HomeMy WebLinkAboutDSD-2025-040 - Vision Zero Annual Upate - 2025Staff Report
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Development Services Department www.kitchener.ca
REPORT TO: Community and Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING: April 14, 2025
SUBMITTED BY: Barry Cronkite, Director, Transportation Services, 519-741-2200
ext. 7738
PREPARED BY: Aaron McCrimmon-Jones, Manager, Transportation Safety & Policy
519-783-8964
Connor Payne, Project Manager, Transportation Safety
519-783-8966
WARD(S) INVOLVED:
All Wards (1-10)
DATE OF REPORT:
March 28, 2025
REPORT NO.:
DSD -2025-040
SUBJECT:
Vision Zero Annual Update - 2025
RECOMMENDATION:
That staff be directed to implement the proposed 2025 safety improvements as
outlined in Attachment A (Vision Zero 2025 Safety Improvements) of report DSD -2025-
040 to support implementation of the Vision Zero Strategy; and,
That an All -Way Stop be installed at the intersection of Fairfield Avenue and St Leger
Street; and,
That a Pedestrian Crossover (PXO) Level 2, Type B be installed on East Avenue at
Borden Street (in front of the Kitchener Auditorium); and,
That stopping be prohibited at any time 15 metres from each PXO crossing at each
approach, and ten (10) metres immediately following each PXO crossing; and further,
That the Uniform Traffic Bylaw be amended accordingly
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS:
• The purpose of this report is to provide a comprehensive update on the progress of
the City of Kitchener's Vision Zero Strategy. It includes an overview of 2024
accomplishments and recommended action items for 2025, as summarized in
Attachment A to DSD -2025-040 Vision Zero 2025 Safety Improvements.
• The key finding of this report is that in 2024, the City of Kitchener made progress
towards the goal of eliminating serious injury and fatal collisions on Kitchener streets
through the implementation of the planned 2024 action items in the five categories of
Evaluation, Engineering, Education, Engagement and Enforcement. As approved by
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
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Council and described in staff report DSD -2021-210, the Vision Zero Strategy action
items are funded through reallocation of the existing Formal Traffic Calming budget.
• Community engagement and education included a high-risk driving media campaign
that received over 8 million impressions (excluding radio), a dedicated Vision Zero
Engage page for ongoing feedback from Kitchener residents, project boards to
update residents on upcoming street safety improvements, advisory committee
consultation, and a Vision Zero webpage and dashboard. The dashboard is an
essential tool to track and communicate progress towards the goal of zero traffic
fatalities and serious injuries.
• This report supports the delivery of the Strategic Plan action item "Building a
Connected City Together" through implementing a "Localized Transportation Safety
Improvement Program".
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The City of Kitchener's Vision Zero Strategy is a street safety plan with the long-term
objective of eliminating all severe injuries and fatalities on City of Kitchener streets. This
plan focuses on evaluating the street network and addressing the key contributing factors
to serious injury and fatal collisions by focusing on three emphasis areas including
vulnerable street users, high risk locations, and high-risk driving. This report provides an
update on the progress made towards achieving the goals in 2024 and planned actions for
2025.
Statistics indicate that there has been a declining trend in collisions that result in injuries or
fatalities since 2018. Zero (0) fatalities occurred on City of Kitchener streets in 2022, 2023,
and 2024. However, analysis continues to show that pedestrians and cyclists are
disproportionally represented in collisions that result in a serious injury or fatality, with
aggressive and inattentive driving being a significant contributing factor to these collisions.
To address these issues, initiatives are being implemented to prioritize vulnerable street
user's safety, increase traffic calming measures, and educate drivers on safe driving
practices. Progress completed toward these initiatives in 2024 are as follows:
• Evaluation —The City has continued its partnership with the University of Waterloo
for data analytics. The City, in collaboration with the University of Waterloo, adopted
a proactive and systematic approach to predict the highest risk locations for severe
collisions. This work prioritizes the highest risk locations for hot spot
improvements. Staff complete follow up data collection to evaluate the effectiveness
of hot spot improvements each year.
• Engineering - Staff conducted a comprehensive analysis on the hot spot locations
that pose a higher risk for serious injury and fatal collisions and implemented physical
measures to enhance safety. In 2024 this included 400 meters of sidewalk infill, four
pedestrian crossovers, three pedestrian refuge islands, one intersection
improvement location, 26 speed humps / speed cushions and the expansion of the
season traffic calming program to include 40 additional seasonal narrowing's and 10
solar powered speed advisory signs.
• Education - Kitchener launched a high-risk driving education campaign through a
collaborative effort with WRPS, Region of Waterloo Public Health, and City of
Waterloo. The campaign targets high-risk driving behaviours that contribute to traffic -
related serious injuries and fatalities. The campaign received over 8 million
impressions across a range of platforms including television, digital promotions,
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social media campaigns, YouTube and Google. Staff also (in collaboration with
Student Transportation Services of Waterloo Region) delivered the Sidewalk Smarts
Program to seven (7) Kitchener schools in January and February 2025.
• Engagement — Staff continue to manage and promote the Vision Zero webpage and
Engage page to provide up-to-date information and ongoing public engagement. In
March 2025 staff presented Attachment A of this report to the Active Transportation
& Trails Advisory Committee who unanimously approved and stated "That ATTAC is
pleased and supportive of the safety improvements being proposed by staff in the
Vision Zero update report".
• Enforcement - The Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) team continues
to meet on a quarterly basis to identify areas of concern for targeted enforcement
through a more data driven approach. Through the STEP partnership, WRPS issued
180 targeted Highway Traffic Act charges in 2024 on City of Kitchener streets.
BACKGROUND:
Vision Zero is a safety strategy with the objective of eliminating all severe injuries and
fatalities on City of Kitchener streets, premised on the belief that these incidents are
preventable, and that safety must be the foremost priority. It emphasizes the need for a
sustained, multifaceted approach to reduce collision -contributing factors and calls for
continuous improvement in the city's approach to street safety, highlighting the collective
responsibility of all users.
In December 2021, Kitchener Council adopted the City of Kitchener's Vision Zero Strategy,
a four-year plan focused on analyzing the street network to address the root causes of
serious injuries and fatalities through the five categories of evaluation, engineering,
education, engagement, and enforcement. It is important to recognize that the goals of
Vision Zero is a long-term endeavor that requires ongoing commitment and resources. The
strategy involves detailed data analysis to identify trends, main causes of serious injuries,
and fatal collisions, focusing on protecting vulnerable users, high-risk locations, and
dangerous driving behaviors. Action items are identified based on data, community
feedback, and best practices. For an in-depth look at the City of Kitchener's Vision Zero
Strategy, refer to staff report DSD -2021-210 and City of Kitchener Vision Zero Strategy
2022-2025 (Kitchener.ca/Vis ionZero).
REPORT:
This report provides an update on the progress of the City of Kitchener's Vision Zero
Strategy. This includes an overview of the collisions on Kitchener streets over a five-year
period (2019 to 2023) as well as a summary of the progress made in 2024. This report also
summarizes the planned action items for 2025.
Collision Analysis Overview
An analysis of historical collision data from 2019-2023 was conducted to identify trends in
collisions resulting in injuries and fatalities. 2024 collision data analysis has not been
included as the complete 2024 data set will not be fully available until end of Q2, 2025.
Collision data analysis was focused on collisions that have occurred on the streets under
the jurisdiction of the City of Kitchener. For information, of the approximate 2,220 lane -km
of roads and streets within the City of Kitchener boundary, roughly 1,600 lane -km are under
the jurisdiction of the City of Kitchener, 500 lane -km are under the jurisdiction of the Region
Page 84 of 126
of Waterloo, and 150 lane -km are under the jurisdiction of the Ontario Ministry of
Transportation.
Graph 1 (below) illustrates the total number of collisions on Kitchener streets from 2019 to
2023 and shows a declining trend in collisions, injuries and fatalities. It should be noted that
2020 and 2021 collision data may be impacted by changing travel patterns during the
COVID-19 pandemic influenced by lockdowns, social distancing, and travel restrictions.
1..600
11.495
1.400
1..200
1..000
800
600
400
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P ID O I:::<a t a l ffies
Graph 2 illustrates the trend of the collisions that have resulted in injuries and fatalities by
street user type. Like the data in Graph 1, a declining trend is observed for all street user
types. However, 2020 and 2021 collision data may be impacted by changing travel patterns
during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Page 85 of 126
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
PDO (property
1496
826
777
988
859
damage only)
Injury
119
83
81
103
59
Fatality
0
1
2
0
0
Total
1615
910
860
1091
918
Collisions
Graph 2 illustrates the trend of the collisions that have resulted in injuries and fatalities by
street user type. Like the data in Graph 1, a declining trend is observed for all street user
types. However, 2020 and 2021 collision data may be impacted by changing travel patterns
during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Page 85 of 126
1.40
1.20
'100
80
rQ
40
20
Graph 2.........i...irend of Ilnjuiry and Fatality Collisions I y IRoad
Neer (261 .....202.3)
2.01.9 2020 2021.. 2022 2023
IIIIIIIIII PJlotoirist 11111111111 Viot:orcylle 11111 Pedestrian 1111111111ICyclfst
Analysis has been conducted on the collisions that have resulted in injuries or fatalities to
identify the most common factors in the occurrence of these collisions. The data shows that:
In 2022, 2023 and 2024 there were zero (0) fatalities on City of Kitchener municipal
streets.
34% of the collisions that have resulted in injuries include a pedestrian or a cyclist
while only accounting for 4% of the total collisions. This reinforces the statement
that pedestrians and cyclists are at a disproportionately higher risk of being
involved in collisions resulting in serious injuries or fatalities, which continues
to highlight the need to prioritize safety measures for vulnerable street users.
In 53% of the injury and fatal collisions, the driver was driving aggressively, and in
61% of the injury and fatal collisions the driver was inattentive. Aggressive driving
behavior includes speeding, following too closely, passing improperly, failing to yield
right of way, and disobeying traffic controls. This finding shows that aggressive
and inattentive driving behaviors are a significant contributing factor in a large
majority of injury and fatal collisions. Therefore, mitigating these behaviors
should be a priority in reducing the number of injuries and fatalities on
Kitchener streets.
In 27% of the injury and fatal collisions, the surface was wet because of rainy, snowy,
or icy weather conditions. These conditions can reduce visibility, increase stopping
distance and make it more challenging for drivers to maintain control of their vehicles.
This suggests that in addition to winter road maintenance, drivers need to
exercise extra caution when driving on wet surfaces and adjust their driving
behavior according to the weather condition. Initiatives to educate drivers on
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2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Motorist
81
50
47
73
55
Motorcycle
3
1
7
3
1
Pedestrian
28
24
15
18
2
Cyclist
7
9
11
7
1
Analysis has been conducted on the collisions that have resulted in injuries or fatalities to
identify the most common factors in the occurrence of these collisions. The data shows that:
In 2022, 2023 and 2024 there were zero (0) fatalities on City of Kitchener municipal
streets.
34% of the collisions that have resulted in injuries include a pedestrian or a cyclist
while only accounting for 4% of the total collisions. This reinforces the statement
that pedestrians and cyclists are at a disproportionately higher risk of being
involved in collisions resulting in serious injuries or fatalities, which continues
to highlight the need to prioritize safety measures for vulnerable street users.
In 53% of the injury and fatal collisions, the driver was driving aggressively, and in
61% of the injury and fatal collisions the driver was inattentive. Aggressive driving
behavior includes speeding, following too closely, passing improperly, failing to yield
right of way, and disobeying traffic controls. This finding shows that aggressive
and inattentive driving behaviors are a significant contributing factor in a large
majority of injury and fatal collisions. Therefore, mitigating these behaviors
should be a priority in reducing the number of injuries and fatalities on
Kitchener streets.
In 27% of the injury and fatal collisions, the surface was wet because of rainy, snowy,
or icy weather conditions. These conditions can reduce visibility, increase stopping
distance and make it more challenging for drivers to maintain control of their vehicles.
This suggests that in addition to winter road maintenance, drivers need to
exercise extra caution when driving on wet surfaces and adjust their driving
behavior according to the weather condition. Initiatives to educate drivers on
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safe driving practices in weather conditions can help raise awareness about
these challenges.
In 62% of the injury and fatal collisions among pedestrians, the pedestrian was
crossing the street legally and with right of way. This suggests that existing
infrastructure and driver behavior are not adequate to ensure pedestrian
safety, even when pedestrians are following the rules. Designing streets that
prioritize pedestrian safety, implementing traffic calming measures, and
educating drivers are some of the strategies being implemented to help
address this issue.
2024 Progress & 2025 Action Items
A summary of these action items is provided below.
Evaluation
The evaluation category includes action items related to collecting and analyzing traffic and
collision data to assess the safety of the existing street network, identifying safety gaps and
opportunities, and tracking progress towards the goal of eliminating traffic related serious
injuries and fatalities. Evaluation is a critical step in ensuring that resources are being utilized
effectively, and decisions are based on available data.
Network Screening
Network screening continues through the collaboration that was established with the
University of Waterloo. A systematic approach continues to be deployed to identify and help
predict locations with high collision risk, or "hot spots," using multiple factors such as site
characteristics, traffic volumes, speeds, and historical collisions. Utilizing this model, staff
have identified locations for safety improvements in 2025. Location and descriptions of these
proposed improvements are outlined the Engineering section of this report, and in Section
1 of Attachment A - Vision Zero 2024 Safety Improvements.
Surrogate Safety Measure Data Collection
Staff installed lidar devices in partnership with Velodyne Lidar in 2022 and 2023 to better
understand the safety issues at these locations. The lidar devices used laser technology to
measure the distance between objects and provide detailed data on vehicle movements.
This technology enabled staff to collect conflict information, including near misses and
potential collisions which are not typically captured in traditional collision data. By analyzing
this data in collaboration with the University of Waterloo, staff gained more insight into how
to improve safety at these high-risk locations. This enabled staff to conduct a before -after
study on the improvements made at the intersection of Queen's Blvd and Spadina Rd in
2023 which showed a 20% improvement in the number of near misses at this intersection.
Staff used this data in 2024 to make changes at the intersection of Strasburg Rd and Old
Country Dr which was identified as having a high rate of near miss collisions and a high
collision rate. These changes included narrowing the street, removing dedicated left turn
lanes and decreasing crossing distances for pedestrians while simplifying intersection
operation.
Hot Spot Evaluation
In 2024, staff collected follow up traffic data along streets that received hot spot
improvements in 2023. This data shows that the 2023 hot spot improvements resulted in an
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average decrease in the 85th percentile speed of 8.2km/h. Staff will continue to collect before
and after data at hot spot locations to evaluate the effectiveness of these measures, but the
data proves that the current hot spot improvement process has been effective.
Engineering
The engineering category includes action items related to the design and physical
improvements of transportation infrastructure to reduce the likelihood of serious injury and
fatal collisions. In 2024 Hot Spot Improvements and sidewalk infill was installed at dozens
of locations throughout the City including: 400 meters of sidewalk infill, four pedestrian
crossovers, three pedestrian refuge island, one intersection improvement location, and 26
speed humps / speed cushions and the expansion of the season traffic calming program to
include 40 additional seasonal narrowing's, and 10 solar powered speed advisory signs.
In 2025, new Hot Spot Improvement locations have been identified through data driven
analysis. The proposed program, subject to Council approval, includes 34 individual
measures as summarized in Attachment A, includes 30 raised traffic calming measures, one
(1) pedestrian refuge island, one (1) pedestrian crossover (PXO) location, one (1) all way
stop, and one (1) intersection pavement marking upgrade. Other safety improvements
include approximately 500 meters of sidewalk/multi use trail infill, and the continued
application of the Seasonal Traffic Calming program, which includes seasonal flex signs at
18 locations (10 singles and 8 narrowing's) per ward, and 1 radar feedback board per ward.
In addition to the measures above, complete streets design standards are being
implemented on 15 streets through reconstruction projects in 2025. Complete Streets design
standards include narrowed pavement width, smaller turning radii at intersections, shorter
crossing distances for pedestrians, separated cycling infrastructure, as well as wider
boulevards and sidewalks.
The recommended 2025 improvements are summarized and included in Sections 1 through
4 in Attachment A — 2025 Vision Zero Safety Improvements.
Traffic Control Installation
Staff are proposing one new PXO and one new All way stop installation in 2025 (warrant
information included in Attachment B — Traffic Control Warrant Summaries & Key Maps) at
the following locations:
PXO Type B East Ave at Borden Ave in front of the Kitchener Auditorium. This will
include overhead mast arms with PXO signage and flashing beacons.
All way Stop at the intersection of Fairfield Ave and St Leger St
Warrant information including traffic data, pedestrian data, summary of pedestrian studies,
engineering justification, and key maps for the proposed PXO location can be found in
Attachment B — Traffic Control Warrant Summaries & Key Maps
Seasonal Traffic Calming
In 2018, Transportation Services launched a Seasonal Traffic Calming program that
included installing approximately 40 flexible delineators and five (5) battery powered speed
advisory signs throughout The City. The program has regularly been expanded and met with
widespread acceptance from the community resulting in more requests.
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In 2024, the Seasonal Traffic Calming program was again expanded as approved in the
2024 budget cycle. The expansion included an additional four (4) seasonal narrowings per
ward and one (1) semi permanent, solar powered speed advisory sign per ward. Each
seasonal narrowing requires three signs, for a total of an additional 120 signs.
In 2025, each ward will receive a total of 34 in -road flex signs which includes 10 single
locations and 8 seasonal narrowing locations, for a total of 340 signs across all wards.
Additionally, each ward will maintain a semi permanent, solar powered speed advisory sign.
Planning and design for the 2025 program is complete, and Roads and Traffic staff are in
the process of completing installation work.
Education
Educational campaigns are a critical component of a Vision Zero program. The purpose of
these campaigns is to raise awareness among street users about safe street behaviors and
the importance of following traffic rules. Advancements made in the education category are
summarized in this section.
High Risk Driving Education Campaign
Kitchener launched an educational campaign in 2023 focused on high-risk driving behaviors
through a collaborative effort between the City of Kitchener, City of Waterloo, WRPS and
Region of Waterloo Public Health. The purpose of this campaign was to raise awareness
among street users about the dangers of high-risk driving behaviors and to promote safe
driving habits.
The campaign aimed to educate the public about Vision Zero and the importance of
achieving zero traffic fatalities and serious injuries in our community. The messaging
underscored the fact that traffic collisions are not random occurrences, but rather
preventable causes that can be averted with the adoption of proactive measures and
education. By emphasizing the preventable nature of these incidents, the campaign helps
to foster a sense of shared responsibility among all stakeholders to work towards achieving
the Vision Zero goal.
Vision Zero 2024 campaign summary
Two separate campaigns ran in 2024 from June -August and then again in November. The
campaign includes four (4) distinct videos which focus on different aspects of Vision Zero
and are used interchangeably throughout the year. A significant focus of the digital campaign
was `display' ads, where videos are embedded via Google's ad network on various websites.
This option helps to reach audiences who do not engage with The City's social media
platforms directly.
In 2024, there was a significant increase in the number of television ad placements received
through CTV — the number of ads that ran relative to the cost of the ad buy makes this a
cost-effective option to reach Kitchener residents who may not be as digitally engaged.
Radio was also incorporated into the fall 2024 campaign — a significant number of radio
spots ran throughout this period on Dave FM and The Beat.
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Research from the Ministry of Transportation suggests that the majority of Kitchener
residents can be reached through a combination of social media and targeted web
applications. This research also suggests that by layering television and radio outreach into
the campaign, we may reach more than 90% of residents through the various platforms. As
a result, the spring campaign launching in April 2025 will follow a similar approach of the fall
2024 campaign.
Summer 2024 campaign impressions:
• Meta (Facebook/Instagram) ads - 45,175
• YouTube ads - 79,065
• Display ads (YouTube) - 15,661
• YouTube ads — 83,484
• Display ads (all videos) - 709,753
• CTV Television commercials — 3,029,420
Fall '24 campaign impressions:
• Meta (Facebook/Instagram) ads - 59,636
• YouTube ads - 182,116
• Display ads (all videos) - 727,121
• Radio ads (15 seconds) - 334 placements
• CTV Television commercials — 3,168,700
Total impressions: 8,100,131 (plus radio)
Active Transportation Education Campaign
The City has been actively promoting active transportation through various educational
programs to help navigate cyclists through the safest and most convenient routes. The City
has also been regularly distributing a monthly e -newsletter to provide updates on on-going
cycling projects and new cycling facilities to promote cycling and educate all street users on
best practices.
In 2024, staff collaborated with The City of Waterloo to promote an educational video for the
proper use of pedestrian crossovers (PXO). The primary objective of the video is to educate
all users on the function and design of pedestrian crossovers as well as legal responsibility
for drivers to yield to pedestrians.
Additionally, in 2024, the City of Kitchener launched an e -scooter safety campaign in
collaboration with program partners. The resulting campaign targeted e -scooter riders
between 18-24 years of age, with the goal of promoting safe behaviours among e -scooter
riders and increased awareness of applicable laws and consequences. The key messages
encouraged users to wear a helmet, ride sober, avoid riding or parking on the sidewalk, and
avoid tandem riding. The campaign utilized social media posts, ION and bus shelter posters,
magnets for distribution at events, and posters.
School Children Educational Programs
Student Transportation Services of Waterloo Region (STSWR) manages dedicated
programs that educate students and families on pedestrian skills and traffic awareness in
school zones. These programs cover different types of environments, such as crossing in
roundabouts, and are delivered through various models.
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In early 2025, Sidewalk Smarts training was delivered to seven (7) Kitchener schools and
included over 750 students in 32 classes. Sidewalk Smarts is a pedestrian skills training
program that prepares children transitioning from primary to junior grades to safely walk to
school and other destinations in their community. The program identifies the benefits and
risks of walking and helps children build an understanding of and navigate the transportation
network and traffic laws.
Schools were selected for the program using STSWR data, as well as Waterloo Region
Public Health data. Public Health data helped identify communities whose residents were
most impacted by collisions.
A Vision Zero Skill Sheet has also been developed to highlight the importance of safe driving
in school zones for parents. This skills sheet has guidance for safe, predictable driving
behaviors for parents and offers safety tips for children walking, rolling and crossing the
street on their way to school. STSWR and City of Kitchener are in the process of distributing
this resource to Kitchener schools. This skills sheet has been attached to the report as
Appendix C.
Engagement
Engagement is critical to the success of a Vision Zero program by fostering community
ownership and involvement in improving street safety and providing ongoing opportunities
for resident feedback.
Vision Zero Webpage and Dashboard: Kitchener. ca/VisionZero
The Vision Zero Dashboard is an essential tool for tracking and communicating progress
towards the goal of zero traffic fatalities and zero serious injuries. The platform provides
information to residents including collision statistics and progress updates on the action
items of the Vision Zero Strategy.
The Vision Zero webpage, and the Vision Zero Engage page provide tools to engage and
inform the public about the Vision Zero Strategy and its progress on an ongoing basis. The
Vision Zero webpage is designed to educate the public about the importance of safe
transportation practices to achieve zero fatalities and zero serious injuries. The Vision Zero
Engage page provides an opportunity for residents to provide feedback and share their ideas
for making Kitchener's streets safer for everyone.
Active Transportation and Trail Advisory Committee
A sub -committee of the Active Transportation and Trail Advisory Committee (ATTAC) was
established to provide community perspective on street safety policies, programs, and
strategies. This sub -committee serves to advise staff on street safety issues, act as an
advocate for street safety in the city and promote public awareness of street safety initiatives
and the Vision Zero Strategy. In March 2025, staff presented Attachment A of this report to
the Active Transportation & Trails Advisory Committee who unanimously approved "that the
committee is pleased and supportive of the safety improvements being proposed by staff in
the Vision Zero update report". In March 2025, staff presented Attachment A of this report
to the Active Transportation & Trails Advisory Committee who unanimously approved "that
ATTA C is pleased and supportive of the safety improvements being proposed by staff in the
Vision Zero update report".
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Hot Spot Improvement Notification
For each location that will receive a hot spot improvement through the 2025 program, staff
will install project boards on each street advising the community that changes are coming,
along with contact information to get in touch. Furthermore, staff will send letters to
homeowners directly adjacent to the planned measures to make them aware of the
upcoming safety improvements.
Enforcement
The purpose of enforcement in Vision Zero is to help ensure that all street users are following
traffic rules and deter unsafe behaviors that could lead to collisions. In collaboration with the
Region of Waterloo and Waterloo Region Police Service, staff have made improvements to
help allocate enforcement resources to the highest -risk locations.
Selective Traffic Enforcement Program
Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) is an enforcement initiative that is designed
to systematically identify and target high-risk areas based on traffic data including speed,
volume, and collision history. The previous approach to the STEP program relied more
heavily on traffic complaints from the public. A more data -driven approach is now being used
to help WRPS target enforcement where the highest risk driving behaviours are occurring
based on network screening and empirical data.
To improve collaboration and data sharing, quarterly meetings with WRPS and area
municipalities have been re-established to discuss the program's progress and identify new
areas of concern for targeted enforcement. STEP members are currently working towards
more data driven decision making for enforcement locations by leveraging traffic data and
network screening analysis. Through the STEP partnership, and utilizing City of Kitchener
traffic data, WRPS issued 180 Highway Traffic Act charges in 2024 on Huron Rd, Zeller
Drive, East Ave, Strasburg Rd, Krug St, Lorriane Ave, Westheights Drive, and Stirling Ave.
Next Steps
Staff will continue to focus on action items initiated in 2022, 2023, and 2024 while adding
new objectives in accordance with the Vision Zero action plan approved by Council. Staff
will report back to Council in spring of 2026 with a progress update on the accomplishments
in 2025.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This report supports This report supports the delivery of the Strategic Plan action item
"Building a Connected City Together" through implementing a "Localized Transportation
Safety Improvement Program".
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
As approved by Council and outlined in staff report DSD -2021-210, the Vision Zero Strategy
action items will be funded through reallocation of existing budget from the 2022-2026
Formal Traffic Calming Budget. This includes approximately $315k allocated to hot spot
improvements and $35k for engagement and education campaigns.
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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM — This report has been posted to the City's website with the agenda in advance of
the council / committee meeting. Project boards were installed throughout The City to notify
residents of planned Vision Zero hot spot improvements and options to get in touch with
staff.
CONSULT — In 2020, 2021 and 2022 staff met with advisory committees including Mayor's
Advisory Council for Kitchener Seniors, Kitchener Active Transportation and Trails Advisory
Committee, Kitchener Youth Action Council, Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee,
and Safe and Healthy Communities Advisory Committee. Through 2023, 2024 and 2025
Staff continue to meet with the Active Transportation & Trails Advisory Committee (ATTAC).
The Vision Zero webpage and the Vision Zero Engage page at Kitchener. ca/VisionZero
provide tools to engage and inform the public about the Vision Zero Strategy and its
progress, and opportunity to receive resident feedback on an ongoing basis.
PREVIOUS REPORTS/AUTHORITIES:
2020: DSD -20-035 Vision Zero Review
2021: DSD -2021-210 Vision Zero Strategy
2023: DSD -2023-152 Vision Zero Strategy Update
2024: DSD -2024-073 Vision Zero Project Update
APPROVED BY: Justin Readman, General Manager of Development Services
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A —
2024 Vision Zero Safety Improvements
Attachment B —
PXO Warrant Summaries & Key Maps
Attachment C —
Vision Zero School Zone Skills Sheet
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ATTACHMENT A — 2025 Vision Zero Safety Improvements
Section 1. HOT SPOT IMPROVEMENTS
Ward
Location
Proposed Measures
Expected Outcome
Est. Cost
1.1
1
Natchez Rd between Carson Dr
-Install two speed humps
- Reduction in operating
$17,000
and Halifax Dr (school zone)
at the following locations:
speeds
Natchez approximately
- Improve safety for all street
40 meters south of
users
Carson Dr; Natchez at
Matthew Street
1.2
2
Zeller Dr (school zone)
-Install a speed cushion
- Reduction in operating
$8,000
at the following location:
speeds
Zeller Dr at Lackner
- Improve safety for all street
Woods Public School
users
zone
1.3
2
Oldfield Dr between Drumoak PI
- Install three speed
- Reduction in operating
$25,000
and Jadestone Crt
cushions at the following
speeds
locations:
- Improve safety for all street
Oldfield Dr between
users
Shaftsbury Dr and Casey
Dr; Oldfield Dr at
Idlewood trail crossing;
Oldfield Dt at
approximately 60 meters
east of Wendy Cres and
50 meters west of
Brierdale Dr
1.4
3
Greenfield Dr between
- Install two speed
- Reduction in operating
Kingsway Dr and Traynor Ave
cushions at the following
speeds
$13,500
locations:
- Improve safety for all street
Greenfield at east
users
Greenfield Park;
Greenfield at
approximately 125
meters south/west of
Kingsway Dr
1.5
4
Blair Creek Dr between Pieter
- Install four speed
- Reduction in operating
$30,000
Vos Dr and Doon South Dr
cushions at the following
speeds
locations:
- Improve safety for all street
Blair Creek Dr at
users
approximately 55 meters
east of Pieter Vos Dr;
Blair Creek Dr at
approximately 20 meters
west of Frontier Dr; Blair
Creek Dt at Dodge Park;
Blair Creek Dr at
approximately 200
meters east of the
roundabout at Doon
Page 94 of 126
Page 95 of 126
South Dr and Blair Creek
Dr
1.6
4
Thomas Slee Dr between
- Install four speed
- Reduction in operating
$30,000
Pinnacle Dr and Rober Ferrie Dr
humps at the following
speeds
(includes future school zone)
locations: Thomas Slee
- Improve safety for all street
Dr at approximately 140
users
meters east of Robert
Ferrie Dr; Thomas Slee
Dr between Blair Creek
Dr and Ian Ormston Dr;
Thomas Slee Dr at
approximately 20 meters
east of Autumn Ridge
Trail; Thomas Slee Dr at
approximately 10 meters
east of Pinnacle Drive
1.7
5
Seabrook Dr between Fischer
- Install three speed
- Reduction in operating
$25,000
Hallman Rd and Amand Dr
humps at the following
speeds
(includes school zone)
locations: Seabrook Dr
- Improve safety for all street
between Glenvista Dr
users
and Appleby St;
Seabrook Dr at
approximately 20 meters
west of Ludolph St;
Seabrook Dr at
approximately 40 meters
east of Park Glen St
1.8
5
Woodbine Ave between Huron
-Install two speed
- Reduction in operating
$14,000
Rd and Sophia Cres
cushions at the following
speeds
locations: Woodbine Ave
- Improve safety for all street
at approximately 120
users
meters north of
Rochefort Stand 100
meters south of Maitland
St; Woodbine Ave at
approximately 20 meters
south of Woodbine Crt
1.9
6
Century Hill Dr between
-Install two speed humps
- Reduction in operating
Devonglen Dr and Southwood
at the following locations:
speeds
$19,000
Dr
Century Hill Dr at
- Improve safety for all street
approximately 20 meters
users
east of Devonglen Dr;
Century Hill Dr at
approximately 120
meters west of
Southwood Dr
1.10
6
The Country Way between
-Install two speed humps
- Reduction in operating
$19,000
Spring Hill Dr and Erinbrook Dr
at the following locations:
speeds
(school zone)
The Country Way at
- Improve safety for all street
Cardinal -Leger Catholic
users
Elementary school zone;
Page 95 of 126
Page 96 of 126
The Country Way at
Blessed Sacrament
Catholic Elementary
school zone
1.11
7
Westforest Trail between
-Install two speed
- Reduction in operating
$17,000
Westmeadow Dr and Victoria St
cushions at the following
speeds
locations: Westforest
- Improve safety for all street
Trail at the trail entrance
users
between Hidden Creek
Dr and Westmeadow Dr;
Westforest Trail at
approximately 150
meters south of Victoria
St
1.12
7
Westheights Dr at McGarry Dr
Upgrade existing
-Enhance driver awareness
$7,000
crosswalk to ladder
at the school crossing / all -
crosswalk on all legs
ay -stop
-Improve stop compliance
and edestrian safety
1.138
Brybeck Cres between
-Install three speed
- Reduction in operating
$26,000
Westmount Rd and Karn St
humps at the following
speeds
locations:
- Improve safety for all street
Brybeck Cres at
users
approximately 550
meters east of
Westmount Rd; Brybeck
Cres at approximately
370 meters east of
Westmount Rd; Brybeck
Cres at approximately
180 meters east of
Westmount Rd
1.14
9
Stirling Ave
-Install a pedestrian
-Improve safety for
$12,000
refuge island on Stirling
pedestrians crossing Stirling
Ave at the Cameron
Ave near Cameron Heights
Heights school entrance
Cl
Section 2. New Traffic Controls — PXO and All Way Stop
Ward
Location
Proposed Measures
Expected Outcome
Est. Cost
2.1
10
East Avenue at Borden Ave (at
PXO Type B
-Provides a protected
$40,000
the Kitchener Auditorium)
crossing for pedestrians
accessing the Kitchener
Auditorium and enhances
existing school crossing
location
2.2
10
Fairfield Ave at St Leger St
All Way Stop
-Improves traffic and
$1,000
pedestrian safety
-Addresses sightline
concerns and intersection
functionality
Page 96 of 126
Section 3. COMPLETE STREETS RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
Ward
Location
Proposed Measures
Expected Outcome
Est. Cost
3.1
2
Broadview Ave from
-Narrowed pavement
- Reduction in operating
Funded by
Expressway to Prospect Ave
widths, smaller turning
speeds
Engineering
radii, and wider
- Improve safety for all street
Capital
boulevards
users
Account
3.2
3
Connaught St from Traynor to
-Narrowed pavement
- Reduction in operating
Funded by
Ninth
widths, smaller turning
speeds
Engineering
radii, wider boulevards
- Improve safety for all street
Capital
and sidewalks
users
Account
3.3
8
Westwood Drive from Westwood
-Narrowed pavement
- Reduction in operating
Funded by
Cres to Glasgow St
widths, smaller turning
speeds
Engineering
radii, wider boulevards
- Improve safety for all street
Capital
and sidewalks
users
Account
3.4
8
Carlton St
-Narrowed pavement
- Reduction in operating
Funded by
widths, smaller turning
speeds
Engineering
radii, wider boulevards
- Improve safety for all street
Capital
users
Account
3.5
8
Metzloff Dr from Belmont Ave to
-Narrowed pavement
- Reduction in operating
Funded by
Montrose Ave
widths, continuous
speeds
Engineering
sidewalks, smaller
- Improve safety for all street
Capital
turning radii, wider
users
Account
boulevards
3.6
8
Montrose Ave
-Narrowed pavement
- Reduction in operating
Funded by
widths, smaller turning
speeds
Engineering
radii, wider boulevards
- Improve safety for all street
Capital
users
Account
3.7
9
Burn Place
-Narrowed pavement
Funded by
widths, smaller turning
- Improve safety for all street
Engineering
radii, continuous
users
Capital
sidewalks
Account
3.8
9
Olympic Dr
-Narrowed pavement
- Reduction in operating
Funded by
widths, smaller turning
speeds
Engineering
radii, continuous
- Improve safety for all street
Capital
sidewalks, wider
users
Account
boulevards
3.9
9/10
King St E from Ottawa St to
-Narrowed pavement
- Reduction in operating
Funded by
Striling Ave
widths, smaller turning
speeds
Engineering
radii, continuous
- Improve safety for all street
Capital
sidewalks, separated
users
Account
cycling facilities
3.10
10
Johnston St
-Narrowed pavement
- Reduction in operating
Funded by
widths, smaller turning
speeds
Engineering
radii, continuous
- Improve safety for all street
Capital
sidewalks, wider
users
Account
boulevards and
sidewalks
3.11
10
Patrick Street
-Narrowed pavement
- Reduction in operating
Funded by
widths, smaller turning
speeds
Engineering
radii, wider boulevards
- Improve safety for all street
Capital
and sidewalks
users
Account
Page 97 of 126
3.12
10
Wellington St N from Lancaster
-Continuous sidewalks,
- Reduction in operating
Funded by
St to Spring Valley Road
smaller turning radii,
speeds
Engineering
separated cycling
- Improve safety for all street
Capital
facilities
users
Account
3.13
10
Chapel Street from East Ave to
-Narrowed pavement
- Reduction in operating
Funded by
Dumfries Ave
widths, smaller turning
speeds
Engineering
radii, wider boulevards
- Improve safety for all street
Capital
and sidewalks
users
Account
3.14
10
Melrose Ave from Chapel St to
-Narrowed pavement
- Reduction in operating
Funded by
Krug St
widths, smaller turning
speeds
Engineering
radii, wider boulevards
- Improve safety for all street
Capital
and sidewalks
users
Account
3.15
10
Sheridan Crt
-Narrowed pavement
- Improve safety for all
Funded by
widths, smaller turning
street users
Engineering
radii
Capital
Account
Section 4. SIDEWALK / MULTIUSE TRAIL INFILL
Ward
Location
Proposed Measures
Expected Outcome
Est. Cost
4.1
1
Keewatin Ave
Approximately 90m of
Connect Sidewalk on the
Funded by
sidewalk infill.
North side of Keewatin Ave
Engineering
to Lackner Blvd and existing
Capital
trails stem
Account
4.2
6
Howe Dr
Approximately 25m of
Connect sidewalks on Howe
Funded by
sidewalk infill
Drive
Engineering
Capital
Account
4.3
3
Wabanaki
Approximately 400m of
Connect the existing trail
Funded by
boulevard multi use trail
network in the Schneider
Engineering
Creek Manitou Greenway to
Capital
the boulevard multi use trail
Account
system on Wilson Avenue
Page 98 of 126
ATTACHMENT B — Traffic Control Summaries & Key Maps
SECTION 1: PXO Type B - East Ave at Borden Ave
Data collected from a pedestrian study conducted on November 18th, 2021, was used to
determine if a PXO was warranted. In addition to the pedestrian study, vehicle volume
was determined using an Automatic Data Recorder installed for approximately one week
from June 22, 2023, to June 28, 2023. The results of these studies are shown in Table 1
below, and the warrant summary for the proposed PXO on East Ave at the Borden Ave
N is shown in Table 2 below:
Table 1 — Vehicle and Pedestrian Volumes: East Ave
24-hour average traffic volume
June 22—June 28, 2023
2975 vehicles
Maximum 8 -hour traffic volume
November 18th, 2021
2230 vehicles
Number of Pedestrian Crossings (8 hour)
Thursday, Nov18, 2021
329 pedestrians
Table 2 - Level 2 Pedestrian Crossover Warrant Summary:
East Ave at Borden Ave E
Warrant
Justification Required
Actual
Conditions
Value
Value
Satisfied?
1. 8 -hour Pedestrian Volume at > 100 peds
329
YES
sed crossover location
a
Level 2
2 8 -hour Two -Way Vehicle Min 1185
Pedestrian
Volume Max 2250
2230
YES
Crossover
3. Distance from Nearest > 200
250
YES
Controlled Crossing meters
Page 99 of 126
SECTION 2: All -Way Stop — Fairfield Ave & St Leger St
A traffic study was conducted for the intersection of Fairfield Ave & St Leger St on
November 21, 2024. The results of the study were compared to the City of Kitchener's
all -way stop warrant requirements. These requirements are a set of guidelines based
on the all -way stop warrants established by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario
and the Institute of Transportation Engineers. The results are as follows:
Warrant — Local/Minor Road
All -Way Stop Warrant Analysis
Fairfield Ave & St Leger St
Warrant Factors - "4 -Leg" Intersection
Results
Warrant Met
The total vehicle volume on all
intersection approaches exceeds
Meets 5 of 8
YES
200 vehicles per hour for each of the
hours
highest four hours of the day
and
The combined vehicle and pedestrian
volume on the minor street exceeds
75 units per hour (all vehicles plus
123 Avg
YES
pedestrians wishing to enter the
intersection) for each of the same four
hours as the total volume
and
The volume split does not exceed 70% /
30% for a four-way control on the major
53%/47%
YES
road,
or
Collisions within a 12 month period
averaged over 36 consecutive months
0.33 per year
NO
susceptible to correction by an All Way
(Warrant Value=4)
Stop
All -Way Stop Warranted YES
As the results above indicate, the intersection of Fairfield Ave & St Leger St warrants
installation of all -way stop control.
Based on the results of the traffic study, Transportation Services is recommending that
an all -way stop be installed at the intersection of Fairfield Ave & St Leger St
Page 100 of 126
KEY MAP — Fairfield Ave & St Leger St
0 Proposed new AIL -way Stop signage
0 Proposed modified regular Stop signage to AR -way Stop
Page 101 of 126
1 I.
Many neighbourhoods are connected with
safe routes to school, making it the safest
option for many. If your kids are old enough
to walk to school on their own, avoid the
busy drop-off zone. Even if they can't walk
all the way, park a few blocks away for a
shorter walk to school.
S LOIN DO
Studies show t eding during an
.
average trip ty store or school saves
you less than a minute of time. That's not
worth a severe collision or someone's life.
LLAVE, SAC
Leaving a buffer of space between you and
the next vehicle will give you more time to
stop for the unexpected and better lines of
vision to see small children.
U -TURN -S
congestion and
busy environm
to make a u -turn to save
ately, these u -turns
riding to traffic
�i, df�ngerous in
OBEY' THE LAW'L
School zones are clearly marked and M
most do not allow parking or stopping
so that children can better see to cross
10
the street and to leave room for school
vehicles; those markings should be
respected. Especially when running
late, it might seem like a quick and easy
solution. But one illegal park tends to
encourage others to do t,,, Mme, quickly
expanding the scope of stion beyond
the drop-off area designeet�t handle it.
School zones have a limit of 30km/h
- don't risk a ticket.
it
IG: r
ALR buddy
.walk with a
• stay�,,he sidewalk •look for white reversing lights on car
backing out of thei rtlriveways
• face"traffic;"when there s no sidewalk
•stay
on the right side of a multiuse path ,
„r
R ■ASSI... GTHEa Waff G C R�
• stop, look, listen, and think; make your own • look left, right, left AND blind before
decisions about safety crossing
guard, at a stop sign, • ensure vehicles, are slowing or coming to a
• cross with a;� sing g stop before entering the road
or a traffic/ j hen possible
��O' if.you can't see them, • cross calmly and at a steady pace, not
you look for t} f suddenly
they can
MINE
W H
CYCLINU: f,
• map ytrroute with your caregivers using • wear a helmet f
the Cifiy of Kitchener bike map slow dowrine pedestrians
• walk y,0/ui bike through crosswalks and ;use, 'your/ 11,' horn �r voice to give friendly
cr sYng guard, ocations noff � h using �c strians Ar drivers