Committee updated on Road Safety Action Plan

The Public Works and Infrastructure Committee today received an update on its Strategic Road Safety Action Plan and the impacts from the Province’s adoption of Bill 56.

The 2020-2024 action plan helped to reduce fatal and major injury collisions in Ottawa by 20 per cent compared to the baseline rate. The overall fatal and major injury rate per 100,000 people in Ottawa continues to decline, and reached the 20 per cent target from the baseline rate of 15.5 injuries recorded between 2013 and 2017. The City will continue to monitor to ensure the reduction is sustained and has not solely been influenced by changed traffic patterns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Province’s Bill 56, the Building a More Competitive Economy Act, banned the use of automated speed enforcement (ASE), which had been an integral part of implementing the Strategic Road Safety Action Plan. Beyond its enforcement role, the ASE program enabled the City to reinvest  revenues from the Program into supporting road safety initiatives and programs.

Automated speed enforcement has been one of the City’s most effective tools for reducing dangerous speeding, especially in school areas. Data from the original ASE pilot showed major sustained improvements in driver behaviour. Preliminary findings have also shown that removing the City’s ASE cameras has reduced compliance with posted speed limits. High‑end speeding has increased at former ASE sites. The findings do not, however, reflect the impact of new signs required under Bill 56 or other road safety measures being considered at former ASE sites. Sign installation is underway and is expected to be completed in Spring/Summer 2026; with associated costs to be reimbursed to the City by the Province.

The City is phasing out administration of the ASE program by eliminating operating costs, transitioning key technical road safety resources, and collecting outstanding arrears. Revenues are expected to exceed program administration costs in 2026, supporting a structured phasing out of operations.   

The ASE-funded component for the Adult School Crossing Guard and Temporary Traffic Calming programs will be maintained and would shift to citywide tax funding in 2027. The $1-million annual allocation to Ottawa Police Service will be addressed as part of the 2027 budget process.

The City will seek recovery of eligible costs from the Province, including those related to provincially sanctioned road safety measures at former ASE sites, for which the Province has committed up to $23.8 million through the Road Safety Initiatives Fund.

Due to the significant reduction in ASE revenues in 2026, the 2026 Road Safety Action Plan program’s capital funding will be reduced to $7.5 million. Action plan funding will be evaluated again during the 2027 budget cycle.  

Work in 2025 focused on priority areas that include vulnerable road users, intersections, rural areas and high‑risk driver behaviour. Highlights included:

• The start of construction at Elgin Street at Laurier Avenue intersection and Laurier Avenue from Queen Elizabeth Driveway to Elgin Street
• Offering motorcycle safety courses
• Adding pedestrian improvements and fully protected left-turns at several intersections
• Undertaking safety assessments at rail crossings
• Funding for new traffic control devices and traffic-calming measures across Ottawa
• Funding for skewed intersections
• Adding safety edges and gravel shoulder maintenance in rural areas
• Ongoing work on the City’s speed zone policy

The Committee approved a new underpass for transit users, linking Dow’s Lake Station to the future Ottawa Hospital’s Carling Campus.

An initial underpass option that would use the space within the existing Carling Avenue bridge structure was determined to be too narrow. Subsequent investigations have resulted in a refined concept that integrates the crossing with a planned replacement of the Carling Avenue bridge. The bridge was built in 1965 and is nearing the end of its service life. A below-ground route was the preferred option for the public as well as for interest holders because it would provide a seamless and accessible route to the hospital that is also protected from the weather.

Only transit customers will be able to access the underpass, but the signalized at-grade crossing of Carling Avenue will also remain in place.

The total cost for the underpass and bridge replacement is estimated to be in the order of $80 million in 2026 dollars, and the work is dependent on securing funding. If the underpass is not built by the time the new hospital opens, a number of interim measures could be considered, including improvements to the surface connection or a possible shuttle service.

City Council will consider the recommendations from today’s meeting on Wednesday, May 13.

• Agenda