Eastbridge Traffic Data

The following indicates the data the City has collected to date, information collected in 2018 as well as additional information.  This document was prepared by the Director of Transportation for the City of Waterloo.

Data Collection

As a reminder, “average” is the average speed of the vehicles recorded in km/hr; the 85th is the speed at which 85% of the vehicles are travelling at or below in km/hr and the AADT is the average number of vehicles using that section of road.

As shown in the chart, the data collected for the first two locations indicates consistent traffic volumes and for the most part, reduced speeds since 2001. The two locations counted for the first time in 2017, indicate slightly higher speeds.

The collisions for this section of Eastbridge – Mayflower to Yarmouth indicate from January 1, 2012 to August 30,2018, there have been only 2 reported collisions.

  • Eastbridge@ Windjammer/Bonavista – 2013 – vehicle/pedestrian collision – pedestrian walking on roadway against traffic and was struck
  • Eastbridge@ Cabot Trail West intersection – 2015 – vehicle stopped at stop sign and was hit from behind

Pedestrian Crossings

For the implementation of crosswalks on roadways, City staff must follow what is set out in the Ontario Traffic Manual Book 15 from the Ministry of Transportation.  These guidelines are used Province wide to ensure consistency between all municipalities. 

While the City has placed “dots” at pedestrian refuge and trail crossing locations in the past, staff do not recommend this practice.  The “dots” do not mean anything – vehicles are not obligated to stop and pedestrians are not provided with the right-of-way.  They are confusing for both parties.  Some motorists might stop and allow pedestrians to cross and others will not.  It gives mixed messages to the pedestrians,especially children.

Regular crosswalk lines can only be installed at signalized intersections, stop signs, supervised school crossings and at warranted pedestrian crossings.  Traffic counts must be conducted to determine if pedestrian facilities are warranted.

All-way Stop warrants

In order to determine if an all-way stop is warranted at an intersection, an intersection count must be performed.  The count is done over 8 hours – counting all vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.  The count data collected previously was from our traffic counting equipment and it is for only vehicles.  An intersection count is done by a person, that observes through traffic, turning traffic and can count pedestrians and cyclists.

  • The purpose of the stop signs is to control the right-of-way at intersections.  All-way stop control is installed in response to concerns regarding collisions, excessive motorist delay or pedestrian crossings at an intersection.
  • Improper use of all-way stop control unnecessarily restricts traffic flow.  This leads to frustration and disrespect for stop signs in particular and traffic control devices in general.  It also negatively affects the environment in terms of air pollution, noise and fuel consumption.
  • Many individuals believe that the installation of stop signs, either singly or at regular intervals, will serve the purpose of slowing down traffic on a roadway.  A stop sign will stop or slow down a driver at an intersection but many studies have established that the speed reduction is limited to a range of approximately 30 metres immediately adjacent to the stop sign.  Often motorists accelerate to an even greater speed after having stopped or slowed for a stop sign to make up lost time.  The effect on vehicle speed with a stop sign is limited.  Therefore, the use of an all-way stop control for reducing vehicle speed with a stop sign is limited.  Staff deems the use of all-way stop control strictly as a speed control device to be not appropriate.  The more appropriate response to speed complaints is to determine whether the perception of speed is actually the case, through field studies.  Appropriate responses to the problems of neighbourhood speeding could include working with the neighbourhood with the speed watch sign or traffic calming measures. 

An intersection traffic count was conducted in June of 2018 at the easterly intersection of Eastbridge and CabotTrail.  This information is required to determine if an all-way stop is warranted. The city conducts the traffic counts on weekdays during the 8 highest traffic volumes hours of the day– generally in the months of April to June and September to November to ensure that we are counting all modes of traffic,including pedestrians and cyclists.

Based on the side street (Cabot Trail) and pedestrian volumes, as well as the collisions over the last three years, the intersection did not meet the warrants for an all way stop.

Recent Changes

Staff have recently made the following changes since the spring of 2018:

  • Placement of crosswalk lines at the intersection of Cabot Trail and Eastbridge (all-way stop intersection –east leg of the intersection on Eastbridge only due to driveway locations)
  • Placement of crosswalk lines at the intersection of Eastbridge/Windjammer/Bonavista (all-way stop intersection)on both legs of Eastbridge
  • Placement of the radar speed sign as a data collection device and a driver awareness device weather conditions allow
  • Data collection (8 hour traffic count) at the intersection of Eastbridge and easterly intersection with Cabot Trail. 

In spring of 2019, the City will continue to collect data with the traffic counters and the radar speed sign to determine if conditions along the street change.