Roads/Bridges projects/issues

[phil235]

Originally Posted by acottawa

Also a lot of intersections are gigantic. It can be 40+ metres from the stop line to the far side.

I think a better way to improve safety would be to replace some of these mega intersections with roundabouts.

Doesn't really matter how wide the intersection is, as the cameras catch people entering the intersection on red.

[Norman Bates]

Originally Posted by acottawa

I think a better way to improve safety would be to replace some of these mega intersections with roundabouts.

Moar roundabouts!

[Buggys]

Originally Posted by acottawa

Also a lot of intersections are gigantic. It can be 40+ metres from the stop line to the far side.

I think a better way to improve safety would be to replace some of these mega intersections with roundabouts.

Large intersections would become roundabouts with multiple lanes in the circle? No thanks. Those are harder to navigate than the typical intersection, as the traffic inside the circle can be continuously moving.

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by ars

The only thing I don't like about intersections with red light cameras is that the cameras are pretty unforgiving. That is, they catch you even if you missed the yellow light by a micro second, which causes people to slam their brakes at yellow lights, which, in my opinion, replaces one hazardous scenario(red light runners) with another(people suddenly coming to a stop at a yellow).

This is true, however, red light running is a lot more dangerous than sudden braking at a yellow. Red light running can cause t-bones and other nasty crashes that can kill or seriously injure, whereas rear-ending rarely causes any serious injuries.

It has been proven that red light cameras do moderate increase incidence of rear-ending at intersections, but significantly reduce incidence of head-on and t-bone collisions.

A slight increase in minor accidents is a fair trade off for a significant decrease in major accidents.

[zzptichka]

Aren't Hunt Club intersections the most dangerous in the city? Weird there are no new cams on any of them.

[MountainView]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

Aren't Hunt Club intersections the most dangerous in the city? Weird there are no new cams on any of them.

I've noticed a lot of them are where there are not protected left turns. Most of Hunt Club - or at least the trouble intersections - have protected turns. The intersections with many accidents but are not protected left turns seem to be getting the new (and current) cameras. Cheers!

[rocketphish]

Data drove placement of 20 new red-light cameras, city says
Targeted intersections all have a high-rate of T-bone crashes

By: Ryan Tumilty Metro Published on Wed Mar 15 2017

The city let data drive its decision making in the placing of 20 new red-light cameras that will be put up across the city this year.

The new locations were announced on Monday, bringing the total number of cameras in the city to 54.

Krista Tanaka, program manger of road safety and traffic investigations, said they looked for place where there had been five or more angle collisions in the intersection.

“We looked at all of those locations that had already been identified and noticed many had a significant pattern,” she said.

That led to the list of 20 intersections, but Tanaka said they also looked closer at each intersection. The city’s experience is that rear-end collisions can rise in spots where the cameras go up.

“Sometimes rear-end collisions go up as people are slamming on their brakes so they don’t get a ticket,” said Tanaka.

She said any intersection where rear-end collisions were already a problem was pulled from the list.

“We wouldn’t want to introduce a camera at a location that already had a high rear-end collision issue.”

Tanaka said cyclists are counted in the vehicle tallies, so any intersections where cyclists and cars collide at right angles would have been captured in their search.

She said while pedestrians would not have been captured in the same hunt, they also don’t see many pedestrian collisions where red-light running is the major factor.

“The left turn across them is one of our higher ones and we’re currently in the process of reviewing all our pedestrian collisions,” she said.

The new cameras will go up in the months ahead. The fine for running a red-light is $260 with a $5 processing fee and an additional $60 surcharge.

http://www.metronews.ca/news/ottawa/...-cameras-.html

[rocketphish]

Engineering work continues on overhaul of Hog's Back Bridge
Bridge construction at least a year away.

By: Ryan Tumilty, Metro News
Published on Tue Mar 21 2017

Plans for a major rehabilitation of the Hog’s Back Bridge and dam are moving ahead, but it’s still at least another year before construction gets underway.

The government put a tender out for engineering work earlier this week after first announcing the project in 2015, but it could still be some time before work is underway.

“At the very earliest, construction could begin in early 2018; however the project could also begin in 2019 or later,” said Darryl Whitehead, a spokesperson for Parks Canada.

He said they’re hoping to minimize the traffic disruption when it comes time to actually do the construction, but part of what the engineering work they're tendering for is about is getting those answers.

“Once further details are available and a better estimate on scheduling can be made, Parks Canada will provide an update to residents.”

The bridge was originally built in 1977 and is rated by the government in poor condition. The proposed work is going to replace the bridge deck and railings and aims to bring it to a good condition.

The dam below is also getting work done, but not as extensive. Whitehead said bringing it up to good condition would require a complete rebuild.

“It would require a large-scale investment. You would almost have to replace the damn,” he said.

He said the work they have planned will be enough to give the dam many more years.

“It would extend the life of the dam until a point where it has to be fully rebuilt.”

http://www.metronews.ca/news/ottawa/...k-bridge-.html

[waterloowarrior]

Vanguard Drive Extension (Lanthier Drive to Mer Bleue Road) Environmental Assessment Study – Statement of Work

http://app05.ottawa.ca/sirepub/agdoc...&itemid=362089

[rocketphish]

Photo radar legislation passes in Ontario
Ottawa plans to implement a pilot project to put cameras in school zones.

By: Alex Abdelwahab, Metro
Published on Wed May 31 2017

It’s official. Photo radar cameras are coming to Ottawa’s streets.

On Tuesday, the province officially passed the Safe School Zones Act, which allows municipalities to install photo radar cameras, now renamed “Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) technology” under the act, in school zones and designated community safety zones.

The law also gives municipalities the power to reduce speed limits in certain areas.

In a statement Wednesday, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson said he was pleased with the change and looked forward to working with city councillors and staff to implement a pilot project as soon as possible.

In May 2016, Watson sent a letter to Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca, asking the province to give Ottawa the option of using photo radar in school zones, when requested by the ward councillor, as well as reducing the speed on residential streets from the current default of 50 km/h to 40 km/h.

The mayor has said money collected by photo radar programs would fund road safety initiatives.

http://www.metronews.ca/news/ottawa/...n-ontario.html

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

Photo radar legislation passes in Ontario
Ottawa plans to implement a pilot project to put cameras in school zones.

By: Alex Abdelwahab, Metro
Published on Wed May 31 2017

It’s official. Photo radar cameras are coming to Ottawa’s streets.

On Tuesday, the province officially passed the Safe School Zones Act, which allows municipalities to install photo radar cameras, now renamed “Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) technology” under the act, in school zones and designated community safety zones.

The law also gives municipalities the power to reduce speed limits in certain areas.

In a statement Wednesday, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson said he was pleased with the change and looked forward to working with city councillors and staff to implement a pilot project as soon as possible.

In May 2016, Watson sent a letter to Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca, asking the province to give Ottawa the option of using photo radar in school zones, when requested by the ward councillor, as well as reducing the speed on residential streets from the current default of 50 km/h to 40 km/h.

The mayor has said money collected by photo radar programs would fund road safety initiatives.

http://www.metronews.ca/news/ottawa/...n-ontario.html

Money grab.

There is always a problem when you artificially set a speed limit significantly lower than a road was designed for. For example, setting a speed limit of 50 km/hr on a wide boulevard.

[zzptichka]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

Money grab.

There is always a problem when you artificially set a speed limit significantly lower than a road was designed for. For example, setting a speed limit of 50 km/hr on a wide boulevard.

Of course there is.
There is also a small problem with just letting cars go. You know, dead people.
The stupidly designed streets are already there and we can't rebuild them all immediately.

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

Of course there is.
There is also a small problem with just letting cars go. You know, dead people.
The stupidly designed streets are already there and we can't rebuild them all immediately.

I can understand the use of these cameras in order to improve safety in potentially unsafe locations.

I am not suggesting a free for all.

My natural sarcasm could have been more nuanced. It was more about the blanket reduction in the speed limit.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

It was more about the blanket reduction in the speed limit.

I agree with your sentiment. Artificially lowering the default speed limit of roads without modifying the feel of them is not helpful. However, I agree with having lower speed limits at playgrounds and elementary school zones and using photo radar to enforce it. I am not sure why we need 40 km speed limits around high schools though (and yes I have a child in high school) or other streets that serve as collectors (whether designated as one or not).

I have found those centre line speed limit signs quite effective at reducing the traffic speed. I suspect it is less to do with reminding people, and more to do with the effective narrowing of the street. This and other relatively inexpensive measures can be used to effectively narrow the street without having to completely redesign it.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by roger1818

I agree with your sentiment. Artificially lowering the default speed limit of roads without modifying the feel of them is not helpful. However, I agree with having lower speed limits at playgrounds and elementary school zones and using photo radar to enforce it. I am not sure why we need 40 km speed limits around high schools though (and yes I have a child in high school) or other streets that serve as collectors (whether designated as one or not).

I have found those centre line speed limit signs quite effective at reducing the traffic speed. I suspect it is less to do with reminding people, and more to do with the effective narrowing of the street. This and other relatively inexpensive measures can be used to effectively narrow the street without having to completely redesign it.

Agreed on the centre line signs - they are quite effective.

Not sure why you think high schools should be different. High school students get just as hurt when hit by a speeding car, and frankly are more likely to do stupid things on roads. My beef isn't that the zones are too broad, it's that it is too narrow. If we are encouraging kids to walk to school, we should be making the whole walk safe, not just the part near the school. In addition, seniors are among the more vulnerable pedestrians, and this law does nothing for them.

I have no problem with photo radar on any residential street, where there is zero excuse to be going over 40. We aren't going to re-design our streets anytime soon, so photo radar is the best way to change driver behaviour. The safety improvement in reducing car speeds is tangible.

[1overcosc]

I'm a big believer in auto-ticketing cameras and I think we should use them for more things. Enforcing turn restrictions and no-stopping zones would be useful applications.

[Acajack]

This may sound like a dumb question but what's all the road work going on in the vicinity of Riverside Dr. north of the hospital? Overpasses, new roads going towards the river, etc.

[MountainView]

Originally Posted by Acajack

This may sound like a dumb question but what's all the road work going on in the vicinity of Riverside Dr. north of the hospital? Overpasses, new roads going towards the river, etc.

No dumb questions here!

Alta Vista Parkway / Hospital Link

See this thread here

Or you can visit the City of Ottawa's website for more info, pictures and diagrams.

Cheers!

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by MountainView

No dumb questions here!

Alta Vista Parkway / Hospital Link

See this thread here

Or you can visit the City of Ottawa's website for more info, pictures and diagrams.

Cheers!

OK thanks! I knew they were doing that project but for some reason didn't imagine it was in that specific area.

[rocketphish]

Ottawa gets its first 30 km/h street
City staff approved a petition to lower the speed limit on Princeton Avenue.

By: Alex Abdelwahab, Metro
Published on Thu Aug 17 2017

Princeton Avenue in Ottawa's Kitchissippi ward will soon become the city's first street to have a 30 km/h speed limit, following a policy change earlier this year.

In a statement, Greg Kent, acting director of traffic services, said the decision was made after the city received a petition from a resident with the required community support.

"The petition not only serves to inform city staff of the proportion of residents who support the change in speed limit, but it also provides the notice to the residents along the affected street that the change may occur," he said.

In April, council passed a motion to allow for speed limits below 40 km/h when a number of conditions are met, including a technical review, having a petition from residents and the road being in an area where pedestrian and cyclist activities are high.

Princeton Avenue, which stretches 850 metres between Churchill Avenue North and Denbury Avenue, has a number of nearby schools, including Nepean High School and Broadview Public School.

"I think it's an extremely good idea because there are masses of students that heading not only to Nepean, but also to Broadview," resident Susan Dewar said. "It's just safer for the kids."

Resident Rob Caillier said he supports the change, but he's skeptical it will make a difference on speeders without enforcement.

"It's a busy street and if you look at it, as well, the grade is downhill," he said, "If I'm doing it, I'm gonna do it until I see a cop and radar."

"There's a big difference even in a collision between a pedestrian and a car from 30 km/h to 40 km/h, bigger at 50 and even bigger at 60. The slower we can get cars travelling on our residential streets, the better," Kitchissippi Coun.Jeff Lieper said, but admitted that changing the sign alone will not necessarily be enough to alter driver behaviour.

"It's not the only thing we need to do. In order for people to actually travel at 30 km/h, enforcement is going to be critical," he said. "This doesn't replace the need to design our streets to enforce 30 km/h. It's an interim step."

He said the city doesn't have the budget to redesign all streets to encourage drivers to slow down.

"But that's something that we need to constantly press for as streets get rebuilt."

A staff report that recommended the policy change back in April noted: "A significant amount of the information a driver uses to select an appropriate speed is based on visual and physical cues received as he/she drives along a roadway."

http://www.metronews.ca/news/ottawa/...-h-street.html