Traffic Safety Engineering

Based on 2019 collision statistics, 37 serious and fatal injuries involved drivers failing to yield to a pedestrian who had the right of way in a crosswalk. Pedestrian control devices, including crosswalks and traffic signals, help protect people when they cross the street.

In 2019, 23 crosswalks were upgraded, and 82 have been upgraded since Vision Zero began in Edmonton. In 2019, $3.9 million was spent on improving crosswalks and $1.1 million was spent on traffic signal improvements to improve safety for pedestrians.

When looking at crosswalks to upgrade, priority is given to locations based on Vision Zero principles using the following criteria:

• Pedestrian collision history
• Number of pedestrians
• Number of vehicles
• Number of traffic lanes pedestrians have to cross
• Existing median or other pedestrian refuge
• Speed limit

The following crosswalk upgrades were made in 2019:

• 10 flashing beacons
• 8 pedestrian signals
• 5 amber flashers
• 41 school zones with flashing beacons

To address school traffic safety issues through greater integration and collaboration of school traffic safety stakeholders, the City established a School Traffic Safety Committee in 2016. The School Traffic Safety Committee is comprised of members from the City of Edmonton, school boards, Edmonton Police Service, Alberta Motor Association and many other external and internal stakeholders.

In 2019, $1.3 million was spent improving school safety.

Traffic safety is reviewed at schools each year, and when potential problems are identified, engineers identify specific countermeasures that are tailored to the concerns at each school. 49 schools were reviewed in 2019 for upgrades in 2020.

In 2019, 26 schools were upgraded with the following improvements:

• All marked crosswalks converted to zebra crosswalks
• Yield signs replaced with stop signs
• Yellow centre line pavement marking added if the roadway was wide enough
• Retro-reflective sleeves added for stop sign and crosswalk poles
• Flashing beacon added at the crosswalk for each school if there was not one already

Scramble intersections, also known as pedestrian scrambles, allow pedestrians to cross the intersection in all directions at once, including diagonally. Traffic has red lights in all directions. To ensure no vehicles cross paths with pedestrians, vehicles are not permitted to make right turns when traffic signals are red. The City has six permanent scramble intersections (three four-way crossings in the Ice District, three at T-intersections). There are also two pilot pedestrian scrambles on Jasper Avenue and Whyte Avenue.

Daily bike trips in Edmonton have more than doubled since 2005. Edmonton's bike network of protected bike lanes, particularly the Downtown Bike Network, Southside Bike Routes and West Central Bike Route, shared paths and shared roadways support and inspire Edmontonians of all ages and abilities to move around their communities and city by bike.

The Bike Plan, which is currently being developed, will provide the strategic framework for how the City will plan, design, implement, operate and maintain bike infrastructure and programs in support of ConnectEdmonton. The Plan is informed by extensive community consultation and aspires to make biking inviting for all ages and abilities, for all reasons in all seasons.

Visit Cycling in Edmonton for a map of Edmonton's bike network and to learn more about the Bike Plan.

The City has been converting yield signs to stop signs to improve safety. By coming to a complete stop, people who drive are more likely to see others who are walking, cycling, driving or using other modes of transportation.

2017 and 2018 Installations:

• Yield signs were converted to stop signs at 91 locations
• Two way stops were converted to four way stop at 16 locations
• New stop signs were installed at 15 locations
   

Installing new backboards around signal heads, adding retroreflective tape to backboards, or installing additional signal heads can improve signal visibility. In 2019, 10 locations received signal visibility improvements and from 2016 to 2019, 64 locations have been improved with signal fixtures and/or retroreflective tape.

Collisions can be reduced by a range of 7% to 15% or greater with traffic signal visibility upgrades.

In 2018, 54 serious or fatal collisions were caused by following too closely. Right turn channel upgrades can reduce the number of rear-end collisions by 75%. Locations that receive right-turn channels are assessed using factors such as traffic volumes, pedestrian volumes, truck volumes, sightlines and turning radius.

From 2016 to 2018, right turn channels were added to 14 locations.

Protected left turn signal phase improvements have been completed at 77 intersections since 2009. This allows people driving to turn left without crossing the path of oncoming vehicles and pedestrians. Providing a protected left-turn phase can reduce left-turn collisions by up to 99%. 

Seven intersections received left turn engineering upgrades in 2019.

The City has developed a Community Traffic Management Policy. This process is integrated into neighbourhoods being upgraded as part of the Building Great Neighbourhoods program.

In 2019, 6 neighbourhoods were renewed as part of Building Great Neighbourhoods:

• Alberta Avenue
• Central McDougall
• Highlands
• Inglewood
• Royal Gardens
• Strathcona 

In total, they received 63 curb extensions, 16 raised crosswalks, 5 intersection realignments, 1 road closure, 4.9 km of new sidewalks and 3.5 km of new shared-use paths.

Complete Streets are streets for everyone: people who walk, wheel, bike, take transit, or drive. They are designed to be safe, attractive, comfortable and welcoming to people of all ages and abilities.

The Complete Streets approach moves away from traditional design by designing streets that reflect the surrounding area’s context, land use and users. Learn more about planning for complete streets in Edmonton.