Staff report details most dangerous intersections in Waterloo, recommends improvements

A report coming to the City of Waterloo council on Monday details the most dangerous intersections around the city, and ways to improve their safety.

2,837 collisions have taken place in Waterloo since 2017, and a couple of intersections weigh heavy in that number.

The report from Transportation Services took data from the last six years, not including 2021, to identify problem-areas in the city.

The results show that the intersection of Columbia Street West and Phillip Street, on the north side of the University of Waterloo, is the most dangerous for drivers.

Columbia Street proved to be the most dangerous road in the city overall as its intersections with Hagey Boulevard, Albert Street, Hazel Street, and Beechlawn Drive all show up on the report.

The residential intersection of Albert Street and Hickory Street also ranked high on the list, and staff are recommending turning that two-way stop into a four-way stop.

Top 10 dangerous intersections for drivers:

• Columbia Street West at Phillip Street
• Albert Street at Columbia Street West
• Albert Street at Hickory Street
• Columbia Street West at Hagey Boulevard
• Columbia Street West at Hazel Street
• Phillip Street between University Avenue West and Columbia Street West
• Allen Street at Park Street
• Lexington Road at Davenport Road
• Albert Street between University Avenue West and Hickory Street
• Regina Street at Noecker Street

Overall, Waterloo has gotten significantly safer for drivers since 2017, with the number of collisions per year decreasing from just over 600 to 424 in 2023.

There have been 66 crashes involving pedestrians in Waterloo since 2017. One of those collisions resulted in a death in 2019 when a 19-year-old was killed while crossing the road on University Avenue.

Regina Street at Lodge Street was found to be the most dangerous intersection for pedestrians, with staff noting the intersection needs improved lighting and parking restrictions.

Top 10 dangerous intersections for pedestrians:

• Regina Street at Lodge Street
• Columbia Street at Hazel Street
• Columbia Street at Phillip Street
• Columbia Street at Hagey Boulevard
• Phillip Street between University Avenue West and Columbia Street West
• Parkside Drive at Cedarbrae Avenue
• Albert Street at Central Street
• Lexington Road at Davenport Road
• University Avenue East at Lexington Road
• Bearinger Road at Parkside Drive

Top 10 dangerous intersections for cyclists:

• Phillip Street between University Avenue West and Columbia Street
• Allen Street West at Park Street
• Albert Street at Hazel Street
• Bathurst Drive at McMurray Road
• Columbia Street at Hazel Street
• Albert Street between Columbia Street West and Cardill Crescent
• Columbia Street West at Phillip Street
• Laurelwood Drive at Old Oak Place
• Keats Way at Amos Avenue
• Columbia Street West at Beechlawn Drive

The report also detailed driving speeds around the city, giving some insight into which streets people tend to speed on.

Conservation Drive was identified as a road where the speed limit is not followed, as the average speed was around 65 km/h while the speed limit is posted as 50 km/h.

Going forward, city staff will complete this analysis yearly to drive roadwork around Waterloo.