Calm Street Pop-up Project Announcement

CENTRE WELLINGTON – The Township is excited to launch a Calm Street Pop-Up Project on Church Street East, beginning the week of May 26, 2025.

This initiative, developed through community feedback gathered as part of the Active Transportation and Mobility Plan, is designed to make walking and cycling safer and more enjoyable for residents. The pop-up project aims to reduce cut-through traffic, enhance the safety and comfort of people walking and biking, and strengthen active transportation connections to Elora Public School and downtown Elora.

"This project is a great example of what happens when we listen to our community. Residents told us they want safer, more walkable streets—and we’re responding with action. The Church Street East pop-up is just the beginning of how we’re rethinking our streets to support healthier, more connected neighbourhoods." Said Mayor Watters.

The project area extends from Church Square to Kertland Street and will include:

• Installation of traffic calming speed signs.
• Temporary closure of Church Street East to motor vehicles at two locations:
• between Kertland and Wellesley Street, and
• between Chalmers Street and Church Square.
• Pavement markings and informational signage along the route.

The street closures will be achieved using street garden planters, designed to permit cyclists to pass through and to ensure that emergency vehicles can access the street in case of an emergency.

While the calm street project is in effect, people walking and cycling will be permitted to travel through the closed sections of Church Street East, and along the full length of the project area. Motor vehicles will not be permitted to travel through the closed sections of Church Street at each end of the project area. Drivers will continue to be able to travel in both directions along Church Street East between Chalmers Street to Wellesley Street and will continue to be able to access Church Street East using the following streets: Chalmers Street, North Queen Street, Mary Street, Station Street, John Street, Irvine Street, Colborne Street and Wellesley Street. 

Throughout the pilot project, the Township will be collecting feedback from the community and monitoring several metrics to determine the success of the project. Metrics for monitoring will include the number of vehicles using the street, vehicle speeds, and the number of people walking and cycling.

For more information on the project and to provide feedback on the project in the form of an online survey, please visit https://www.connectcw.ca/active-transportation-and-mobility-plan