Urban Shoulders

… or how NOT to give your neighbourhood the cold shoulder

Presented by:

Dave Richardson, P.Eng., PTOE

Manager - Transportation

Planning & Advisory Services

WSP

Facts about Willowbrook Road in

the City of Markham (Community

of Thornhill)

Residential Collector Road 2 km in length

Shortcut between Green Lane and Bayview Ave

Posted Speed limit of 40 km/h

No stop controls

On-street parking and sidewalks on both sides

Previously one lane per direction, each 6.4m wide

Highway 407

Willowbrook - Before

6.4 m6.4 m

Willowbrook - After

2.0 m4.4 m4.4 m2.0 m

Willowbrook - After

Willowbrook - After

Benefits

Traffic calmed – one narrower lane per direction

Cyclists are off the sidewalks and onto the street

which is now a signed Bike Route

Urban shoulders are rarely blocked by parked

vehicles since all homes have 2-car garages plus

wide driveways

Vehicles that do park on the street “fit” nicely

within the 2.0m urban shoulder

Willowbrook – After … with speed humps

Benefits

Short cutting traffic virtually eliminated

Speeds reduced significantly

Everyone is happy…pedestrians, cyclists and

homeowners (except for shortcutting drivers)!

What not to do…

— Urban shoulders are too narrow

— Motorists are not encouraged to park close to the curb

Questions?

Dave Richardson, P.Eng., PTOE

Manager - Transportation

Planning and Advisory Services

WSP Canada Group Limited

905-882-7302

david.richardson@wsp.com