News and Communiques

News in 2021 - 2023

Designation as a Fellow of the Ordre des urbanistes du Québec

On March 23, 2023, Paul Mackey was awarded the title of Fellow of the Ordre des urbanistes du Québec. It was mentioned that he was the pioneer of traffic calming in Quebec and that he showed perseverance in promoting this approach in Quebec for thirty years.

Presentation in the Transportation Course at Laval University

On February 21 2022, the director of Safestreet was invited to give a talk on the then-state of the project to redesign 3rd Avenue West in Val-d’Or – from a Road Project to a City and Social Project. He was invited again to present the conclusion of the project on April 24, 2023.

The publication of the brief on traffic safety

The Association québécoise des transports released a document on road safety Franchir un nouveau cap en sécurité routière on February 15, 2023. It is available (in French) at: https://aqtr.com/association/actualites/decouvrez-memoire-franchir-cap-securite-routiere-quebec. Paul Mackey was one of the writers.

Interview on Canal M

The director of Safestreet was interviewed by the host of the program Sans Détour on March 6, 2023. The program deals with universal accessibility issues.

The Spring Conference of the Institute of Transportation Engineers

On March 14, 2023 Paul Mackey was invited to present of the topic of speed management on arterials, using a case study. He highlighted the different phases of the project on 3rd Avenue West Val-d’Or.

Client satisfaction

We had prepared a redesign plan for a street in Roberval in 2020, which was built in 2021 – the plan included a number of innovations for the region, such as raised intersections. Here is the comment by the City Engineer in mid-November 2021: “No negative comments. Only good comments and a speed much reduced. Marvellous until now.” In February 2022, he added « We are always delighted by our street.” In September 2022, the project won the Génie Méritas Prize awarded by the Quebec Association of Municipal Engineers. The project was selected for publication in the ITE Spolite newsletter in November 2022 and is highlighted on the ITE Website: Community Planning Month - Institute of Transportation Engineers (ite.org)
Pedestrian Safety Month - Institute of Transportation Engineers (ite.org).

Revising Geometric Design Manuals for streets around elementary schools

The director of Safestreet submitted a proposal to include a section in the Geometric Design Guide for Canadian Roads to specifically address streets around elementary schools that take into account the evolving developmental psychology of children of those ages. A small committee has been set up, comprised of two professors of civil engineering and two in child psychology, a preliminary text is being discussed. The objective is to submit a project at a meeting of the Active Transportation Integrated Committee of the Transportation Association of Canada. A professor of Public Health has also expressed interest in the project.

The consequences of the way the concept of design speed has been applied

The director of Safestreet was invited to give a talk during a course on Implementing sustainable transportation modes at the Ecole supérieure d’Amenagement du territoire et developpement regional (ESAD) (Planning School) of Laval University on February 7, 2022 on the concept of design speed, the inadequate advice given in Geometric Design Manuals, on the negative consequences for urban areas and on the reasons why this approach still rules, in spite of contrary evidence. He will broach the topic of the new approach that is starting to appear, namely that of “target speed”. The professor indicated, afterwards : «It was super interesting and stimulating. The students and I really appreciated it.» The subject was presented again on February 13, 2023.

Linking land use planning and demography – The Elderly and Walking, an essential re-emphasis

This is the title of an article the director of Safestreet was invited to provide for the Fall 2021 issue of the magazine Urbanité of the Quebec Order of Planners (Ordre des urbanistes du Quebec - OUQ). The article discusses the many benefits associated with walking in the maintenance of health, the reduction of the symptoms of chronic disease, the social, economic, environmental, psychological and even spiritual benefits for the elderly. The article emphasizes the need for a better design of sidewalks and crosswalks without obstacles, the provision of attractive wayside conditions, the implementation of signals better adapted to the needs, and better maintenance techniques.

A discussion on the history of design speed

The director of Safestreet led a discussion on the fundamental concept of design speed as part of the series of Drop-In Sessions organized by the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) on July 23. He presented a history of the definitions and advice associated with this concept since 1940 and the limitations that become apparent.

Pedestrian Safety in Work Zones

In response to the publication of a coroner’s report on the death of a pedestrian during roadworks on Plaza Saint Hubert in Montreal last summer, the journalist from La Presse interviewed the director of Safestreet on the overall measures that should be implemented. The journalist found out about the director thanks to a short article that appeared in the Journal de Québec on January 22, 2020 in anticipation of the brief that he presented during the hearings held by the City of Québec on its Traffic Safety Strategy 2020-2024. The link for the article is: https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/2020-07-02/pietons-pres-de-chantiers-c-est-dangereux-a-bien-des-places.php

Brief

On January 23, 2020, Paul Mackey presented a brief to the hearings held by the City of Quebec about its Traffic Safety Strategy 2020-2024 that deals with "The Safety of Pedestrians and Cyclists around Roadworks.