TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING

Steps for A Successful Traffic Calming Project

Introduction

Citizen involvement is an important part of all traffic calming projects. Procedures are in place to ensure that property owners are given the opportunity to participate throughout the Neighborhood Traffic Management process and show support for a proposed traffic calming project before it is constructed. Each of the eleven steps outlined below allow us to thoroughly investigate traffic concerns and effectively & efficiently design and implement proposed traffic calming projects.

Step 1. Problem Identification

The process starts with a citizen’s initial contact with the Transportation Engineering Division to discuss traffic problems in their neighborhood such as speeding and cut through traffic. Staff and the requestor identify the details of the concerns such as specific problem locations, time of day that the problem occurs most frequently, possible causes or contributing factors, etc… Staff informs the requestor that the concerns will be investigated and that they will be contacted upon completion of the initial study to discuss the findings and recommendation.
If requested, staff may also discuss the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program with the requestor and provide them with additional literature through the mail.

Step 2. Initial Investigation & Data Collection

Staff investigates the requestor's concerns through the following methods (as applicable): field study, research of previous traffic studies, review of crash history, traffic data collection (i.e. daily volumes and vehicular speeds), etc… Based on the result of the traffic investigation countermeasures may be taken such as concentrated police enforcement, additional traffic signs, pavement markings, speed display trailer placement, etc… Staff contacts the requestor to discuss findings, recommendations and actions to be taken. Many times a combination of these measures is successful in mitigating the reported problem and the investigation can be considered complete. As a follow up, the area of concern is periodically monitored to determine the effectiveness of any "passive measures" that were implemented.

Step 3. Request for Traffic Calming Study

If the traffic problem persists after "passive measures" have been tried for a reasonable period of time, citizens can request to be officially entered into the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program by submitting a "Traffic Calming Study Request Form" signed by ten (10) concerned citizens. Upon receipt of this completed form, the Neighborhood / Subject Street is entered on the appropriate City District Traffic Calming Request Priority List