Community members often request traffic calming measures on Sidney streets to improve safety and reduce vehicle speeds.
The Town considers traffic calming in areas where vehicle speeds, traffic volumes, or driver behaviour are affecting neighbourhood safety and livability, particularly where pedestrians, cyclists, children, or other vulnerable road users are present.
However, traffic calming measures are not appropriate for every situation. Each request must be balanced with the need to keep traffic moving efficiently throughout the community.
Assessing requests
In 2026, Council approved a more transparent process for evaluating traffic calming requests. This process encourages residents to work collaboratively with their neighbours to help demonstrate the level of community support.
The program applies to local residential streets and, in some cases, collector roads near schools or playground zones. Arterial roads, lanes, and cul-de-sacs or dead-end streets shorter than 90 metres are not eligible (all lanes in Sidney were recently given speed limits of 20 km/h).
This evaluation process applies to traffic calming measures such as:
- Speed humps: Raised sections of roadway installed at intervals to encourage slower driving speeds
- Raised crosswalks: Elevated crossings that help slow vehicles while improving pedestrian visibility
- Curb extensions: Extensions of the sidewalk into the roadway that shorten crossing distances and increase pedestrian visibility
- Raised islands: Small, elevated features at intersections that require drivers to slow down and navigate around them
This evaluation process does not apply to the following traffic measures:
- Stop signs
- Crosswalks
- Pedestrian-activated crosswalk lights
- Speed limit reductions
Step-by-step process
The following flow chart provides an overview of the assessment process. Click on flow chart bubbles with '...' to see additional information.
Contact Sidney's Engineering Services
Staff will confirm your request meets the criteria, guide you through the application process, and identify where to undertake neighbourhood engagement.
Talk to your neighbours
The community member initiating the request must gather signatures and contact information from at least 50% of property owners in the neighbourhood engagement area identified by the Town. Strata councils may sign for their property.
Submit application for Town evaluation
The community member submits the completed application to Engineering Services. Requests are assessed using a 100-point scoring system based on:
- Vehicle speeds
- Traffic volumes
- Safety history
- Land use (e.g., schools, parks)
- Pedestrian and cyclist activity
- Shortcut (cut-through) traffic
A minimum score of 40 points is required for the request to proceed.
The Fire Department reviews proposals to ensure emergency access to the neighbourhood is not compromised.
If eligible, staff identify what kind of traffic calming measure is appropriate based on site conditions, cost, and traffic network impacts.
Town undertakes formal neighbourhood survey
The Town conducts a formal survey of property owners in the study area by sending out a mailed letter.
To have sufficient support, the Town must hear back from at least 2/3 of property owners in the study area. Among these responses, at least 2/3 of respondents must be in favour of the traffic calming measure for it to be approved.
Town approves traffic calming measure
Approved projects are prioritized based on scoring and completed if and when funding allows.
Contact Sidney's Engineering Services
Staff will confirm your request meets the criteria, guide you through the application process, and identify where to undertake neighbourhood engagement.
Talk to your neighbours
The community member initiating the request must gather signatures and contact information from at least 50% of property owners in the neighbourhood engagement area identified by the Town. Strata councils may sign for their property.
Submit application for Town evaluation
The community member submits the completed application to Engineering Services. Requests are assessed using a 100-point scoring system based on:
- Vehicle speeds
- Traffic volumes
- Safety history
- Land use (e.g., schools, parks)
- Pedestrian and cyclist activity
- Shortcut (cut-through) traffic
A minimum score of 40 points is required for the request to proceed.
The Fire Department reviews proposals to ensure emergency access to the neighbourhood is not compromised.
If eligible, staff identify what kind of traffic calming measure is appropriate based on site conditions, cost, and traffic network impacts.
Town undertakes formal neighbourhood survey
The Town conducts a formal survey of property owners in the study area by sending out a mailed letter.
To have sufficient support, the Town must hear back from at least 2/3 of property owners in the study area. Among these responses, at least 2/3 of respondents must be in favour of the traffic calming measure for it to be approved.
Town approves traffic calming measure
Approved projects are prioritized based on scoring and completed if and when funding allows.
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