SMALL UPGRADES TO CREATE A NEIGHBOURHOOD FOR EVERYONE

Let's try some simple designs to transform an Edmonton neighbourhood's core into something more friendly for residents, visitors, businesses, and drivers alike.

Fraser is a Northeast Edmonton community with many of its amenities located near a central "ring-road". This includes the school, community league, parks and playground, and small businesses.

Today, drivers are often spotted going faster than the posted 30 - 40 km/hr speed limits. Why? Because the road is designed that way.

Built in the 1980's, Fraser's main road was designed to support speeds of 50km/hr. It's wider design is built to get cars through quickly.

The optimum speed is 30km/hr. Why is that? Here are some reasons:

• Business Growth - A Brooklyn parking lot was turned into a pedestrian-friendly plaza. Businesses saw a 172% boost in sales. Other studies show an average of 50-65% increase to sales.

• Safety Risks - Pedestrians are more likely to die from being struck by a vehicle going 30km/hr or greater.

• Reduced Noise - once a vehicle travels faster than 30km/hr, the rolling noise from its tires is greater than the noise of its engine.

  • Noise increases sleep disturbance, mental health issues, and irritability.

  
  

• Walkability - it's found that people are more likely to walk / cycle in areas that interact with cars if cars are going 30km/hr or less.

  • The more people who choose to walk or cycle means less vehicles on the road, making it more efficient for even drivers to get around.

    
    

• Access - not everyone can drive, or afford to drive to get to desired destinations. This includes children, and significant numbers of the elderly and disabled populations.

Fraser can unlock these benefits by building a walkable space in its core. Here's how:

1. BUILD CONTINUOUS SIDEWALKS TO CROSS THE STREETS AND TO ACCESS FRASER'S SCHOOL AND PLAYGROUND.

   
   

Continuous sidewalks allow pedestrians (especially those with limited mobility), to easily cross the street.

These sidewalks improve safety by forming speed bumps around crosswalks, prompting drivers to slow down.

2. NARROW THE ROADWAY FOR CARS AND ALLOW ACCESS FOR CYCLISTS; REDUCE SPEED LIMIT TO 30KM/HR

Using the same street width, Edmonton can add trees, and bicycle lanes and potentially IMPROVE the amount of people that can get through the street per hour:

Citations:

Streetscape Design Courtesy of Streetmix: https://streetmix.net/

Government of Canada, "Noise and Sound. Effects on Mental Health and Wellbeing", 2024

https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/noise-your-health/effects-mental-health-well-being.html

Transport Policy Matters, "The Case for 30km/hr Speed Limits in Cities", 2020:

https://transportpolicymatters.org/2020/02/17/30kmh-speed-limit-in-cities/?utm_source=Sustainable+Bus+Next+Stop&utm_campaign=5041b1507f-12023_03_24NEXT_STOP_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b48eb86b72-5041b1507f-

Liraz Fridman et al, "Effect of Reducing Posted Speed Limit...", 2020 https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s12889-019-8139-5.pdf

Katherine Westaby, "Walkability Means Better Business", 2019 https://economicdevelopment.extension.wisc.edu/files/2022/01/DE0719.pdf

Katy Bryce, "Why Walkability is Great for Business"

https://www.commuteoptions.org/why-walkability-is-great-for-business/#:~:text=Making%20neighborhoods%20and%20business%20districts,boosted%20retail%20sales%20by%20172%25