	Ò
2.2	Curb Radius Reduction	Primary measure	ü
2.3	Lateral Shift	Primary measure	p
2.4	Speed Kidney	Implement under special circumstances. Midblock or Intersection.	Ò
2.5	Traffic Button/Traffic Circle/ Mini-Roundabout	Implement to address intersection conflicts (where space permits). Consider only if volume < 1,500 vpd.	Ò
3. Roadway Narrowing
3.1	Curb Extension	Primary measure	ü
3.2	Lane Narrowing	Primary measure	ü
3.3	On-Street Parking	Implement in accordance with Town by-laws	p
3.4	Raised Median Island	Implement where width permits and/or alongside reconstruction projects. Consider only on two-lane roads.	Ò
3.5.	Road Diet	Primary measure. Consider only on multi-lane roads.	Ò
3.6	Vertical Centreline Treatment	Primary measure. Consider only on two-lane roads.	ü
4. Surface Treatment
4.1	Sidewalk Extension/ Textured Crosswalk	Implement to facilitate pedestrian crossings, streetscape projects. Consider only if sidewalk on at least one side of road.	Ò
4.2	Textured Pavement	Consider in streetscape projects	Ò
4.3	Transverse Rumble Strips	Use with care on Local and Collector Roads	Ò
5. Pavement Markings
5.1	Converging Chevrons	Primary measure	p
5.2	Dragon’s Teeth	Primary measure	p
5.3	Full-lane Transverse Bars	Primary measure	p
5.4	On-Road ‘Sign’ Pavement Markings	Compliments other measures	ü
5.5	Peripheral Transverse Bars	Primary measure	ü
6. Access Restriction
6.1	Directional Closure	Consider for volume reduction within the context of the network design. Consider only if volume on Local < 1,500 vpd or Collector 1,500 – 5,000 vpd.	Ò
6.2	Diverter	Consider for volume reduction within the context of the network design. Consider only if volume < 1,500 vpd.	Ò
6.3	Full Closure	Consider for volume reduction within the context of the network design	Ò
6.4	Intersection Channelization	Consider for volume reduction within the context of the network design	ü
6.5	Raised Median Through Intersection	Consider for volume reduction within the context of the network design	p
6.6	Right-in/Right-out Island	Consider for volume reduction within the context of the network design	ü
7. Gateways
7.1	Gateways	Site specific, compliments other measures	p
8. Shared Space
8.1	Shared Space	Site specific, implemented as part of road reconstruction or new development. Consider only if volume < 15,000 vpd.	Ò
9. Enforcement and Education
9.1	Speed Display Devices	Use prior to implementing physical traffic calming and/or compliments other measures	ü
9.2	Targeted Speed Enforcement	Use prior to implementing physical traffic calming and/or compliments other measures	p
9.3	Targeted Education Campaign	Use prior to implementing physical traffic calming and/or compliments other measures	p
9.4	Vehicle Activated Signs	Use prior to implementing physical traffic calming and/or compliments other measures	p

Legend:

ü Preferred

p Possible Option

Ò Not Recommended