Photo Radar
Photo radar is established in multiple locations throughout Canmore to both enforce the posted speed limits within town limits, as well as to raise awareness on the dangers of excess speed in residential areas. All photo radar locations are approved by the Canmore RCMP and meet guidelines set out by the Province of Alberta, and an annual report is submitted to them.
pdf
Click here to read the most recent Automatic Traffic Enforcement Report
(200 KB)
Photo Radar Helps Keep Our Community Safer
Automated traffic enforcement is one tool used in Canmore to address speeding and enhance traffic and community safety. With the updated provincial guidelines and continued focus on zones that have historically seen a large number of speeding violations, such as school and playground zones, automated traffic enforcement will continue to support the Town’s traffic safety priorities. Encouraging safe speeds is important to creating safe streets and livable communities because slowing down gives everyone more time to react to the unexpected, avoid collisions, and lower the severity of collision-related injuries.
In 2018, an independent review (PDF, 3 MB) was done to evaluate how photo radar was being used in Alberta.
The review found that:
- Alberta saw a reduction in collisions overall, over a 10-year period - of that, photo radar was responsible for:
- 1.4% reduction in traffic collision rates
- 5.3% reduction in the proportion of fatal collisions
Photo Radar Site Selection
Sites are not selected randomly and include one or more of the following criteria:
· Playground zones
· Areas with an identifiable, documented history of speeding problems
· Sites can also include construction zones, however, photo radar has not been used in construction zones to date.
· As of April 1, 2022, photo radar is no longer permitted at the Bow River Bridge.
The Town of Canmore contracts its photo radar program to a contractor who employs operators that are appointed as Town of Canmore Peace Officers. These officers use the vehicle cameras to conduct photo radar enforcement in Town.
Council continues to support the philosophy that photo radar has contributed to the safety of the community throughout the years because the data shows photo radar changes behavior and slows people down. Photo radar services will be contracted until 2025.
· Playground zones
· Areas with an identifiable, documented history of speeding problems
· Sites can also include construction zones, however, photo radar has not been used in construction zones to date.
· As of April 1, 2022, photo radar is no longer permitted at the Bow River Bridge.
The Town of Canmore contracts its photo radar program to a contractor who employs operators that are appointed as Town of Canmore Peace Officers. These officers use the vehicle cameras to conduct photo radar enforcement in Town.
Council continues to support the philosophy that photo radar has contributed to the safety of the community throughout the years because the data shows photo radar changes behavior and slows people down. Photo radar services will be contracted until 2025.
Click on any of the green, orange, or red highlighted zones on the map below to see the reason the zone is monitored by photo radar.
Automated Traffic Enforcement Location Assessment
Benchlands Trail
pdf Benchlands Tr near Cougar Creek Dr (West Bound) (1.26 MB)
pdf Benchlands Tr near Cougar Creek Dr (East Bound) (1.25 MB)
pdf Benchlands Tr between Eagle Landing and Eagle Terrace Rd (South Bound) (189 KB)
pdf Benchlands Tr between Eagle Landing and Eagle Terrace Rd (North Bound) (191 KB)
Bow Valley Trail
pdf Bow Valley Tr near Ray McBride St (East Bound) (1.25 MB)
pdf Bow Valley Tr near Ray McBride St (West Bound) (1.26 MB)
Cougar Creek Drive
pdf Cougar Creek Dr near Hoodoo Cres (South Bound) (190 KB)
pdf Cougar Creek Dr near Hoodoo Cres (North Bound) (190 KB)
pdf Cougar Creek Dr near Elizabeth Rummel School (East Bound) (193 KB)
pdf Cougar Creek Dr near Elizabeth Rummel School (West Bound) (193 KB)
pdf Cougar Creek Dr near Coyote Way (South Bound) (189 KB)
pdf Cougar Creek Dr near Coyote Way (North Bound) (191 KB)
Elk Run Boulevard
pdf Elk Run Blvd near Ridge Rd (North Bound) (1.17 MB)
Harvie Heights Road
pdf Harvie Heights Rd near Bow Valley Trail (East Bound) (186 KB)
pdf Harvie Heights Rd near Bow Valley Trail (West Bound) (185 KB)
Moraine Road
pdf Moraine Rd near Lady MacDonald Dr (North Bound) (192 KB)
pdf Moraine Rd near Lady MacDonald Dr (South Bound) (197 KB)
Three Sisters Parkway
pdf Three Sisters Parkway near Three Sisters Dr (East Bound) (1.02 MB)
pdf Three Sisters Parkway near Three Sisters Dr (West Bound) (1.06 MB)
pdf Three Sisters Parkway near Fitzgerald Rise (West Bound) (1.07 MB)
Spray Lakes Road
pdf Spray Lakes Rd near Rundleview Dr (West Bound) (1.03 MB)
pdf Spray Lakes Rd near Rundleview Dr (East Bound) (1.04 MB)
5 Avenue
pdf 5 Ave near Centennial Park (North Bound) (190 KB)
pdf 5 Ave near Centennial Park (South Bound) (189 KB)
pdf 5 Ave near Centennial Park (East Bound) (194 KB)
7 Avenue
pdf 7 Ave near 14 St (South Bound) (189 KB)
pdf 7 Ave near 14 St (North Bound) (189 KB)
pdf 7 Ave near 5 St (South Bound) (196 KB)
pdf 7 Ave near 5 St (North Bound) (197 KB)
5 Street
pdf 5 St near Centennial Park (East Bound) (198 KB)
pdf 5 St near Centennial Park (West Bound) (197 KB)
15 Street
pdf 15 St near 10 Ave (West Bound) (192 KB)
pdf 15 St near 10 Ave (East Bound) (192 KB)
pdf Benchlands Tr near Cougar Creek Dr (West Bound) (1.26 MB)
pdf Benchlands Tr near Cougar Creek Dr (East Bound) (1.25 MB)
pdf Benchlands Tr between Eagle Landing and Eagle Terrace Rd (South Bound) (189 KB)
pdf Benchlands Tr between Eagle Landing and Eagle Terrace Rd (North Bound) (191 KB)
Bow Valley Trail
pdf Bow Valley Tr near Ray McBride St (East Bound) (1.25 MB)
pdf Bow Valley Tr near Ray McBride St (West Bound) (1.26 MB)
Cougar Creek Drive
pdf Cougar Creek Dr near Hoodoo Cres (South Bound) (190 KB)
pdf Cougar Creek Dr near Hoodoo Cres (North Bound) (190 KB)
pdf Cougar Creek Dr near Elizabeth Rummel School (East Bound) (193 KB)
pdf Cougar Creek Dr near Elizabeth Rummel School (West Bound) (193 KB)
pdf Cougar Creek Dr near Coyote Way (South Bound) (189 KB)
pdf Cougar Creek Dr near Coyote Way (North Bound) (191 KB)
Elk Run Boulevard
pdf Elk Run Blvd near Ridge Rd (North Bound) (1.17 MB)
Harvie Heights Road
pdf Harvie Heights Rd near Bow Valley Trail (East Bound) (186 KB)
pdf Harvie Heights Rd near Bow Valley Trail (West Bound) (185 KB)
Moraine Road
pdf Moraine Rd near Lady MacDonald Dr (North Bound) (192 KB)
pdf Moraine Rd near Lady MacDonald Dr (South Bound) (197 KB)
Three Sisters Parkway
pdf Three Sisters Parkway near Three Sisters Dr (East Bound) (1.02 MB)
pdf Three Sisters Parkway near Three Sisters Dr (West Bound) (1.06 MB)
pdf Three Sisters Parkway near Fitzgerald Rise (West Bound) (1.07 MB)
Spray Lakes Road
pdf Spray Lakes Rd near Rundleview Dr (West Bound) (1.03 MB)
pdf Spray Lakes Rd near Rundleview Dr (East Bound) (1.04 MB)
5 Avenue
pdf 5 Ave near Centennial Park (North Bound) (190 KB)
pdf 5 Ave near Centennial Park (South Bound) (189 KB)
pdf 5 Ave near Centennial Park (East Bound) (194 KB)
7 Avenue
pdf 7 Ave near 14 St (South Bound) (189 KB)
pdf 7 Ave near 14 St (North Bound) (189 KB)
pdf 7 Ave near 5 St (South Bound) (196 KB)
pdf 7 Ave near 5 St (North Bound) (197 KB)
5 Street
pdf 5 St near Centennial Park (East Bound) (198 KB)
pdf 5 St near Centennial Park (West Bound) (197 KB)
15 Street
pdf 15 St near 10 Ave (West Bound) (192 KB)
pdf 15 St near 10 Ave (East Bound) (192 KB)
Photo Radar Revenues
Net revenues are put into a reserve account which funds expenses related to policing and or traffic safety initiatives deemed appropriate by Town Council. Since 2007 $3.9 million dollars of revenues have funded the following programs and traffic safety initiatives:
· Mobile speed display signs and audible traffic signals have been installed.
· An additional RCMP officer for the town was added to the detachment compliment in 2008 which was funded by photo radar revenues. Since 2011, the funding for 1.5 RCMP officers has been funded through photo radar revenues, rather than through municipal taxes.
· Pedestrian crossing lights were installed on the east side of the Bow River Bridge.
· Pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure was improved to increase the comfort, safety, and enjoyment of alternative modes of transportation.
· Enhancements to the Bow Valley Trail CPR crossing.
· Cougar Creek parking and pathway improvements.
· Curb ramps added to sidewalks, and multi-use pathways, parking areas.
· Improved safety of pedestrian crossing by installing pre-cast medians to slow traffic and provide pedestrians with refuge.
· New Driver Course Rebate Program
In 2022, photo radar revenues contributed to the following active transportation projects:
· Mobile speed display signs and audible traffic signals have been installed.
· An additional RCMP officer for the town was added to the detachment compliment in 2008 which was funded by photo radar revenues. Since 2011, the funding for 1.5 RCMP officers has been funded through photo radar revenues, rather than through municipal taxes.
· Pedestrian crossing lights were installed on the east side of the Bow River Bridge.
· Pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure was improved to increase the comfort, safety, and enjoyment of alternative modes of transportation.
· Enhancements to the Bow Valley Trail CPR crossing.
· Cougar Creek parking and pathway improvements.
· Curb ramps added to sidewalks, and multi-use pathways, parking areas.
· Improved safety of pedestrian crossing by installing pre-cast medians to slow traffic and provide pedestrians with refuge.
· New Driver Course Rebate Program
In 2022, photo radar revenues contributed to the following active transportation projects:
- Hawks Bend traffic calming with precast traffic calming islands and reduction in speed limits from 50 km/hr to 30 km/hr
- Lions Park (15 St) traffic calmingwith precast traffic calming islands and reduction in speed limits from 50 km/hr to 30 km/hr
- Precast medians to improve pedestrian safety and to reduce the speed of vehicles turning onto Glacier Drive at Elk Run Boulevard Click here to read the 2021 Automatic Traffic Enforcement Report
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