Road Safety Improvements Planned Following Automated Speed Enforcement Changes

Road safety continues to be one of the most important priorities for Council, especially in neighbourhoods where families, students, pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers all share the road every day.

Following the Province’s decision to discontinue Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) in late 2025, Council and Town staff immediately began working on new ways to continue improving safety in Community Safety Zones across Newmarket.

This work is especially important in Ward 6, including areas surrounding Clearmeadow Public School and Armitage Village Public School, where residents have consistently raised concerns about speeding, pedestrian safety, and driver behaviour near schools and neighbourhood parks.

The former ASE locations included in Ward 6 are:

  • Clearmeadow Boulevard from Plantation Gate to east of Bartholomew Drive

  • Savage Road from west of Sandford Street to Goldsmith Crescent

Town-wide, the Community Safety Zone Improvements Framework also includes former ASE locations on:

  • Stonehaven Avenue

  • Kingsmere Avenue

  • Gorham Street

  • Srigley Street

  • Patterson Street

  • Wayne Drive

  • Bristol Road

  • Longford Drive

  • Queen Street

  • William Roe Boulevard

  • Woodspring Avenue East

  • Woodspring Avenue West

In May, Council reviewed and supported a comprehensive plan focused on replacing ASE with long-term, infrastructure-based safety improvements designed to calm traffic and improve driver awareness.

Rather than relying on a single solution, the Town is moving toward a layered approach to road safety that includes:

Enhanced speed feedback signs

“Slow Down” pavement markings

Flexible bollards near school zones

New lane and edge line markings

Raised pedestrian crosswalks

Speed cushions and other traffic calming features

Improved pedestrian-focused infrastructure

One of the traffic calming options discussed was the use of speed cushions. Unlike traditional speed humps that extend across the full roadway, speed cushions include small gaps or breaks that allow emergency vehicles to pass through more smoothly while still encouraging drivers to slow down. Staff noted these measures are already being used successfully in many municipalities across Ontario.

Council also reviewed other innovative safety ideas, including embedded LED crosswalk lighting designed to improve pedestrian visibility at night. While these options are not being implemented at this time, staff noted they may be considered in the future as more operational experience and data become available.

The Town has also been reviewing the effectiveness of existing traffic calming measures already used in Newmarket. Studies presented to Council showed that measures such as flexible bollards, speed feedback signs, and urban shoulder treatments have already helped reduce vehicle speeds in several neighbourhoods across Town.

The first phase of interim improvements is expected to begin before the start of the 2026 school year, helping improve safety around schools and within Community Safety Zones as students return to classrooms in September. Additional monitoring and traffic studies will then help guide any future enhancements in 2027 and beyond.

As Ward 6 continues to grow, investments in safer streets and pedestrian-focused neighbourhoods will remain a key priority. Thank you to the residents who continue to share feedback, participate in consultations, and advocate for safer roads throughout our community.

Together, we are continuing to build neighbourhoods where residents of all ages can move around safely, confidently, and connected to the community around them.

Road Safety Initiatives Fund - Community Safety Zone Improvements Framework

Road Safety Initiatives Fund Community Safety Zone Improvements

Kelly BroomeComment