Transformative Road Safety Improvements Coming to Ward 8 Neighbourhoods

Hello Ward 8 Neighbours,

On August 21st 2020, Hamilton City Council ratified a motion by Ward 8 Councillor John-Paul Danko to invest $150,000 from the Ward 8 area rating reserve towards a report that will identify areas of concern and make recommendations to provide a safer environment for all road users based on Vision Zero and Complete Streets principles (click here for a copy of the original motion).

This is the engineering design phase of transformative road safety improvements throughout Ward 8, with an additional $1.5 million towards infrastructure improvements planned following the conclusion of the report.

Continue reading below for more information…

A Message From Ward 8 Councillor John-Paul Danko

Since I was elected just over a year and a half ago, road safety, traffic and speeding have consistently been among the top concerns of residents in all neighbourhoods across Ward 8.

Since day one, I have been working closely with City of Hamilton Traffic Operations staff to improve road safety in Ward 8 through policy and direct investment.

In just over a year and a half, my work to date has included action on automated speed enforcement, speed limit reductions, neighbourhood traffic calming and speed cushions, new traffic lights, pedestrian improvements, major new walking and cycling infrastructure and numerous traffic safety studies throughout the Ward.

But today, I am thrilled to announce a new approach to traffic safety – one of the most comprehensive neighbourhood traffic safety initiatives ever undertaken in Hamilton – a signature project for Ward 8.

Our Traffic Operations staff are doing a great job evaluating and providing solutions for one-off problem areas, but we can’t put stop signs at every corner and speed bumps on every street. Until now, we’ve never been able to address traffic issues holistically, using all the traffic calming tools available – from the perspective of an entire neighbourhood, not just one street or one intersection.

As a Civil Engineer myself, the need for a systemic solution to a systemic problem was immediately apparent – and with the support of City staff and Council – that is exactly what we’re going to deliver for the residents of Ward 8.

Ward 8 Councillor John-Paul Danko

Scope of Work and Timeline

The initial design phase will include a review of designated neighbourhoods throughout Ward 8, with a focus on Traffic Calming Initiatives at problem locations and will provide a guideline for safety enhancements given the road width, classification, surrounding land use, proximity to schools/playgrounds, access roads from arterials, on-street parking and other considerations.

The report will identify areas of concern and make specific recommendations to provide a safer environment for all road users based on Vision Zero and Complete Streets principles.

Road safety evaluations will be focused on local neighbourhoods, but will also include connections to the wider main-arterial road network.

Extensive public consultation will be an important part of the review process.

Ward 8 residents will provide critical input to help identify local road safety concerns and the feasibility of proposed solutions.

The engineering design phase of the project (currently approved) will be complete in 2021. An additional $1.5M in Ward 8 funding is earmarked for the construction phase – to be undertaken as soon as the design work is complete in the 2022 construction season.

Questions or concerns?

For further reading, please click this link for the article “Hamilton Mountain Councillor John-Paul Danko Says Holistic Study of Ward 8 Will Create Safer Streets” published by the Hamilton Mountain News.

If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact our office here.