Sharing Lanes

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.

To stay in the know about this project, subscribe to the project.

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

Road work has started along The Credit Woodlands around Bert Fleming Park as part of the City’s Sharing Lanes project.

Over the coming weeks, City staff will be completing the following work:

• Removing traffic islands in preparation for changing the traffic flow around Bert Fleming Park.
• Sections of asphalt, curb, and sidewalk that have been identified as required improvement will be repaired or replaced.
• Rerouting traffic around Bert Fleming Park.

A two-day road closure will be required to complete the redirection of traffic. Anticipated dates are August 12-13, weather dependent. Further details will be communicated through road signs. Road work and project installation is expected to be completed this summer.

When you’re travelling through the project area during installation, whether it’s by foot, bike or vehicle, please remember to keep safety top of mind:

• Be patient and cautious when travelling near the work site
• Respect all site barricades and signs
• Respect workers and their space

Remember to follow the City on Twitter and Facebook for updates throughout the project.

This is the City’s third tactical urbanism project and will focus on the stretch of the Credit Woodlands surrounding Bert Fleming Park, extending to the roadways in front of Springfield Public School and St. Gerard Separate School. This pilot project focuses on transforming sections of the street to increase safety for vulnerable road users, like pedestrians and cyclists, and improve access to Bert Fleming Park. Plans for the space include:

• Traffic calming measures including piloting a new traffic flow around Bert Fleming Park
• Vibrant designs on the roadway in front of the two schools
• Transformed streets where a section of the roadway is replaced with a car-free community plaza space that will provide space for things like seating and community activities

During the community engagement process, two options (option one and option two ) for the forthcoming Sharing Lanes project on The Credit Woodlands were shown. Based on public response, the City is proceeding with the second option. Over the coming weeks, you’ll see the project start to come to life. Project installation is starting July 2023.

City staff will be:

• Removing traffic islands and changing the traffic flow around Bert Fleming Park
• Installing new pedestrian crossings that connect to Bert Fleming Park
• Installing two new all way stop intersections on the southeast side of Bert Fleming Park
• Adding road murals and art to the pedestrian boulevard space

Installation is expected to be completed this summer. When you’re traveling through this area during installation, please remember to adhere to all site signs and barricades and to be respectful and give staff space as they work.

To learn more about the project, view the project plans and maps, and sign up for updates, visit yoursay.mississauga.ca/sharing-lanes. Remember to follow the City on Twitter and Facebook for updates throughout the project.

In the summer of 2022, the City hosted two tactical urbanism pilot projects, one in Cooksville and one downtown. These projects saw the roads transformed for the summer season, with narrowed traffic lanes and augmented spaces for people to enjoy in their communities. Employing tactical urbanism allowed the City to test out new ideas without undertaking capital improvements while simultaneously giving the community a chance to engage with – and provide feedback on – potential future changes to their community facilities. Please read a summary of What We Heard here.