Traffic
To report a non-emergency traffic concern or request more information about traffic signals and signage in Richmond Hill, email traffic.inquiries@richmondhill.ca.
Traffic Safety and Operations Strategy
The City’s Traffic Safety and Operations Strategy aims to address road safety in the community. The strategy contains new and enhanced policies and programs for the City to manage traffic-related issues, including proactive city-wide screening of streets to identify and prioritize areas of concern, implementing traffic calming measures based on data and more.Read the Traffic Safety and Operations Strategy.
Traffic Calming Implementation
Traffic calming locations were selected based on a data driven and evidence-based network screening exercise which involved reviewing all Richmond Hill roads including all available volume, speed, historical collision data, and locations with high pedestrian presence. The locations were scored and prioritized based on risk factors associated with fatal and injury collisions and other roadway operating conditions to ensure that traffic calming is implemented in a consistent and equitable manner throughout the city.
Network screening for traffic calming will continue to take place, with the goal of adding new locations in the future.
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2024 Traffic Calming Locations |
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In 2024, 18 locations, three in each ward, were selected based on the results of the City's network screening exercise, to be part of the initial traffic calming implementation. Read more about the Traffic Calming locations.
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| 2025 Traffic Calming Locations | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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As part of the 2025 traffic calming implementation, 18 locations, three in each ward, have been selected based on the results of the City's network screening exercise. These locations were approved by Council in November 2024.
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| 2025/2026 Traffic Improvements | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The following traffic improvements were selected and will be implemented in 2025/2026:
If a specific street was not selected, please email traffic.inquiries@richmondhill.ca and staff will include the location in the next network screening. Please note that not all locations are suitable for traffic calming, due to factors, including but not limited to roadway grade, geometry, traffic volumes or roadways passing through exclusively rural or industrial areas. |
Traffic Safety Measures
If you would like a specific street assessed for traffic calming as part of the next network screening, email traffic.inquiries@richmondhill.ca.
Below are examples of traffic safety measures offered by the City.
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Pedestrian Crossover |
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A pedestrian crossover is a protected crossing that requires motorists (vehicles and bicycles) to yield to pedestrians within the crosswalk. Pedestrian crossovers can be found at intersections or midblocks. |
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Speed Humps |
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Speed humps are raised areas of pavement on the roadway designed to discourage motorists from travelling at excessive speeds. |
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Radar Message Boards |
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Radar message boards are used to increase road and safety awareness of drivers in the community. The radar on the board is aimed at oncoming traffic and records the speed of the vehicle, displaying it on the board so drivers can see how fast they are travelling and if they are over the speed limit. |
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Flexible Bollards |
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Flexible bollards are implemented to encourage slower speeds. They can be placed in the middle of the roadway and on the sides near each curb, to create a narrowing effect to slow down traffic. The bollards are designed to flex upon impact to allow emergency vehicles to drive over them, if necessary. |
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Community Safety Zones |
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A Community Safety Zone (CSZ) is a designated section of the roadway where public safety is of special concern. Community Safety Zones are marked with "BEGINS" and "ENDS" tabs along with the CSZ signs to identify the boundaries of the zone. The purpose is to encourage slower speeds to improve public safety through the designated areas. All fines received within the designated CSZ, including speeding, are doubled. |
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Automated Speed Enforcement |
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Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) is a tool that uses a camera and speed measurement device to detect and capture images of vehicles traveling faster than the posted speed limit. ASE is designed to enhance overall road safety and can be implemented across City streets along with other measures, such as radar speed boards, speed cushions, community safety zones, educational initiatives, and police enforcement. As an effort to protect our most vulnerable residents, ASE is only used in school zones and community safety zones. As part of our ongoing commitment to road safety, the City of Richmond Hill is exploring an ASE program with an anticipated start date in 2026 to enforce speed limit compliance and enhance safety on City roadways. More information on this program can be found here. York Region currently operates an ASE program on Regional roadways. More information on the Region’s ASE program can be found here. |
Boulevard 'Slow Down' Sign Pilot Program
Approved by Council in November 2024, the Boulevard ‘Slow Down’ Sign Pilot Program is a road safety initiative that encourages motorists to slow down in residential areas. ‘Slow Down’ signs will be installed in six locations by September 2025. These locations have been selected based on proximity to a sensitive land use (including schools, playgrounds, community centres, and parks), vehicular speeds, availability of existing infrastructure for installation and ability to maintain appropriate sight lines.
The City will evaluate the Boulevard 'Slow Down' Sign Pilot Program's impact on traffic safety and use these findings to determine next steps for the initiative.
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'Slow Down' Sign Pilot Locations |
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| 'Slow Down' Sign |
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Traffic Circles
Traffic circles are raised islands in the centre of an intersection. They slow down travel speeds, reduce the chance of accidents and discourage traffic from taking short-cuts through residential neighbourhoods.
| How safe are traffic circles? |
| There are 32 points in a standard intersection where conflicts can happen between vehicles. There are also 24 conflict points between vehicle and pedestrians within a standard intersection. A traffic circle reduces that number to only eight vehicle to vehicle conflict points and eight conflict points between vehicle and pedestrians. |
| How do I go through a traffic circle? |
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Remember these steps when traveling through a traffic circle:
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| Where are there traffic circles in Richmond Hill? |
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Traffic circles are usually found in newer residential subdivisions in Richmond Hill, such as:
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Service Charter
Learn more about our Service Charter.
| Service Commitments |
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