Traffic Calming Study: Farr Avenue, Fort Erie

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Welcome to the Farr Avenue Traffic Calming Study Page!

The Town of Fort Erie is doing traffic calming studies for Farr Ave between Gorham Road and Ridge Rd North. Traffic calming is a series of measures a town can implement to ease traffic concerns. This can be done through physical changes, like signs and road markings, and by encouraging behaviour change through education and enforcement.

Requests from residents for traffic calming on the three identified streets were made before Traffic Calming Policy that was adopted by the Council in 2023.

Project Process

The final traffic calming plans will also be

Welcome to the Farr Avenue Traffic Calming Study Page!

The Town of Fort Erie is doing traffic calming studies for Farr Ave between Gorham Road and Ridge Rd North. Traffic calming is a series of measures a town can implement to ease traffic concerns. This can be done through physical changes, like signs and road markings, and by encouraging behaviour change through education and enforcement.

Requests from residents for traffic calming on the three identified streets were made before Traffic Calming Policy that was adopted by the Council in 2023.

Project Process

The final traffic calming plans will also be informed by conversations and input from residents. The project outcome will be a Traffic Calming Study Report, recommending traffic calming plans specific to each neighbourhood. These recommendations will be brought forward to Traffic Coordinating Committee and Council in 2024.

Get Involved

Public input is essential to the success of the project. We are seeking input to understand current road conditions on your neighbourhood streets and what traffic calming measures make sense for your neighbourhood. Public engagement throughout the project will include a public survey and an online public information center.

Before releasing the proposed traffic calming plans to the public, the plans will be circulated to town and external stakeholders (Fort Erie Fire Department, Regional EMS, Niagara Regional Police Services, Niagara Regional Transit, etc.). These groups will review and comment on the plans, and their feedback will be incorporated.

  • 2023 Traffic Calming Studies Background

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    The Traffic Coordinating Committee received numerous requests regarding Traffic Calming from various parts of the town. In response, the Town of Fort Erie undertook an update to its Neighbourhood Traffic Calming Policy to ensure alignment with best practices while considering local context and available resources. This update included the development of a warrant process and a comprehensive traffic calming toolkit comprising strategies, measures, designs, engagement approaches, and public education initiatives. The Neighbourhood Traffic Calming policy was formally presented to the Council during the June 20 Council-in-Committee meeting, along with Administrative Report number IS-19-2022.

    Following this established process, the project team is conducting assessments of current conditions and developing proposed traffic calming plans for each location to address neighbourhood traffic concerns. Public input is being actively solicited to inform the plans recommended to both the Traffic Coordinating Committee and the Council upon project completion.

    In December 2023, Engineering staff presented to the Traffic Coordinating Committee to initiate the study and plan development for prioritized locations. Traffic calming priorities, including Concession Rd scoring 67 and Washington scoring 66 based on technical screening and analysis, were presented on May 31, 2023. Further data collection in 2023 revealed Farr Ave scoring 80.

    A consultant was subsequently retained for plan development, marking Step 4 in the traffic calming policy, with various stakeholder inputs being integral to the process. Moving forward, the next steps involve hosting a Public Information Centre, which will be held online on Let's Talk Fort Erie. Surveys will also be made available during the Public Information Centre.

  • Study Profile

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    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

    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:

    1. Possible Option (p) – May be a candidate if the preferred treatments deemed not appropriate after further investigation; or
    2. 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

Page last updated: 16 May 2024, 08:34 AM