Prioritizing Neighbourhood Traffic Safety

Across Ward sipiwiyiniwak, from older, established communities like Laurier Heights, Elmwood, and Lynnwood, to neighbourhoods along the LRT construction corridor like Thorncliff, to growing areas such as Glastonbury and The Hamptons, and even the newest communities like River’s Edge, one concern consistently comes up at the doors: traffic safety.

The concerns are consistent across our ward: hazardous intersections and crosswalks, drivers speeding through shortcuts, and unsafe conditions for children, seniors, cyclists, and pedestrians. These concerns are not just about inconvenience. They’re about preventing injuries and saving lives.

Edmonton’s Vision Zero Commitment

Edmonton has committed to Vision Zero, a goal of eliminating traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries. Since the launch of Vision Zero in 2015, fatalities and serious injuries have decreased by 50%. While that’s progress, it also means people are still getting seriously hurt on our streets and we must do better.

The City offers a variety of programs and tools to support neighbourhood traffic safety:

• Vision Zero Street Labs: Community-driven solutions like curb extensions, crosswalk improvements, and temporary measures to slow traffic.

• Traffic Safety Measures: Speed humps, tables, and other infrastructure to discourage speeding.

• Enforcement & Education: Penalties and awareness campaigns that remind drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians of their shared responsibility.

  
  

More details can be found at edmonton.ca/traffic-safety.

What I’ve Heard in Our Ward

Residents across the ward are already seeing results from these programs, but challenges remain:

• Elmwood recently saw speed tables installed to reduce shortcutting and unsafe driving.

• Laurier Heights is exploring the addition of speed bumps after a major repaving project.

• Lynnwood had speed bumps installed around 2021 which they appreciate.

• Thorncliff residents are concerned about drivers racing through neighbourhood streets to get to West Edmonton Mall.

• Parkview had speed bumps made with rubber along a collector road, a design I personally haven't seen before then.

• Edgemont, Stillwater and The Uplands are growing rapidly, and residents want to ensure construction traffic and shortcutting don’t create safety hazards for children and families.

My Commitment to You

As your councillor, my role will be to inform, educate, and empower residents to access the City’s programs. I will:

• Encourage communities to apply for Vision Zero Street Labs and other resources.

• Escalate and advocate for neighbourhoods when residents’ concerns require stronger action.

• Support a balanced approach that combines infrastructure, education, and penalties to improve safety for everyone.

At the end of the day, whether you’re driving, walking, biking, or rolling, you deserve to feel safe moving around your community. Together, we can build neighbourhoods where everyone, from kids on bikes, seniors crossing the street, drivers getting around to places, and commuters waiting for the bus, can get where they need to go safely.