Since 2018, members of Martinson Golly Ltd. have completed a suite of transportation planning, road safety, and active transportation projects for the City of Whitehorse and the Yukon Government.

Second Avenue Complete Street Concept Design included the analysis and development of options for Second Avenue. This street serves a transportation and civic purpose in the downtown, but is also fraught with traffic safety concerns, especially for people turning on and off the street by car or bike and pedestrians crossing the street. The project team analyzed the current safety and traffic data, which was then used to inform possible changes to the cross section. These options were evaluated and then presented to stakeholders for feedback. A final report and presentation summarized the findings and recommendations. 

Lewes Boulevard Concept Design was a project that included engagement and issue analysis for Lewes Boulevard. This street is the only access for the neighbourhood of Riverdale. The street can experience motor vehicle congestion at key times of the day, particularly around school pick-up and drop-off times. This project included on-site issue identification and observations, engaging with local stakeholders, refining a project issue statement which reflected feedback, and presentation of these findings in report, presentation, and video formats.

Whitehorse Safety Interventions and Downtown Speed Reduction was a project that followed recommendations submitted to the City of Whitehorse in 2019 on how to improve the safety performance of the Second Avenue corridor. In particular, those recommendations were related to having the street transition to a more vibrant and iconic street. As a result of this study, Council was interested in changing the posted speed limit within Downtown. In 2020, our team members provided technical analysis for this type of safety countermeasure, prepare a recommended approach for implementation, and develop a signage plan for the downtown area to accommodate the recommended changes. The City implemented the plan in 2021.

Our team members were also involved in school safety reviews and travel plans focused on vulnerable road users. The Whitehorse School Safety Reviews project was completed for the City of Whitehorse (the City) and Yukon Government (YG) to evaluate the existing conditions of 14 school sites using stakeholder interviews, on-site observations of all schools and pick-up and drop-off conditions for many of the sites, and site planning considerations. Recommendations were developed for each school site and summarized in a report that was presented to the City and YG.

A more detailed school travel plan was also for Selkirk School by our team members. The Selkirk Street School Safe and Active Routes to School Plan was required to improve safety and active travel to the school, while coordinating timelines with infrastructure projects being undertaken near the school by YG. The project was initially scoped to include a more traditional public engagement and project delivery process that would have the consulting team complete research and analysis, prepare options, present them for feedback, and make revisions prior to another round of engagement. Due to project timelines and knowing the sensitivity of these types of projects, the team suggested an alternative delivery approach using a Design Charrette model. In doing so, the community and stakeholders were engaged in an intensive and collaborative way from which a consensus-based plan was developed over the course of a single week. The community, stakeholders, and client were happy with the process and final report, and delays to the Yukon Government project schedule were minimized.

In 2023, Martinson Golly Ltd. were retained by the City of Whitehorse on an As-and-When-Required contract to support the City in the planning and implementation of safety and mobility projects throughout the city. Under this contract, they have provided advice to the City for two quick-build projects–an on-street pathway connection and a temporary crosswalk design–and technical advisory support for transportation planning. We also supported the development of a communications campaign for road and trail safety.

In 2024, we delivered the City-wide Speed Limit Reduction Study to provide recommendations on speed limits along all streets within Whitehorse that would align with the Safe System Approach. In addition, Neighbourhood Traffic Calming Plans were developed for two locations in Whitehorse, including conceptual design of solutions.

Finally, we have provided design, road safety audits, and in-service safety reviews for numerous locations from 2023 to present at urban and suburban locations within Whitehorse as well as at Pelly Crossing, Dawson City, and other locations for the Yukon Government.

We’re proud of what we have supported to date and excited for future projects to create safer and more livable Northern communities.