2040 Transportation Master Plan

Definitions

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Active Transportation Corridor

A corridor that is prioritized for safe and convenient use by human-powered (active) modes of transportation, such as walking and biking. Active Transportation Corridors can consist of independent pathways, or protected paths integrated into roads.

Arterial Road

A road that is designed to facilitate the movement of people or goods over longer distances in the city, as outlined in OCP Map 13.1 and the Transportation Master Plan.

Car Dependent

Refers to transportation and land use patterns that necessitate the use of cars for most, if not all, daily trips.

Frequent Transit Network

A network of transit corridors where transit service runs at least every 15 minutes in both directions throughout the day and into the evening.

Functional Classification System

A system that categorizes roads according to their role and function in the transportation network. The functional classification of a road (e.g., arterial, collector, local) helps determine priorities for things like snow clearing or sweeping, as well as requirements for new developments. 

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions

Gases that trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, water vapour). The majority of GHG emissions are produced by the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum, and natural gas.

High Street

A street located in an Urban Centre where retail commercial uses are required at grade and where the City would target the greatest emphasis on creating a high quality, pedestrian oriented public realm.

Higher Capacity Transit

Public transit that often has an exclusive right-of-way and has vehicles that make fewer stops, travel at higher speeds, provide more frequent service and carry more people than typical local bus service.

Induced Demand

Traffic congestion tends to maintain equilibrium (traffic volumes increase until congestion delays discourage additional driving). When new road capacity is added to try to alleviate congestion, people often quickly adapt by changing their travel behavior – e.g., driving more, changing routes, leaving at different times, or living further away. The end result is roads fill back up quickly, often in  just five to ten years1. A more effective long-term solution to traffic congestion is to reduce car-dependence by concentrating growth, shortening trip distances, and providing more transportation options for residents besides driving.

Major Roads

Major and minor arterials whose primary function is mobility.

Multi-Use Pathways

Off-street pathways that are physically separated from motor vehicle traffic and can be used by people walking, bicycling, and using other forms of active transportation such as skateboarding, kick scootering, and in-line skating. Small electric vehicles such as e-bikes, e-scooters and mobility devices are also accommodated.  

Neighbourhood Bikeways

Streets with low motor vehicle volumes and speeds that have been reduced through traffic calming to prioritize bicycle traffic. Because motor vehicle volumes and speeds are low, neighbourhood bikeways can be comfortable facilities for people of all ages and abilities.

Neighbourhood Streets

Local and collector streets that prioritize access to residences and businesses and provide connections from neighbourhoods to the major road network. 

People-moving capacity

The ability of a street to move people using all modes of transportation, not just automobiles.

Quick-build infrastructure

A transportation facility that can be constructed relatively quickly using ‘interim’ materials that are typically significantly less expensive that permanent infrastructure. An example is using portable concrete barriers rather than cast-in-place concrete curb for a protected bike lane.

Residential Street

A street located in an Urban Centre where residential uses are required at grade with opportunities for limited commercial uses. 

Retail Street

Streets identified in Urban Centres that will require retail commercial uses at grade.

Shared Spaces

A road with very low motor vehicle speeds and volumes in which the living environment dominates over the through movements. A shared space functions first as a meeting place, residence, playground, and pedestrian area. The road is shared among people walking, cycling, and driving.

Transit Supportive Corridors

Streets that are identified to support a higher density and greater mix of uses in the Core Area that can be accommodated with and support increased transit service. See OCP Chapter 3: Future Land Use.

Transportation Demand Management (TDM)

Information, encouragement and incentives that help people make decisions that reduce the demand on the transportation network.

Unbanked Residents

Adults who do not have their own bank account.

Vehicle Kilometres Travelled (VKT)

A measure of how much distance is driven by a motorist or many motorists (i.e. all motorists within a city) in a given time period.