A significant shift is underway in how Canadian communities design their streets. While traditional roadway design often prioritized “forgiving” environments that enabled higher operating speeds, new insights into human behaviour, safety, and livability are pushing municipalities toward a different approach — one that focuses on designing self-enforcing streets that operate safely at lower speeds.
The Transportation Association of Canada (TAC)’s new Design and Operation of Lower-Speed Collector and Arterial Roads: Synthesis of Practice equips practitioners with timely, practical guidance to support this shift. Developed by a multidisciplinary team and informed by an extensive literature review, a national survey of practitioners, and 10 detailed case studies from across Canada, this publication gives municipal designers and planners a comprehensive look at what works — and why.
Why This Synthesis Matters
Most serious and fatal urban collisions occur on arterial streets. Research consistently shows that reducing vehicle speeds dramatically decreases the risk of death or serious injury, especially for pedestrians and cyclists. Yet until now, Canadian guidance on designing and operating lower-speed collector and arterial roads has been limited.
This synthesis fills that gap. It:
- Explains the relationship between speed, safety, and livability in urban and suburban settings.
- Examines the implications of using a single, consistent target speed — aligning design speed with posted speed — and how this relates to Safe Systems principles.
- Provides a detailed catalogue of speed management measures, from corridor design and cross-section elements to gateway treatments, pavement markings, and operational tools.
- Highlights Canadian case studies, offering real-world examples and lessons learned from cities implementing lower-speed arterial and collector corridors.
- Clarifies how these concepts relate to existing TAC guidance, including the Geometric Design Guide for Canadian Roads and the Canadian Guide to Traffic Calming.
Whether designing new streets or retrofitting existing ones, practitioners will find proven and emerging approaches to help communities improve safety, comfort, equity, and quality of life.
Who Should Read It
This publication is essential for:
- Municipal roadway designers
- Transportation planners
- Safety specialists
- Policy professionals involved in Vision Zero or Safe Systems strategies
The decisions made on arterial and collector roads influence not only travel behaviour but also noise, comfort, safety perceptions, and neighbourhood livability. This synthesis outlines beneficial approaches to help practitioners match the design of a street to its intended speed—and ultimately make cities safer for everyone.
Buy your copy today
Members: $129 | Non-members: $169
Publication code: PTM-LSCAR-E
Available in print or e-book formats