This project focused on implementing traffic-calming measures to reduce vehicle speeds, raise road safety awareness, and create a safer walking and cycling environment. Funding was used to install speed bumps and solar-powered  radar speed signs. Traffic data was collected from the radar signs and the findings were shared with the community to inform what type of long-term implementation is needed to continue to prioritize pedestrian safety.

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The Village of Ashcroft needed this project to address critical road safety concerns for vulnerable road users on Ranch Road, a primary thoroughfare leading to the community school. This route experiences a high volume of mixed traffic, including private vehicles, school buses, cyclists, and pedestrians of all ages, especially children. The lack of traffic-calming infrastructure has resulted in unsafe driving speeds, which pose an increased risk of accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists.
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Road Safety Issues Addressed

• Excessive Vehicle Speeds: Observations and feedback from the working group’s assessment, as well as community survey results, indicated that speeding is a consistent issue on Ranch Road. This increases the likelihood of collisions and severely limits the reaction time for drivers, placing pedestrians and cyclists in danger, particularly near the school.
• Vulnerability of Pedestrians and Cyclists: Ranch Road is used daily by schoolchildren and residents walking or cycling to the school and other community facilities. Prior to the implementation of dedicated safety measures, these users were at a higher risk of injury due to the close proximity of high-speed traffic.
• Inadequate Road Safety Awareness: The previous lack of visible traffic-calming features reduced drivers’ awareness of the need to slow down. Solar-powered radar speed signs will continue to serve as a constant visual reminder for drivers to monitor their speed, reinforcing road safety behaviors.
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How this project has helped the community:

This project has had a meaningful and immediate impact on road safety in the Village of Ashcroft, particularly along Ranch Road, which is a key route to Desert Sands Community School. By implementing targeted traffic calming measures, the Village has created a safer environment for pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users—especially students and families.

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Vehicle speeds have decreased as a result of both the physical infrastructure (speed bumps) and the behavioural prompts provided by the radar speed signs. The combination of these measures has improved driver awareness and encouraged more responsible driving habits.

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Residents along Ranch Road have shared positive feedback, noting a noticeable reduction in speeding and an increased sense of safety. Feedback from the school has also been very positive, with staff encouraged by the safer road user habits they are observing, particularly during peak student travel times.

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Community engagement throughout the project helped raise awareness of road safety issues more broadly, contributing to a culture of shared responsibility and ongoing dialogue around traffic safety.

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