We want to encourage responsible driving and improve safety for everyone using our streets. At the city, we have three streams of traffic calming: formal, seasonal and resident-led.
On this page:
Vision Zero hotspot improvements
As part of our Vision Zero strategy to eliminate serious injuries and deaths due to traffic collisions in our community, we’re analyzing past collisions, speed, volume, infrastructure characteristics and other factors to help our team predict the intersections in Kitchener where injuries or fatalities are the most likely.
Staff recommend “hot spot” improvements to Kitchener city council for approval, which can include improvements like geometric changes to the roadway, like curb extensions, speed humps, street narrowings and intersection improvements.
Hot spot improvement map
Check out our hot spot improvement map to see where we're making updates. With these updates, our goals are to increase pedestrian safety, reduce vehicle speeds and make our community streets safer for everyone.
On the map, dots mark planned improvements at intersections, like the intersection of two streets or of a street and a trail. Lines mark planned improvements along streets.
Seasonal traffic calming
We use temporary measures on a seasonal basis to improve road safety. These are usually roads high on our priority list that haven’t received a formal traffic calming project yet.
The seasonal program has two measures:
- single in-road flex signs
- seasonal narrowings, which consist of three in-road flex signs, typically used on wider roadways
- radar speed feedback boards
Every year we consult with Kitchener city councillors about the specific location of these measures in their ward. We work with our operations crews to install seasonal measures early in the spring.
Flex signs
Flex signs are used in the middle of the road to narrow the road and slow down traffic. On wider roadways we use an additional flex sign on either side of the middle sign to create seasonal narrowings. These measures are installed in spring and removed in the fall to avoid interfering with snowplows. We currently have 180 of these sign locations, with 18 locations in each city ward.
Radar speed feedback boards
These are light-up signs that display an approaching driver's speed.
These are moved throughout the city, with one semi-permanent location unit in each ward.
Resident-led traffic calming
You can lead a traffic calming project on your road with our help. Resident-led projects usually include things like painted crosswalks and intersections, “Watch for Children” boulevard signs and boulevard planters.
Learn about starting a LoveMyHood resident-led traffic calming project.
Examples of painted crosswalks include Lancaster Street East at Chapel Street (Suddaby Public School), and Franklin Street South at Wilson Avenue (Wilson Avenue Public School).