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Ross Road Traffic Calming

Ross Road Traffic Calming Header

The City considers traffic calming on neighbourhood streets where: traffic speeds and volumes are high, neighbourhood streets are being used to shortcut between major roads, transit buses are not operating, and there is neighbourhood support for traffic calming.

After receiving several requests from residents to install traffic calming on Ross Road to moderate speeds, the City performed traffic studies to confirm these concerns: measuring speeds along Ross Road, conducting a routing survey, and performing a travel time survey.  A conceptual design detailing four speed humps was then created and a letter sent out to residents along the roadway to gather feedback.

Public consultation was completed in Nov 2016 and the conceptual design garnered positive input from the residents. 

Contact Us

If you have further questions or concerns about the project, please contact us:

City of Nanaimo, Engineering Department
Email:  engineeringinfo@nanaimo.ca
Phone:  250-754-4251 Ext. 4230

  • Progress

    In the fall of 2016, the City conducted a household survey in the Ross Road Neighbourhood, which included a proposal for speed humps on Ross Road. The results of the survey indicate the community supports traffic calming, however concerns were identified regarding response times for emergency services.

    November 2017 Update

    Engineering and Emergency Services have determined that the most effective way to assess the effects of speed humps on Ross Road is to implement 2 temporary speed humps for a 3 month trial period. Please see the diagram below for locations.

    The temporary speed humps have been removed after 3 month trial period. Engineering and  Emergency Services are now working together to determine if speed humps are the most beneficial option for traffic calming on Ross Road. An update on the traffic calming project will be provided in February 2018.

    Ross Road Traffic CalmingProgress

  • Documents
     
  • Details

    To better understand existing traffic conditions, several traffic studies on Ross Rd and in the immediate area were conducted in the spring/summer of 2016.  These studies confirmed that speeds (85th percentile speed of 65 km/h) and traffic volumes (average weekday daily volume of 3750 vehicles) along Ross Road are high and a significant proportion of traffic (weekday pm peak period, approximately 50%) is shortcutting between the Norwell and Uplands Drive corridors.

    Based on existing traffic conditions, speed humps were considered an effective strategy for moderating speeds; a conceptual drawing showing potential locations for speed humps was prepared. The proposed four speed hump layout would moderate speeds within the fastest parts of Ross Road while seeking to minimize inconvenience for legitimate road users using Ross Road to access their neighbourhood. 

    Ross Road Traffic Calming

    Figure 1 - Concept Design for Consultation 

    Speed Hump Advantages

    • Speeds on Ross Road will be reduced.

    • A safer environment for residents, drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists.

    • Self enforcing and creates a visual impression that street is not intended for speeding.

    Speed Hump Concerns

    • Additional noise may be noticed due to acceleration, deceleration, and passing over the humps.

    • Speed humps may slow services such as snow removal and emergency vehicles.

    • A portion of the traffic may shift to alternative routes. 

    If you would like to see an example and drive down a similar traffic calming project, visit Oliver Road between Uplands Drive and Rutherford Road. 

  • Background

     

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