Traffic Calming Around Schools

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Consultation has concluded

New speed bump is pictured on the road beside a school building

Project Update, April 2023: The City’s consultant is continuing work to finalize designs for permanent traffic calming measures around schools in New Westminster. The permanent designs will reflect feedback from last year’s engagement participants:

  • the 30 km/h pavement markings will be replaced with a clearer, more durable design
  • the design for permanent curb extensions will be adjusted to strike a balance between vehicle maneuvering and prioritizing pedestrians
  • permanent curb extensions will use concrete to replace the current flexible white posts, which we have heard are not visually appealing

In addition, a few speed humps are still to be installed in areas where we are waiting for other construction projects to be completed. No significant changes are expected for the pick-up/drop-off signage.

Installation of the permanent measures is expected to begin later in 2023, starting with replacing the 30 km/h pavement markings. Busier streets will be prioritized for installing the permanent measures. The temporary measures will be replaced gradually over the next few years.

Project Update, October 20, 2022: Engagement participants and community members are now invited to review the survey results! A total of 188 residents completed the traffic calming survey. Click here for the full survey report. You can also read the discussion forum comments at any time.

The project team is still working to analyze and apply your input. Stay tuned for more details on how your feedback will inform the updated traffic calming designs for each school. Again, thank you to everyone who took the time to share their feedback with us.

The City has almost completed installing new traffic-calming measures at 14 school zones across New Westminster. The measures are designed to be low-cost and temporary, and will help create safer school zones in a rapid fashion. Once you have had an opportunity to experience the changes, we are seeking community feedback to help inform the permanent designs.

Creating safe routes to school is an important factor in reducing GHG emissions and achieving the City’s goal of a zero carbon future by 2050. The new traffic calming measures are also in support of the City’s 7 Bold Steps – specifically Step 2, Car Light Community, and Step 7, Quality People-Centered Public Realm.

To design the interim traffic calming measures, existing traffic control, calming measures and curbside regulations at each school location were reviewed. In addition, we reviewed previous planning efforts to improve traffic safety around schools, including:

  • School Travel Plans developed by Hub for Active School Travel (HASTe) and HUB: Your Cycling Connection
  • Toolkit of school traffic safety measures developed by the former Neighbourhood Traffic Advisory Committee (now Sustainable Transportation Advisory Committee)
  • Conceptual designs for the five elementary schools and one middle school previously completed by City staff

The interim traffic calming measures have also been informed by best practices to improve school safety and facilitate active transportation from regional, national and international examples.

Click here for details on the specific changes in progress / completed at each school zone.


How can I engage?

Your feedback will help the City’s Transportation Department understand how effective the temporary measures are at creating safer school zones, and if there have been any unintended consequences after their installation. The feedback from this engagement will help inform updated traffic calming designs for each school as we replace the temporary measures with permanent fixtures starting in 2023.

Installation of the new traffic calming measures is still underway, and different features will be installed at different times around your neighbourhood school(s). A survey and discussion forum have been created to gather feedback on the temporary measures. Please share your feedback once you have had a chance to experience the completed changes. The survey and discussion forum will be open through the end-of-day August 21, 2022.

Project Update, April 2023: The City’s consultant is continuing work to finalize designs for permanent traffic calming measures around schools in New Westminster. The permanent designs will reflect feedback from last year’s engagement participants:

  • the 30 km/h pavement markings will be replaced with a clearer, more durable design
  • the design for permanent curb extensions will be adjusted to strike a balance between vehicle maneuvering and prioritizing pedestrians
  • permanent curb extensions will use concrete to replace the current flexible white posts, which we have heard are not visually appealing

In addition, a few speed humps are still to be installed in areas where we are waiting for other construction projects to be completed. No significant changes are expected for the pick-up/drop-off signage.

Installation of the permanent measures is expected to begin later in 2023, starting with replacing the 30 km/h pavement markings. Busier streets will be prioritized for installing the permanent measures. The temporary measures will be replaced gradually over the next few years.

Project Update, October 20, 2022: Engagement participants and community members are now invited to review the survey results! A total of 188 residents completed the traffic calming survey. Click here for the full survey report. You can also read the discussion forum comments at any time.

The project team is still working to analyze and apply your input. Stay tuned for more details on how your feedback will inform the updated traffic calming designs for each school. Again, thank you to everyone who took the time to share their feedback with us.

The City has almost completed installing new traffic-calming measures at 14 school zones across New Westminster. The measures are designed to be low-cost and temporary, and will help create safer school zones in a rapid fashion. Once you have had an opportunity to experience the changes, we are seeking community feedback to help inform the permanent designs.

Creating safe routes to school is an important factor in reducing GHG emissions and achieving the City’s goal of a zero carbon future by 2050. The new traffic calming measures are also in support of the City’s 7 Bold Steps – specifically Step 2, Car Light Community, and Step 7, Quality People-Centered Public Realm.

To design the interim traffic calming measures, existing traffic control, calming measures and curbside regulations at each school location were reviewed. In addition, we reviewed previous planning efforts to improve traffic safety around schools, including:

  • School Travel Plans developed by Hub for Active School Travel (HASTe) and HUB: Your Cycling Connection
  • Toolkit of school traffic safety measures developed by the former Neighbourhood Traffic Advisory Committee (now Sustainable Transportation Advisory Committee)
  • Conceptual designs for the five elementary schools and one middle school previously completed by City staff

The interim traffic calming measures have also been informed by best practices to improve school safety and facilitate active transportation from regional, national and international examples.

Click here for details on the specific changes in progress / completed at each school zone.


How can I engage?

Your feedback will help the City’s Transportation Department understand how effective the temporary measures are at creating safer school zones, and if there have been any unintended consequences after their installation. The feedback from this engagement will help inform updated traffic calming designs for each school as we replace the temporary measures with permanent fixtures starting in 2023.

Installation of the new traffic calming measures is still underway, and different features will be installed at different times around your neighbourhood school(s). A survey and discussion forum have been created to gather feedback on the temporary measures. Please share your feedback once you have had a chance to experience the completed changes. The survey and discussion forum will be open through the end-of-day August 21, 2022.

Consultation has concluded

Check out our FAQ before submitting your question - we may have already addressed your question!

Have a question about the traffic calming project? Please add it here. We will aim to reply within 5 business days. If we think your question may be of interest to others, we'll post your question and our response here. Thank you for taking the time to write to us!

  • Share Why there is no measure on 8th st of NWSS? There are so many students walk to school and parents drop-off there. on Facebook Share Why there is no measure on 8th st of NWSS? There are so many students walk to school and parents drop-off there. on Twitter Share Why there is no measure on 8th st of NWSS? There are so many students walk to school and parents drop-off there. on Linkedin Email Why there is no measure on 8th st of NWSS? There are so many students walk to school and parents drop-off there. link

    Why there is no measure on 8th st of NWSS? There are so many students walk to school and parents drop-off there.

    myfeethurt asked almost 2 years ago

    Hello and thanks for your question. The City is limited in implementing potential traffic-calming measures on Eighth Street near the former high school building, because this is a city “collector” road (moderate vehicle capacity) that needs to accommodate transit. However, we are still considering options for future measures along this stretch. It’s important to note that the former high school building will be demolished in the near/mid-term future, which may have an impact on the streetscape. 

    For New Westminster Secondary School students getting to school, we will soon start construction on a new cycling connector on Sixth Street. Click here for more info on this project. 

  • Share As part of this project why aren't there any "school street" pilots (similar to Vancouver) where a block around a school is shut down for cars to allow students and parents to walk and roll safely to school and improve the public realm around schools? Idling cars picking up students seems to be a big problem and would be great to incent folks to use active/sustainable transport for school pickup/drop off. on Facebook Share As part of this project why aren't there any "school street" pilots (similar to Vancouver) where a block around a school is shut down for cars to allow students and parents to walk and roll safely to school and improve the public realm around schools? Idling cars picking up students seems to be a big problem and would be great to incent folks to use active/sustainable transport for school pickup/drop off. on Twitter Share As part of this project why aren't there any "school street" pilots (similar to Vancouver) where a block around a school is shut down for cars to allow students and parents to walk and roll safely to school and improve the public realm around schools? Idling cars picking up students seems to be a big problem and would be great to incent folks to use active/sustainable transport for school pickup/drop off. on Linkedin Email As part of this project why aren't there any "school street" pilots (similar to Vancouver) where a block around a school is shut down for cars to allow students and parents to walk and roll safely to school and improve the public realm around schools? Idling cars picking up students seems to be a big problem and would be great to incent folks to use active/sustainable transport for school pickup/drop off. link

    As part of this project why aren't there any "school street" pilots (similar to Vancouver) where a block around a school is shut down for cars to allow students and parents to walk and roll safely to school and improve the public realm around schools? Idling cars picking up students seems to be a big problem and would be great to incent folks to use active/sustainable transport for school pickup/drop off.

    agnesstreetphantom asked almost 2 years ago

    Hello and thanks for the question. 

    A similar concept to the City of Vancouver’s School Streets pilot project was discussed by the former City of New Westminster Neighborhood Transportation Advisory Committee in 2019. There was a mixed response from the advisory committee members at the time, and the idea has not been pursued further.

    Key aspects of the City of Vancouver’s pilot program include partnership with the School District, strong community initiative and buy-in, and regular volunteers to set up, monitor and take down the barriers during each school drop-off and pick-up time. So far, we have not heard a strong demand from New Westminster schools or school communities to pursue this initiative. At this time, the City of New Westminster does not have the resources to push forward and organize an initiative like this.

    This current traffic-calming project is a first step in creating safer school zones by putting infrastructure and consistent signage in place in our school zones. Once engagement concludes and permanent measures are installed, the City will review their impacts and assess the need for any additional interventions. 

  • Share What happened to the flexposts at 7th Ave and Park Cres? The curb extensions at Glenbrooke MS show as completed but the flexposts have been gone for several months. Is there consideration to replace them with rigid bollards? on Facebook Share What happened to the flexposts at 7th Ave and Park Cres? The curb extensions at Glenbrooke MS show as completed but the flexposts have been gone for several months. Is there consideration to replace them with rigid bollards? on Twitter Share What happened to the flexposts at 7th Ave and Park Cres? The curb extensions at Glenbrooke MS show as completed but the flexposts have been gone for several months. Is there consideration to replace them with rigid bollards? on Linkedin Email What happened to the flexposts at 7th Ave and Park Cres? The curb extensions at Glenbrooke MS show as completed but the flexposts have been gone for several months. Is there consideration to replace them with rigid bollards? link

    What happened to the flexposts at 7th Ave and Park Cres? The curb extensions at Glenbrooke MS show as completed but the flexposts have been gone for several months. Is there consideration to replace them with rigid bollards?

    ChrisS asked almost 2 years ago

    Hi Chris, and thanks for your question. Sorry for the delay in replying.

    The installation in front of Glenbrook Middle School was a temporary initiative meant to raise traffic safety awareness at the start of the school year. The flexible delineators were unfortunately removed in the fall as our street sweeping machines were unable to clean debris behind them and the catch basins were becoming clogged. However, the colourful paint at this intersection remains. 

    We will be trying similar temporary delineators at other school zones, and we now have an adopt-a-catch-basin program to hopefully have community members help maintain these installations so they can stay up longer. You can find out more about the adopt-a-catch-basin program using this link.

    Moving forward, and in part depending on the results of our engagement on the temporary measures, we will be considering permanent curb extensions in school zone areas, which would include fully replacing the curb and sidewalk in the area to match the footprint of the temporary curb extensions. Please stay tuned for our community survey launching soon, and share your feedback! 

  • Share 1. Why other schools are not included in the program, such as PALS school for children with autism on 3rd street? 2. Why the humps installed only on streets with low traffic? How about the humps on 12th, 8th, 6th street? on Facebook Share 1. Why other schools are not included in the program, such as PALS school for children with autism on 3rd street? 2. Why the humps installed only on streets with low traffic? How about the humps on 12th, 8th, 6th street? on Twitter Share 1. Why other schools are not included in the program, such as PALS school for children with autism on 3rd street? 2. Why the humps installed only on streets with low traffic? How about the humps on 12th, 8th, 6th street? on Linkedin Email 1. Why other schools are not included in the program, such as PALS school for children with autism on 3rd street? 2. Why the humps installed only on streets with low traffic? How about the humps on 12th, 8th, 6th street? link

    1. Why other schools are not included in the program, such as PALS school for children with autism on 3rd street? 2. Why the humps installed only on streets with low traffic? How about the humps on 12th, 8th, 6th street?

    Aquaro asked about 2 years ago

    Hello and thanks for your questions. 

    1. The City has limited this project to include public schools and two larger private schools that border busy roads. We will be using the lessons learned from this project to help guide future interventions at other schools in the city as appropriate. 

    2. Regarding speed humps, the streets you have mentioned are City collector roads that are not suited for speed humps because many are bus routes and primary emergency service routes. We avoid putting speed humps on major bus routes as they may cause issues for passengers on the bus, in addition to extra wear and tear on the buses themselves. We aim to manage speeds on these other streets using other measures.

    Kind regards,
    The Be Heard team