Sept. 8 – Oct. 4, 2020 - During the first phase of engagement, we asked what is working well and what is challenging for those travelling through and living in the community.

Based on opportunities identified in Phase 1 and the issues previously identified by the community association, we worked with the community to prioritize which improvements to install using temporary materials in 2021.

Phase 2 of public engagement validated and prioritized criteria for selecting mobility improvement that we heard in Phase 1 of engagement.

As part of the first two phases of engagement, key themes were identified as needing improvement (in order):

• Traffic calming and speed
• Safety concerns
• Wheeling infrastructure
• Traffic lights
• Lighting and visibility
• Pedestrian crossings
• Sidewalks and pathway improvements
• Roadway access
• Accessibility
• Missing links
• Other

In summer 2021, we created wheeling lanes by converting one driving lane in each direction along Silver Springs Boulevard, for biking, skateboarding, scooting and inline skating. We used yellow traffic calming curbs to create a protected experience for all users along Silver Springs Boulevard N.W.

Silver Springs Community Association has partnered with The University of Calgary on a project to beautify the community. The project features playful signage that points to many of the amazing community destinations in Silver Springs. The signs will be installed along the boulevard near the community hall.

Temporary measures were installed in 2021, and Phase 3 of public engagement took place in December 2021, to evaluate the of wheeling facilities, traffic calming measures and pedestrian improvements. This was used to determine if any modifications need to be made before permanent installation in 2022. 

Thank you to everyone who provided input on our traffic calming improvements. Feedback can be found in the What We Heard Report. Key takeaways include general support for the street mural at St. Sylvester School, and residents stated they feel safer walking and cycling. We heard the streets feel calmer and residents see value in changes for the community. Many others mentioned concerns about the wheeling lanes, with cost, underusage and location as the main concerns. 

The following summarizes the range of input we received, grouping feedback into theme areas, and how the project team is addressing the feedback into the design of the permanent measures:

The wheeling lanes at Silver Springs Blvd were constructed at a lower overall cost compared to a typical concrete/curb wheeling lane installation of this length and size. Much of the materials used along this wheeling lane (such as traffic calming curbs) are reusable and adjustable.

One of the main focuses of this project was to improve pedestrian, wheeling, and motor vehicle user safety in the community. Wheeling lanes reduce vehicle speeds, improve sightlines and provide physical separation and barriers for people who choose to walk, bike, or drive. The wheeling lanes offer a safe option for wheeling users of all ages and abilities to navigate through the community.

Silver Springs Blvd was designed for more traffic volume than it experiences today, so there was an opportunity to reduce the number of lanes along the corridor and repurpose this space with a wheeling lane in the road right-of-way. 

In 2016, the Community Association submitted a list of desired mobility improvements to improve traffic safety and promote active modes of transportation.

In 2018, the Community Association conducted a survey to determine their traffic safety concerns within Silver Springs. Many issues were brought forward by residents, but overwhelmingly speeding the Silver Springs Boulevard was identified as the main concern.

In 2019, The City and the community worked together to reduce speeds and improve crossings by installing:

• Speed humps and curb extensions
  • Silver Mead Road N.W.
• Traffic calming curbs
  • 54 Avenue N.W. and the entrance to Bowmont Park
  • Silver Ridge Drive at Silver Ridge Crescent N.W.
• Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB)
  • Silver Springs Gate and Silver Dale Drive N.W.
  • Silver Springs Boulevard and Silver Grove Drive N.W.
    • Left turn exit from Silver Springs Plaza Mall onto Silver Springs Boulevard

To respond to a community traffic calming request and ongoing conversations with the Silver Springs Community Association, The City selected Silver Springs to pilot the Neighbourhood Streets Policy. Silver Springs was chosen to represent a community that is very active and engaged in understanding mobility concerns. We measured this by the activity of the Silver Springs Community Association, especially the resident surveys they have hosted and the very detailed traffic calming application.

The total investment in Silver Springs is approximately $800,000.

• The new sidewalk and traffic calming improvements are estimated to cost $750,000.
• The wheeling lane pilot extension is estimated to cost $50,000. 

Traffic calming and small pedestrian enhancements are generally a cost-effective way to help residents be active and safely explore their community using different travel choices.

Pilots let us test street changes with temporary materials to get the right design and allow us to the opportunity to gather community feedback, before installing any permanent infrastructure.

The wheeling lanes on Silver Springs Blvd. will remain a pilot until 2024, at which time we evaluate their performance and review feedback from the community.

Calgary's neighbourhood streets should be safe and comfortable to drive, walk or bicycle, and to live along. On some streets, however, speeding vehicles, short-cutting traffic and road user conflicts detract from the safety and liveability of the street. If problems are severe enough, residents and others may no longer consider that streets are safe or their neighbourhood is liveable.

In these cases, physical changes can be installed to help resolve traffic and safety problems, preserving and enhancing neighbourhood liveability. Examples of traffic calming include speed humps, traffic circles and directional road closures, and may include regulatory changes such as turn prohibitions.

A Neighbourhood Street is a street you might live on or the one near you with local shops and your closest bus stop. There is a lot of activity on neighbourhood streets like moving, connecting with neighbours and gardening or mowing the lawn. Neighbourhood streets work well when everyone can move safely and comfortably.

A Liveable Street is defined in the Neighbourhood Streets policy as a street that is safe, welcoming to all ages, comfortable for a variety of travel choices, supportive of fun and healthy lifestyles, and enhancing for local destinations through appropriate public amenities. The Neighbourhood Streets Policy aims to achieve more liveable streets for users of all ages, abilities and transportation modes.

We typically find the best ways to reach all residents is through a combination of signs, letters, and social media advertising (Facebook & Twitter). We regularly update our webpages and you can subscribe to our newsletter for updates.

People wheeling have the option of waiting or going around buses, including using the lane, taking the next lane or using the sidewalk for those under 14 or those who choose to dismount. 

Snow clearing for the driving lanes is mostly unaffected by the wheeling lanes and still completed within 24 hours of a snow event. Snow clearing on the bike lanes may be delayed by a day, depending on the magnitude of the snow event. The City's snow clearing plan depends on the kind and amount of snow.

While pilots are a newer approach in Calgary and North America, we have examples throughout the city including the adaptive roadways that were put in place to support residents during COVID.  

When on the road, people wheeling must follow all the rules of the road, like using hand signals and obeying all traffic control. Like drivers, people wheeling shouldn’t change lanes or turn unless there is a safe gap. People wheeling must yield to pedestrians and are able to change lanes to left at intersections. 

People driving must yield to people wheeling when turning, just like they would have before the outside lanes were dedicated.

It is illegal to stop in the bike lanes, so pick up at St. Sylvester school must be on side streets or the lane behind the school. 

The data being collected on this project will help answer the goals of the community and project. Here are some of the questions and data we are studying:

• Will travel times increase along Silver Springs Boulevard?
  • Data includes travel time measurements
• Will traffic increase on other streets?
  • Data includes counts at intersections along the route to see if the changes on Silver Springs Boulevard will cause shortcutting
• Are people using the wheeling lanes?
  • Data includes counts of people walking, wheeling and driving at several intersections along the corridor
• Are the wheeling lanes safe?
  • Safety reviews have been conducted, video conflict analysis is being completed to assess how the corridor is performing and any collision data will be studied with Calgary Police Services

Generally, there is no parking along Silver Springs Boulevard, though some parking spaces have been added to provide more access to Bowmont Park.