|

Traffic Safety Initiatives: City of St. Albert

Author(s): Barua, Schick

Slidedeck Presentation Only:

7A_Barua

Abstract:

Background/Context: The City of St. Albert, Alberta, focused on the 5 E's of traffic safety (i.e., Engineering, Enforcement, Education, and Engagement) and taken different safety initiatives targeting different road users (i.e., driver and vulnerable road users) to develop a safe effective road network in the city.

Aims/Objectives: The focus of these safety initiatives is to increase vulnerable road user safety and ensure safe driver behavior within a safe road network, hence, achieve the City's goal of 'Vision Zero'.

Methods/Targets: Some of the Safety initiatives were taken, which includes:

1) Implementation of protected only left turns for all north / southbound directions along the corridor of St. Albert Trail.

2) Safe Journeys to School Report and resulting Implementation

a.  This extensive public / stakeholder engagement project, with further site-specific evaluations and analysis of every school site in the City of St. Albert resulted in an extensive list of opportunity for improvements at a city-wide network level, as well as improving individual school site locations.
b. Has influenced design and considerations associated with new school construction.
c. Pedestrian safety campaign for Point, Pause and Proceed which involved communication pieces sent to residents and schools, as well as signage placed at pedestrian crossing locations to influence and encourage the safe behaviour.
d. Use of enhanced road-marking colours for pedestrian crossings.
e. Flashing Beacon, Speed Display Sign and 'SCHOOL' badges on the pavement in the school zone.

3) Utilization of skid resistant material at intersection locations to reduce stopping distance and mitigate rear end incidents.

4) Pedestrian crossing improvements:

a. Update to Pedestrian Crossing Control Guidelines
b. Utilization of enhanced (fluorescent) road-marking material - originated by St. Albert.
c. Utilization of fluorescent backing RA-4 (Pedestrian Crossing) signs - one of the first municipalities to utilize the signs as a standard.
d. Pedestrian Criss-Cross (Pedestrian Scramble) in a high pedestrian location (pilot 2017)
e. Re-design of pedestrian crossings to use pedestrian curb extensions
f. Utilization of Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB)'s both overhead and side mount and illuminated crosswalk

5) Integration of traffic safety into guidelines and strategies:

a. Transportation Safety Strategic Plan: A strategic framework to achieve Vision Zero
b. Neighbourhood Traffic Calming
c. Complete Streets Design Guidelines
d. Traffic Impact Assessment Guidelines - identifying a proactive review of design of proposed development through a preliminary Road Safety Audit

6. Collision and Traffic Data Management

Results/Activities: Overall, the safety initiatives taken by the city increased the actual traffic safety along with the perceived safety among the residents in St. Albert which can be seen from the collision statistics. Since 2014 there was only one fatal collision occurred in St. Albert. Injury collisions, left turn across path collision, vulnerable road user collision, school zone collision have also been decreased.

Discussion/Deliverables: Although lots of safety initiatives have been taken but the effectiveness of the initiatives depends on the road user's behavior and actions. Safety is a shared responsibility. All the road user (Motorist, pedestrian, bicyclist) needs to be responsible, respectful to other road users, obey the traffic rules and avoid faulty maneuvers, hence, vision zero can be achieved.

Conclusions: This paper summarizes the safety initiatives taken by the City of St. Albert. Some of the initiatives provided positive safety impacts and some are yet to be evaluated. From the application perspective, the safety initiatives described herein can be used by different city authorities to develop their safety program and strategy.'