Charlottetown Great thing happen here

Street lighting is a service provided through Maritime Electric.  This includes the light units on their utility poles. Information regarding any problems (flickering, burnt out, day-burners, etc) can be communicated to the Public Works Office at (902) 894-5208. When calling to report such an issue, providing the civic address or pole number is helpful to our staff in getting your concerns resolved.

The City of Charlottetown consists of approximately 225 linear kilometers of street network, 200 kilometers of which are under the control of the City and 25 kilometers that are classified as part of the provincial roads system.

The City undertakes the majority of its street work within operation budgets. Hot mix asphalt plants are generally open from late May to late October of each year. Outside this period the City uses cold or reheated asphalt mix. These temporary patching materials can have limitations, especially in spring thaw conditions.

Patching
Each spring all streets are reviewed for potholes and other local (small) patching needs. The hot mix patching program starts in early June with higher volume streets and proceeds to the more residential streets. The City strives to complete this patching program as expediently as possible.

Resurfacing
For larger resurfacing projects, the City has set up an inspection program for all City streets. This provides a rating based system to classify the streets and develop a "worst first" approach to resurfacing.

The City’s storm water control system is a combination of open ditches and pipes. It operates on a gravity basis with outfall to adjacent rivers and harbors. The City having relatively limited elevations and the surrounding waterways being tidal, the storm system can be affected by high/rising tides and storm surges during severe events.

All storm systems have a maximum capacity and are generally designed to handle events that theoretically occur once in 5 or 10 years. Increasing size for larger, less frequent events is not as effective in terms of cost/benefit relations. In some cases, the creation of extra capacity in Charlottetown is further hampered due to locations of minimal elevation and grade to the outfall.

New residential subdivisions are required to be constructed with piped storm water systems. The City is undertaking a Storm Water Management Plan to address infilling of the remaining open ditch, though financial ability in relation to the significant work dictates that it will be many years before this is fully completed.

Culvert Repair & Installation

The Public Works Department reviews all neighborhoods in the spring/early summer and undertakes repair to heaved driveway culverts. This work is on-going through the summer season with a program developed that balances effective scheduling of the crew in each neighborhood while ensuring that all locations across the city in the worst severity category are attended.

Culvert installation to create a new private driveway access or to undertake ditch infilling outside the City’s own construction program must be approved by the Department. The ditch system is important for transporting rainwater and snow melt away from building foundations, streets, & sidewalks and it must be ensured that flooding or other problems to the residents and general public are not created. Please complete the Culvert Installation Application.

Sidewalks
The City of Charlottetown currently has approximately 225 linear kilometers of sidewalk network. The City undertakes the majority of its sidewalk work within operation budgets.

Placement of concrete is affected by freezing temperatures and concrete work is usually undertaken in the season of late may to late October each year. Outside this period the City uses cold or reheated asphalt but this temporary patching material has its limitations.

Sidewalks Repairs
Each spring all sidewalks are reviewed for cracks, unevenness, deterioration and other defects. This information is used in prioritizing work areas in conjunction with other projects in the City. Repair continues for the full summer season with the most immediate needs undertaken first.

Sidewalks Replacements/New Construction
For large repair projects, the City uses a combination of in-house staff and contractors. 

While striving to maintain the current inventory, the City is also attempting to expand the sidewalk network into area not currently serviced. Main routes and high pedestrian areas are the first priority in this new work and these locations often have open ditch drainage. To facilitate proper storm water drainage it is often necessary to construct piped storm systems in these areas.

The City's inspection program as well as its operational and capital budgets are not finalized until mid-March each year, the Public Works Department is not able to confirm what sidewalk work will be undertaken in a particular year until that time.

Tenders for a contracted program are usually advertised in the local newspaper and on our website in the spring of the year and the construction schedule of the various locations is agreed to with the successful contractor. There may be many considerations in the timing of the work that make early, mid or late summer work most appropriate.

Larger capital projects are also tendered and advertised at varying times in the construction season.

What Are Speed Radar Signs?

Speed radar signs, also known as driver feedback signs, are electronic signs that display the speed of oncoming vehicles. These signs use radar technology to detect and show how fast a vehicle is traveling, providing real-time feedback to drivers. These signs can be found installed around Charlottetown, particularly in school zones, to remind drivers to be cautious of their speeds.

The signs installed in the City of Charlottetown, as seen in the photos below, are primarily powered by solar energy collected from the solar panels installed above each sign. This commitment to using renewable energy sources not only reduces the city's carbon footprint but also supports Charlottetown's dedication to sustainable and environmentally friendly practices.

   

Figure 1: School Zone Speed Radar sign Charlottetown     
           

    Figure 2: Speed Radar Sign Charlottetown

How Do Speed Radar Signs Work?

• Radar Detection: The sign emits radar waves that bounce off moving vehicles and return to the sign, allowing it to calculate the speed of each vehicle. The detected speed is shown on the digital display of the sign.
• Feedback Loop: If a driver is exceeding the speed limit, the sign flashes, some displaying the words “Slow Down” to alert them to reduce their speed.

Importance and Benefits of Speed Radar Signs:

• Immediate Feedback: These signs provide instant feedback to drivers, reminding them to adhere to speed limits and promoting safer driving behavior.
• Speed Reduction: Up to 80% of drivers who encounter a speed radar sign significantly reduce their speed. Studies have shown that these signs can decrease speeds by 10-20%.
• Accident Reduction: Speed radar signs can lead to a notable decrease in vehicle speeds and traffic accidents, making roads safer for everyone. This is particularly crucial in school zones. Studies show that a pedestrian hit by a car traveling at approximately 64 km/hr has a 90% chance of being killed. However, if the car is moving at approximately 32 km/hr, the likelihood of death drops significantly to only 10%.
• Non-Invasive Traffic Calming: Unlike speed bumps or other physical measures, speed radar signs calm traffic without disrupting its flow.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do speed radar signs issue tickets?
A: No, speed radar signs are not enforcement tools. They are designed for educational purposes and do not issue tickets or record personal information.