Existing Roadway Conditions and Key Traffic Issues

The following is a summary of existing roadway conditions of Viewmount Drive between Merivale Road and Fisher Avenue:

• Road classification: Collector road
• Road width:
  • Merivale Road to Chesterton Drive/Coolspring Crescent: 15.0 m
  • Chesterton Drive/Coolspring Crescent to Fisher Avenue: 10.8 m - 11.2 m

• Posted speed limit: 40 km/h
• Land use: Primarily suburban residential
• Sensitive land uses nearby:
  • Schools
  • Seniors’ residences
  • Child care centre
  • Parks and community facilities
• Served by OC Transpo routes 112 and 189
• Key emergency response street for Ottawa Fire Services

85^th percentile speed (the speed at or below which 85% of vehicles are travelling)

The 85th percentile speed is the speed most drivers consider reasonable and safe under existing conditions, representing the upper range of typical driver behavior and commonly used as a standard measure of operating speed.

If the operating speed is significantly higher than the posted speed limit, it may indicate a need for traffic calming measures to help bring speeds closer to the intended limit.

Figure 2: 85^th Percentile Operating Speeds Between Merivale Road and Chesterton Drive

Figure 3: 85^th Percentile Operating Speeds Between Chesterton Drive and Fisher Avenue

Figure 4: Crash Survival Rates by Speed

Figure 5: 25 Year Collisions (2000-2024)

Key Traffic Issues

• Excessive operating speeds well above the posted speed limit are not appropriate for a residential neighbourhood and create safety concerns for residents and other vulnerable road users.
• Lack of dedicated cycling facilities combined with high vehicle speeds, which may discourage active transportation along Viewmount Drive.
• Pedestrian safety concerns at crossings due to high speeds and long crossing distances.
• High pedestrian activity and collision history along Viewmount Drive between Merivale Road and Grant Carman Drive, at the Chesterton Drive/Coolspring Crescent intersection, and along the eastern section of Viewmount Drive, where high speeds and collisions are also a concern.
• Please note that major modifications to the Merivale Road and Viewmount Drive intersection are out of scope for this project. Modifications to this intersection are currently being studied by the Merivale Road (Baseline Road to Slack Road) Transit Priority Environmental Assessment Study.
• Viewmount Drive is a key emergency response route; traffic calming measures must consider potential impacts on emergency response times.