Traffic Calming of Main Street Markham (between Bullock Drive and 16th Avenue)
Updated as of May 14, 2024
The City of Markham is the fourth largest municipality in the Greater Toronto Area with 353,000 residents. The City has seen rapid population growth in recent years and is anticipating a continuation of this trend. This growth presents the City with a set of issues and challenges for the transportation network.
Background
Main Street Markham, between Bullock Drive and 16th Avenue, is a four-lane undivided collector road with sidewalks on both sides of the road. The posted speed limit is 50 km/h and there are no shared or dedicated bike lanes. Three (3) locations have traffic signal control along the corridor that are at Bullock Drive, 16th Avenue and Ramona Boulevard. The surrounding lands are a mix of residential, with some commercial uses with direct access to Main Street. The main trip generators in the study area include Markham GO Station, Markham Fire Station 97, Buddhist Prajna Temple, St. Dimitrija Solunski Macedonian Orthodox Church, and Station Plaza Shopping Mall.
Within the study area, there are ongoing traffic safety concerns. Such concerns have been expressed by the local community in an effort to improve safety and overall quality of life.
Although the posted speed limit is 50 km/h at this section, the actual operating speed is in the range of 60 to 70 km/h. Between 2015 and mid-2023, a total of 68 collisions occurred throughout the corridor with a frequency of approximately eight (8) collisions per year. No fatal injuries occurred along the corridor during the analysis period; however, the high frequency of collisions demonstrates the need to address existing problems and concerns for all road users. This study is intended to improve safety through the development and implementation of effective traffic calming measures.
Project Objective
The main objectives of this project are to:
- Identify traffic operational safety concerns along the corridor;
- reduce vehicle speeds and traffic volume through traffic calming strategies;
- maintain access and mobility for all;
- enhance safety for pedestrians and cyclists;
- improve overall community safety for those living in and visiting the City;
- receive public input on existing conditions and recommendations; and
- implement the Preferred Option.
Get Involved
We value your input in the development of effective traffic calming measures and ensuring the safety of those using Main Street Markham. Two (2) Public Information Centres (PIC) will be held over the course of the project. PIC #1 was held on January 29th, 2024, from 6pm to 8pm at the Markham Village Community Hall with 60 attendees. The PIC was presented in an open house format providing an overview of existing conditions, range of traffic calming measures, alternative traffic calming options being considered for Main Street (Options 1 to 3), and project next steps. Option 1 was presented as the Recommended Preferred Conceptual Design with a 2-lane cross section and protected bike lanes in each direction.
Following review of public comments received at PIC #1 and further study of Main Street, an Option 4 was developed and is the Revised Recommended Preferred Option to be presented at PIC #2. This option has a 3-lane cross section with a single through-lane per direction, a 2-way centre left-turn lane, and uni-directional bike lanes. This option also proposes lowering the speed limit on this section of Main Street to 40 km/h. The Bullock Drive and 16th Avenue intersections will not be affected, including the approaches to the intersections.
PIC #2 is scheduled for Thursday, May 23, 2024, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm to be held at the following location:
Markham Village Community Centre (Lounge)
6041 Highway 7
Markham, ON L3P 3A7
A Notice of PIC #2 will be sent out to stakeholders and members of the public, and is also posted on this website.
Other Ways to Get Involved
- Stay updated: Save this website to your browser favourites.
- Share your thoughts: Post your thoughts about the project on the "Share Your Thoughts" board at the bottom of this page.
References / Links to Supporting Information
- City of Markham Traffic Safety Information: www.markham.ca/traffic
- Canadian Guide to Traffic Calming, 2018: https://www.tac-atc.ca/en/publications/ptm-trafcalm18-e
- FHWA Road Diet Informational Guide, 2014: https://highways.dot.gov/safety/other/road-diets/road-diet-informational-guide
- City of Markham Active Transportation Master Plan, 2021: https://www.markham.ca/wps/portal/home/neighbourhood-services/walking-and-cycling/master-plan-and-studies/activetransportationmasterplan_2021
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At this stage of the project, we are inviting comments that will help refine the detailed design of the project.
View All Ideas7 days ago
I agree. Option 4 is the best. Markham Road is no longer a Provincial Highway and should not be used as an arterial road.
15 days ago
it is saying truck is not allowed on that road, but you can see the truck quite often even during the rush hour
about 17 hours ago
*Protected* bike lanes!
"Option 1" was better. Basically, painted bike gutters aren't worth the paint used. Cyclists need to be protected from cars in order to feel safe using the lanes. Even flex posts are better than nothing but Option 4 is clearly designed for car traffic over other modes. 👍40km/h 👎unprotected bike gutters I look forward to the PIC.
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For this current phase of the project, the comment period has ended. Thank you for all your comments and questions. We very much appreciate them. While we will not be able to respond to them individually, the project team is reviewing and considering each and every one of them in our analysis. As we have received comments through various channels including the Ideas board on this website, emails to the project team, and regular mails as well, we will be publishing a summary of all comments and questions received in a table shortly. Thank you for your interest in the project.
View All Ideas3 months ago
It appears that 90 percent of the traffic travelling north is on their way thru not stopping so finish the Don Cousins By Pass at Major Mac.
Lets finish a project we started rather than start more that never get completed.
4 months ago
Ideas for the entire main street
- advanced green light left turn for Southbound and Northbound between main st and Ramona especially during rush hours 6-10am~ and 4-7/8pm. This would clear the most amount of cars without causing a jam on one side, especially for cars that don't need to turn left and have to wait for the car turning left. If you can make an extra lane for that, that would significantly help. - when the train stops at Ramona and Main, there is too much traffic jam caused by the train. A revamp of the train tracks as an underpass would ease traffic and remove the unnecessary wait times for the gates to lift. - remove the brick median with the unnecessary floral decor at 16th Ave and main st. Takes up so much space and blocks view. Especially snow has no where to go which shortens the left turn lane. - no left turns into the church going southbound... This causes a build up of traffic for one car trying to get in... - better control of right turn lane at bullock and main. Often cars decide to turn back into the middle lane last minute to go southbound. This causes a jam to the right lane for drivers that actually turning right. - advanced green left turn light at main st and centre street. Many people need to turn into centre street to park behind the main street businesses.
3 months ago
Have the train barriers raise while the train waits in station
This would allow traffic to keep flowing while the train is stationary.
4 months ago
- Advanced green lights - removal of fences/hedges which impede visibility to street - 2 lanes of traffic, drivable median, bike lanes
1 - More southbound advanced green lights at the corner of Ramona and main to clear the traffic faster when the train leave 2 - currently very difficult to see the traffic when driving or backing out of some driveways. 3 - bike lane/southbound lane/drivable median for driveway access/northbound lane/bike lane
4 months ago
-An advanced green light for cars turning into Ramona and into the Markham Station West parking lot
This issue requires prudent planning and consideration of future traffic and predictable congestion from development, north of Markham Rd. Mount Joy, Greensborough without mention of Stouffvilles massive expansion. If traffic calming is the objective then curb construction must be considered. Widen the road to add bike lanes and create a narrowing effect to slow down cars. A pedestrian stop light can be added at a midway point in lieu of pedestrian crossings as proposed, as done on Markham Main St in front of St. Andrews Church (Although pedestrians crossing the traffic at this point is nearly non existent). I believe that reducing lanes is a step backwards and should not be considered. The future of Markham is getting bigger, not smaller.
