FAQs
Vertical Deflections elevate the physical roadway, making it uncomfortable to travel above the speed limit. These measures include speed humps/speed tables and raised crosswalks.
Horizontal Deflections are physical obstructions that narrow the width of the street to discourage travelling at higher speeds. These treatments can include curb extensions, traffic circles, and lane narrowing.
Pavement Markings provide visual warnings to motor vehicle drivers. These traffic calming treatments can include pavement markings, painted crosswalks, and textured surfaces.
Access Restrictions limit specific vehicle movements. This can be in the form of full or directional closures or raised medians.
What types of traffic calming treatments are available?
Traffic calming measures can be generally grouped into four categories:
Why is the City developing a Traffic Calming Policy?
The Whitehorse Transportation Master Plan (TMP) was recently adopted by City Council. The TMP established an objective to develop a Traffic Calming Policy by 2030, in response to community concerns about safety, shortcutting, speeding, and safety.
At this time, there is no standard process for Whitehorse residents to request traffic calming in their neighbourhoods. The creation of a new Traffic Calming Policy will help the City track and assess resident requests consistently. The policy will also help the City maximize the impact of funding, by prioritizing locations for traffic calming measures and monitoring the effects.
How do I request traffic calming in my neighbourhood?
The Traffic Calming Policy project is dedicated to creating a clear process for community members to request traffic calming in their neighbourhood. In the meantime, Whitehorse community members can continue to request traffic calming by contacting the Engineering Services team at 867-668-8305 or engineering@whitehorse.ca.
How is the Traffic Calming Policy different from the Neighbourhood Speed Reduction Project?
Enhancing road safety is a prominent theme in both the City’s Transportation Master Plan and Official Community Plan. Traffic calming and neighbourhood speed reduction are two ways in which the City can work towards the goals and targets included in these plans.
The Neighbourhood Speed Reduction Project is focused on proactively identifying streets suitable for speed limit reductions.
The Traffic Calming Policy project is dedicated to creating a clear process for community members to request traffic calming in their neighbourhood, as well as a framework to help the City consistently assess and prioritize requests as they come, and monitor the impacts of traffic calming measures.
How will community input be used to develop the Traffic Calming Policy?
At this time, there is no standard process for Whitehorse residents to request traffic calming in their neighbourhoods. The creation of a Traffic Calming Policy is an ideal opportunity to gather input from community members on how they want to engage with traffic calming projects. We will use this input to create a process for residents to request traffic calming in their neighbourhoods. We want to make sure that this process is clear and transparent. We also want to make sure that community members understand how requests will be assessed and prioritized.