Overview

The City of Ottawa is conducting a traffic calming study on Décoeur Drive between Mer-Bleue Road and Tenth Line Road in response to traffic safety concerns raised by the public.

The purpose of this study is to:

• Reduce excessive vehicle speeds
• Improve safety for all road users
• Support active transportation along the corridor such as walking and cycling
• Develop context-appropriate traffic calming solutions

Study Area

The study area is focused on Décoeur Drive between Mer-Bleue Road and Tenth Line Road, as shown below:

Décoeur Drive between Mer-Bleue Road and Tenth Line Road

Local Context

Décoeur Drive is a collector road that provides connectivity between the local and arterial road network in the Portobello South neighbourhood. Residents have identified concerns related to high vehicle speeds and pedestrian safety.

The Décoeur Drive corridor has sidewalks on both sides of the street with designated crosswalks at Mer-Bleue Road, Jerome Jodoin Drive, des Aubépines Drive and Tenth Line Road. There is an existing pedestrian crossover between Sculpin Street and Aquarium Avenue/Guppy Grove and a future school crossing planned at Magnolia Street being delivered through a separate project. The intersection at Mer-Bleue Road is currently being modified to a protected signalized intersection, with construction anticipated to be completed in early 2027. More information about this project can be found here.

Décoeur Drive is served by transit routes 32 and 234, providing service to and from Blair Station.

Policy Context

The City’s Transportation Master Plan identified projects that support complete street modifications to existing roads. These projects focus on reconfiguring roadways to better accommodate sustainable modes of transportation, provide access to available services and amenities, and encouraging a shift toward walking, cycling, and transit usage.

This project aligns with the City’s goals of improving safety for all road users, reducing vehicle speeds, and creating a more complete and accessible roadway.

Proposed Plans

Three proposed concept plan alternatives have been developed to help address speeding and improve safety for all road users. In no specific order, the proposed plans are outlined below:

Option 1

• Seven sets of speed cushions
• Bicycle lanes on both sides of Décoeur Drive between Mer-Bleue Road and Magnolia Street. On-street parking would be removed along this segment to accommodate the bicycle lanes.
• New pedestrian crossover with road narrowing and bicycle lane bypasses at Esturgeon Street
• Upgraded pedestrian crossover with pedestrian refuge island at Magnolia Street
• Six corner radius reductions at minor cross-street intersections

Option 2

• Seven sets of speed cushions
• No dedicated bicycle lanes. Existing on-street parking would be maintained
• Upgraded pedestrian crossover with pedestrian refuge island between Sculpin Street and Aquarium Avenue/Guppy Grove
• New pedestrian crossover with road narrowing at Esturgeon Street
• Upgraded pedestrian crossover with pedestrian refuge island at Magnolia Street
• Six corner radius reductions at minor cross-street intersections

Option 3

• Seven sets of speed cushions
• Bicycle lanes on both sides of Décoeur Drive between Mer-Bleue Road and Jerome Jodoin Drive, and in the eastbound direction of Décoeur Drive (south side) between Jerome Jodoin Drive and Magnolia Street. On-street parking would be preserved at activity generators such as Don Boudria Park and Notre-Place School.
• New pedestrian crossover with road narrowing and bicycle lane bypass at Esturgeon Street
• Upgraded pedestrian crossover with refuge island at Magnolia Street
• Six corner radius reductions at minor cross-street intersections

Please note that the proposed plan alternatives are conceptual in nature and that certain measures may be refined, modified, replaced or removed based on community feedback and during the detailed design and/or construction phases.