City to investigate expanding use of roundabouts

By Christena Lawrie, CFRC's Broadcast Journalist and Local Journalism Initiative Reporter.

At Tuesday night’s council meeting, Councillor Ryan Boehme introduced a motion calling for more information on how the city decides when and where to build roundabouts. 

The motion points to roundabouts gaining popularity in other cities for improving traffic flow, reducing emissions, and enhancing safety. However, adding them to more locations in the city also comes with challenges, like higher space and cost requirements. 

Last month, council approved a $3 million roundabout in Councillor Boehme’s district- the first to be built on a major road in the east end, costing triple the amount of traditional traffic signals.

“We don’t seem to be building a lot of them [roundabouts],” Boehme stated before council. “…Is it a planning thing? Is it a money thing? Basically, it’s more just trying to get more information.”

The motion, which received unanimous council support, asks staff to deliver a report by early 2026 outlining the city’s traffic control policies and evaluation criteria for roundabouts. 

Listen to the full story here.