FAQs (to be updated periodically throughout the study)

The subject portion of Main Street Markham has vehicle speeds that are well in excess of the posted speed limit (10-20 km/h over). Also, the City has received ongoing concerns from the community about safety and livability along the corridor. Collisions in particular are very high in the area, with a frequency of approximately eight (8) collisions per year. For a 1.2km stretch of road this is concerning and requires appropriate measures to be taken to address the issue.

This study is intended to improve safety for all road users through the development and implementation of traffic calming measures.

Safety is the key benefit from introducing traffic calming. Measures implemented encourage slower and more careful driving, leading to fewer and less severe crashes. Neighbourhood residents feel more comfortable, particularly seniors and families with young children, walking or cycling in the area given the reduction in speeding drivers.

Neighbourhood attractiveness can also improve with residents feeling safer to walk or cycle and cars emitting less pollutants due to slower driving (i.e., better air quality), as well as reducing noise pollution from vehicles.

Examples of traffic calming measures include lane narrowing, road diets (reduction in lanes), on-street parking, controlled pedestrian crossings, etc.

In addition to conducting a safety review of the corridor, feedback from public consultation will play a key part in the selection of proposed traffic calming measures. Comments received from the PICs and from input provided on this webpage will be considered. The traffic calming measures will be to the City’s standards and selection based on local concerns, feasibility, costs, and potential benefits.

Yes. Pedestrian and cyclist volumes along the corridor will be reviewed to identify new pedestrian crossing opportunities. Generally, road segments adjacent to schools, shopping malls, parking lots, and major public transport hubs such as GO stations will have higher levels of pedestrian activities. For example, the surroundings of the Markham GO Station will have a moderate to high level of pedestrian crossings.

Strategies in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) to support walking and cycling will be considered, especially at pedestrian crossovers.

Detailed design of the corridor is anticipated to be completed by summer 2024. Implementation of proposed improvements are to begin and end in 2025, subject to budget approvals.

This Traffic Calming project is responding to and addressing current traffic safety concerns on this stretch of Main Street Markham. The objective is to recommend interim and short-term solutions to improve safety for all users and make Main Street Markham a more inviting environment overall. Importantly, data, ideas, options and proposed improvements from this project will help inform the development of the permanent design of this road corridor.

A common misconception is that road diets create more traffic congestion. If applied correctly, road diets can maintain a roadway’s effective capacity. For example, a corridor like Main Street Markham has numerous driveways and side streets, so the majority of through traffic tends to utilize the outside travel lanes to avoid being delayed by left-turning vehicles slowing and stopping in the inside travel lanes. As a result, the four-lanes essentially behave like a three-lane road already. Therefore, if Main Street Markham is converted to a three-lane cross-section through a road diet, it is unlikely to increase congestion overall.

In addition, the City has conducted a thorough analysis comparing traffic operations under existing conditions and expected conditions post-road diet. The analysis concluded that there will be no appreciable increase (less than 30 seconds) to travel times during both morning and afternoon peak periods.