Traffic Calming

Traffic calming is the installation of measures, usually physical road changes, to slow vehicles and increase safety for all types of road users. 

Traffic calming may be used in conjunction with other safety measures, such as changes to posted speed limits and education/enforcement to change behaviour and slow traffic. 

While speed limit changes are usually considered over large areas or by types of street to maintain consistency for drivers to follow, traffic calming measures can address individual streets or immediate areas that need improvements.

The objectives of Traffic Calming are to: 

  • Enhance safety for all users 
  • Reduce vehicular speeds to appropriate operating speeds 
  • Discourage through traffic and short-cutting on local streets 
  • Minimize conflicts between all street users 
  • Improve the neighbourhood environment

Examples of treatments that can slow down a vehicle traveling in a street include:

  • Speed humps
  • Curb extensions
  • Traffic circles
  • Raised intersections
  • Raised crossings

Speed hump on Valley Drive

Background on Traffic Calming in Squamish

In March2025, Council endorsed the Traffic Calming Policy specific to Squamish to supplement this guide and undertake traffic calming requests received from members of the community. This will allow The District to provide community-specific solutions and adjustments to the Transportation Association of Canada traffic calming iguide to make sure the solution works in the local context of Squamish neighbourhoods. 

 

How does the program work?

Traffic calming will be divided into two streams based on the Street Classification map:

  • District led traffic calming on major collector roads
    Major collector roads are intended for through traffic and emergency vehicle access, therefore traditional approaches to traffic calming such as speed humps or traffic diversion are generally not a good fit. Alternative approaches such as narrowing travel lanes are possible but are often more costly. District-led traffic calming provides the opportunity for coordination with other road capital projects to provide greater efficiencies

  • Resident-led traffic calming on local/minor collector roads
    Local and minor collector roads primarily serve residential neighborhoods and small commercial areas. They are designed for lower speed limits and focus on providing direct access to homes, schools, parks and local businesses. Local roads generally have less traffic than collector roads.

Staff will review resident submissions to investigate the concern, and requests that meet the thresholds will be prioritized against the Traffic Calming Policy criteria. 

Once prioritized, the top 3-5 projects will be costed and an implementation schedule will be determined based on budget availability. Both the initial prioritization and the schedule of costed projects will be available publicly and updated annually.

 

Request a traffic calming evaluation

If you would like to request a review of a street, area or safety risk you are concerned about, please complete the traffic calming request form with details about the issue.

Before we put in traffic calming devices, we consider:

  • traffic volumes, vehicle speed and collision history,
  • suitability of installation for the existing road, and
  • emergency vehicle routes and access.

Submit a Traffic Calming Request