Starting this month, you will see City staff installing infrastructure to help keep you safe while travelling throughout Mississauga. Two years ago, the City launched its Vision Zero Action Plan with 99 actions to help reach the goal of zero fatalities and serious injuries due to collisions on roadways in the city. This year, many road safety projects are underway to help Mississauga reach Vision Zero.
Reducing Speeding in Mississauga
Speed contributes to almost a third of fatal collisions. The faster you drive, the stronger the impact during a collision. Slowing down not only reduces your risk of collision, it also significantly lowers the severity of injuries if a collision does happen. In the case of vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists, there is only a 15 per cent survival rate if struck by a vehicle travelling at 50 km/h, compared to a 90 per cent survival rate if the vehicle is travelling at 30 km/h.
Many actions in the Vision Zero Action Plan address speed reduction. They include:
- Installing traffic-calming measures: Traffic-calming measures use physical devices or design features, like speed humps or raised pedestrian crossings, to help reduce speeding and aggressive driving. You’ll see warning signs and ‘Traffic Calmed Neighbourhood’ signs installed at each traffic calming location. See the list of current projects.
- Implementing Slow Streets: Slow Streets are temporary traffic-calming devices and signs that are installed at the beginning of neighbourhood streets between May and November. These help remind drivers to slow down and be alert of other roads users.
- Deploying speed cameras:There are 22 speed cameras in Mississauga to enforce speed limits in neighbourhood-area school zones. Speed cameras encourage drivers to slow down and obey the speed limit. These cameras rotate locations every few months. See the list of speed camera locations.
- Lowering speed limits on high speed roadways: This year, City roadways currently posted at 70 km/h will be lowered to 60 km/h. This change will affect 10 roadways in Mississauga, but will exclude Regional roads.
Installing Infrastructure for Vulnerable Road Users
Vulnerable road users are pedestrians, cyclists, transit users and people travelling with personal mobility devices such as wheelchairs or walkers. The City is focusing on installing infrastructure and programming that prioritizes their safety as a key component of Vision Zero. These include:
- Expanding the cycling network: There are approximately 45 kilometres of on-road cycling infrastructure currently in various stages of program planning and development. Currently, 6.5 kilometres of cycling infrastructure is under construction. There is also seven kilometres of cycling infrastructure scheduled to begin construction in 2023, and more than 30 kilometres in planning or design phases. Examples of projects currently planned this year include multi-use trails on Eglinton Avenue East, cycle tracks and separated bike lanes on Argentia Road and multi-use trails on Winston Churchill Boulevard.
- Updating pedestrian signals: There are more than 800 signalized intersections in Mississauga. Since 2021, 749 intersections across Mississauga now have revised pedestrian timings to give pedestrians more time to safely complete their crossing. This year, the City is planning to install accessible pedestrian signals (formerly known as audible pedestrian signals) at 20 additional intersections.
- Implementing safe and comfortable bus stops: The City is continuing to install new transit shelters, pedestrian landing pads and route connections to new and existing pedestrian and cycling networks to provide comfortable, accessible and seamless travel around Mississauga.
- Continuing the School Walking Routes Program: This program promotes active travel, such as walking or travelling by bike, wheelchair or other mobility devices, to and from school. School Route signs installed around the neighbourhood guide students on their way to school and alert drivers to watch for children. Up to eight new schools can participate in the program each year. If you are interested in your local school participating in the program, reach out to the contact on the program webpage for more information.
- Continuing the School Crossing Guard Program: The program has more than 215 crossing guards at more than 160 locations to help elementary school students safely cross the road. The City’s Mississauga School Traffic Safety Action Committee (MSTSAC) conducts site inspections and safety reviews at schools on request to help improve student safety at any school location. You can also request a site inspection.
Maintaining Infrastructure
An essential part of road safety is maintaining existing roads, sidewalks and trails. The City maintains 5,700 lane kilometres of roads, 2,420 kilometres of sidewalks, 51,000 catch basins, 1,000 pedestrian crossings, as well as multi-use trails and cycling infrastructure. Throughout the year, the City repairs potholes and roadway damage including residential streets and bike lanes, inspects and repairs sidewalks and sweeps streets.
Help Mississauga reach Vision Zero
- Request a free “Please Slow Down” lawn sign to place on your lawn to encourage drivers to slow down in your neighbourhood.
- Bring your bike to join a Community Ride this spring, summer and fall. The program offers free bike rides at various distances for cyclists of all ages and abilities.
- Report a vandalized speed camera by calling 311.
- Report potholes and damaged sidewalks, curbs and sod by calling 311 (905-615-4311 outside City limits) or submitting an online service request.
- Continue to follow all rules of the road and etiquette when using Mississauga roads, trails and sidewalks whether you’re a pedestrian, transit user, cyclist or driver.
To learn more about road safety in Mississauga and how the City is taking action to prevent road collisions, visit mississauga.ca/roadsafety and mississauga.ca/visionzero.
SOURCE City of Mississauga
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