Fast-fading road markings partly blamed on type of paint

The capital's road markings are fading into memory more quickly than usual, and a staff report to a city council committee points fingers at the federal government and the type of road paint the city is required to use.

The problem of road markings fading more quickly than they used to has become an issue across the country, and the problem seems to have started when the federal government required cities to switch to more environmentally-friendly paint, in 2012.

There's no evidence the disappearing road lines have caused more collisions but since the switch to low volatile organic compound paint, complaints about fading markings on Ottawa roads have more than doubled, according to a staff report to the city's transportation committee.

Upgrading to a more durable type of paint for all road markings would come at a significant cost — an additional $5.3 million per year. Using more durable paint only on arterial roads would cost an extra $2.6 million.

Paint road markings twice a year, instead of only once, would cost an additional $3.2 million.

Currently, the city's total road marking budget is about $2.95 million.

The city has one line-painting truck to mark all of the capital's roads and streets. Regardless of which option the city ends up going with, staff say they feel it's time the city purchased a second line-painting truck.

The issue will go before the city's transportation committee, later this morning.