Neighbourhood Traffic Calming Pilot Project 2025

The 2025 locations were identified by analyzing areas of concern highlighted in the Transportation Master Plan and by residents. Speed and traffic data were collected to validate these concerns and to help determine the most appropriate calming measures for each location.

SEASONAL MEASURES

These measures are in place only during the summer months and will be removed before the first snowfall.

Speed Cushions
Speed cushions are thick rubber mats pinned into the road surface. Gaps between the cushions allow larger vehicles, such as transit buses and fire trucks, to pass through without slowing, while smaller vehicles must reduce speed, similar to driving over a speed hump.

• North Star Drive – Copper Ridge Park

As in the previous two years, four speed cushions will be installed to encourage compliance with the 30 km/h speed limit in the playground zone.

• Hillcrest Drive and Kluane Crescent North

Four speed cushions will be installed near the intersection to slow vehicles around the bus stop and along this popular active transportation route.

Cul-de-sac pilot project

• Eugene Avenue

Eugene Avenue is a local road in Whistle Bend. Local roads are designed to allow residents to access their homes with minimal through traffic. Due to the roadway design of Whistle Bend, many drivers shortcut through Eugene Avenue, causing discomfort and safety concerns for residents.

• Engineering assessments and public engagement were completed in 2024 to develop a traffic calming plan for Eugene Avenue. The final report is available here. The recommendation is to implement a cul-de-sac at the south end of Eugene Avenue.
• Before proceeding with a permanent solution, a temporary closure will be piloted this summer.
• The final design is to be confirmed, but it will include knock-down bollards for emergency access and jersey barriers.

YEAR-ROUND MEASURES

Pedestrian crossing refuges

These projects include the installation of traffic-calming (TC) curbs at crosswalks, achieving three goals:

1. Narrowing the roadway to reduce driver speeds
2. Providing a safe refuge for pedestrians crossing one direction of traffic at a time
3. Creating space for additional signage

• Thompson Road and Turner Crescent North

In previous years, TC curbs were placed perpendicular to the traffic flow with a gap for the crosswalk. This layout was difficult to maintain in winter. This year, a single TC curb will be installed parallel to traffic to improve winter maintainability.

• Thompson Road and Wilson Drive South

A single TC curb will be installed near the southern intersection of Thompson Road and Wilson Drive to serve as a pedestrian refuge.

• Falcon Drive and Finch Crescent

This project will combine a center-mounted TC curb with parking restrictions to improve visibility and safety at the crosswalk north of Finch Crescent on Falcon Drive.

• Pine Street and Ponderosa Drive

TC curbs were previously placed perpendicular to the traffic flow, which proved difficult to maintain in winter. A new TC curb will be installed near Ponderosa Recreational Park to slow traffic and improve safety for park users.

Curb Extension

• Rhine Way and Normandy Road

A traffic calming plan was developed in 2024 for Normandy Road North and Rhine Way. This is the first step in implementing the recommended measures. The final report is available. Vehicles often park too close to the crossing, reducing visibility for multi-use pathway users. TC curbs will be installed to restrict parking near the crossing, as current signage has proven ineffective.

Transverse line painting

Transverse lines and painted “SLOW” markings will be added to encourage drivers to reduce speed in school and playground zones. The Transportation Association of Canada notes that this technique can reduce 85th percentile speeds by 5–15 km/h.

Following last year’s successful trial at Hidden Valley Elementary School, new line painting will be added at the following playground zones (most effective during summer):

• Fireweed Drive (next to Gilles Lapres Memorial Park)
• Talus and Esker Drive (next to Copper Ridge Park)
• Dawson Road (next to Wolf Creek Park)
• Dolly Varden Drive (next to Dolly Varden Park)

MacPherson – Hidden Valley Elementary School (for reference)

Speed Humps
Speed humps are permanent raised features that encourage drivers to reduce speed.

• Englemann Drive (Spruce Hill)

A speed hump will be installed at the entrance to the Spruce Hill neighbourhood to reinforce the lower speed limit compared to the adjacent Alaska Highway.

• Maple and Oak Street (Porter Creek)

A pair of speed humps will support the new neighbourhood speed limits and are located near walking trails to provide safer crossings.

• Wilson Drive (Granger)

A speed hump will be installed between the two accesses to Tabor Crescent, completing the speed hump installation in Granger.

• Elm Street (Porter Creek)

A speed hump will be installed midway between 12th and 14th Avenue to deter shortcutting.

Sima Road

Two speed humps will be installed on the road leading up to Mount Sima. The 10 metres on either side of each hump will be paved to enhance durability and ease of maintenance.

The City is also developing a Traffic Calming Policy to establish a formal process for addressing traffic calming requests. In addition, neighbourhood speed limit reductions will be implemented this summer. More details available here.

We are pleased to announce the Summary Report for the 2024 Neighbourhood Traffic Calming Pilot Project, including an Executive Summary for a quick overview. This report focuses on the outcomes and lessons learned through this project. We thank all residents for their involvement and valuable input as it has been instrumental in enhancing safety in all neighbourhoods across Whitehorse.

Full Summary Report

Executive Summary

Our Summary Report for the 2023 Neighbourhood Traffic Calming Pilot Project has been published and can be viewed with this link.