Installation Complete in The Credit Woodlands

Temporary Sharing Lanes Installation is now complete on The Credit Woodlands

The City has taken a creative approach to traffic calming on The Credit Woodlands with its Sharing Lanes program. Sharing Lanes is a method of rapid low cost project implementation using a set of techniques designed to enhance the built environment, with the intent of bringing a positive and long term outcome to the community. This pilot project has been implemented around Bert Fleming Park, and will be in place until a permanent solution has been developed.

The goals of this pilot project included reducing vehicle speeds and collisions, improving pedestrian safety, and providing safer access points to Bert Fleming Park. In order to achieve these, the City has implemented:

• New traffic flow to improve road safety

The traffic flow around Bert Fleming Park has been converted from one-way traffic to two-way traffic by replacing two traffic islands with all-way stops. Six new crosswalks have been added, connecting to the park and two nearby schools. This new configuration aims to encourage drivers to slow down in the area and improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists, such as families and students traveling to/from the school, or residents using the park.

• Vibrant designs inspired by the community

During the engagement process, the community shared their ideas for the asphalt art and the most common response was to include local nature in the designs. Along sections of the roadway and crosswalks, images of foxes, deer, birds and squirrels on colourful backgrounds now bring the spaces to life. In addition to making the space more enjoyable, the asphalt art improves road safety by increasing visibility of the crosswalks and other pedestrian spaces. It also encourages pedestrians to cross at the designated crosswalks and drivers to slow down and to be alert.

• Car-free space for play and connection

With colourful barricades separating it from the roadway, a new car-free plaza now provides additional space for local families and residents to play and connect, with new picnic tables and direct access to the park. The City collaborated with students in the Sheridan College Urban Design Program to design and install the asphalt art for this space, which incorporates the animal imagery on the roadway and crosswalks, and also creates opportunities for free play and games like hopscotch, four-square and more.

In addition to increasing safety for pedestrians and cyclists, the project has created more space for the community to connect and play, and improved access to the park.

What’s Next

The Sharing Lanes project along The Credit Woodlands will be in place for a minimum of two years. The City will use data and resident feedback to determine the impact that the project has had on the safety of all road users traveling though the area. This data and community feedback will inform if and how these changes may be made permanent.

Residents will have opportunities to share their feedback throughout the duration of the project. In fall 2023, the City will be connecting with students and families in the community in collaboration with the School Walking Routes program to gather feedback on how the space is serving the needs of the local school community. A detailed survey and another in person community engagement is planned for spring 2024. In the meantime, please use our ideas board to leave a comment or idea.

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To learn more about how the City is improving safety for all road users, visit mississauga.ca/roadsafety.