Traffic circles

Traffic circles are one form of traffic control found in the center of two intersecting streets. Traffic Circles are one of the tools available to the City and the community to control vehicular traffic in areas where transient traffic have been short cutting through the neighbourhood at a high speeds.

The traffic circle is approximately 5.5 meters or 18 feet in diameter and composed of rounded concrete curbs that will allow large vehicles such as fire vehicles to drive over them without difficulty. The area within the traffic circle, is usually filled with soil or asphalt. The treatment is dependant upon what the community desires. Some communities have adopted traffic circles by agreeing to landscape the traffic circle as well as provide maintenance.

Traffic circles are acquired through the Neighbourhood Transportation Branch. When a request for a traffic circle is received an informal petitioned is issued and the petitioner is requested to acquire at least twenty signatures to demonstrate that there is interest.

Once the informal petition is returned, the design process begins. The cost for the work is then determined and a flat rate calculated. The costs are not standard as the work involved for each intersection may vary.

A formal petition will then be issued and information letters sent to all affected owners. Affected properties are those that are adjacent streets that radiate outwards from the intersection for one block in each direction.

Traffic circles are usually filled with concrete. However, individuals or area residence can "adopt" the traffic circle and restore the interior of the circle with plantings.

Scope of work

• installation of rounded concrete curb
• breakout and removal of asphalt surface within the traffic circle
• installation of signs
• restoration of area within traffic circle

Key benefits:

• reduction in vehicle speeds at intersections
• expansion in green space area
• community involvement

Improvement charges

Owners of properties radiating outwards from the intersection for a radius of one block are assessed for the cost of the construction of the traffic circle. The City does not contribute to this type of project. The costs for a traffic circle improvement projects can be paid in a lump sum or carried over a 5 year period.

The cost to property owner s based upon the cost of the project divided by the assessable length of all affected property to determine a flat rate. The flat rate is then multiplied into the assessable length of each property to determine the cost to each owner. However, there are on occasions lots that are unusual in shape and may be eligible for equitable adjustments. Refer to Assessments for more detail.

Current rates for traffic circles

Zoning	Lump Sum	Annual (5yrs)
Residential/Commercial/Industrial	TBD*	TBD*

* To Be Determined

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