Traffic Calming Workshop Purpose of Traffic Calming Slow - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Traffic Calming Workshop

Purpose of Traffic Calming

• Slow vehicular travel speeds
• Reduce the frequency and severity of

collisions

• Reduce the need for police enforcement
• Reduce residential cut-through motor

vehicle travel patterns

• Increase safety for non-motorized street

users

• Increase access for all modes of

transportation

• Enhance the street environment

Project Funding

• Photo Red Light Funds

– 15 red light cameras at 10 intersections throughout Spokane

• Cameras implemented in 2008
• The program is a safety program

designed to reduce red light violations and collisions in intersections.

• Funding is expected to be available on

an annual basis.

• Minimum of $100,000 per district per year.

What the Program Funds

• Installation of

– Traffic Control devices – Pedestrian and bicycle improvements – Physical roadway features

• Transportation Studies
• Project Designs

Traffic Calming Projects

• There is not a single tool to solve traffic

issues and one tool that may work well in

• ne area for a particular issue may not

be effective in another area.

• Typical Problems Traffic Calming Solves

– Excessive Speeds – Excessive Volume – Lack of Safety

Potential Speed Control Measures

• Textured & Colored

Pavement

• On-street parking
• Modern Roundabout
• Traffic Circle
• Narrowed Lane
• Bumpout

(Neckdown/Bulbout/Curb Extension)

• Signage
• Reduced Corner Radii
• Landscaping
• Gateway
• Stationary Radar Sign
• Pavement Marking

Potential Volume Control Measures

• Roadway Closures
• Diverter
• Turn Restrictions

Potential Safety Measures

• Bike Lanes
• In-fill sidewalks
• Marked Crosswalk

– With pedestrian crossing island

Project Selection Requirements

• 1. There is a $40,000 threshold unless there are

identified matching funds (i.e. CDBG funds)

• 2. Each neighborhood can submit only 1 residential and

1 arterial application.

• 3. Applications must be singed or have a signed letter

from the Neighborhood Council chair to be eligible.

• 4. Projects must be ranked 1 or 2 (projects should not

hold the same ranking)

• 5. Project scope should stop at logical breaks
• 6. No dead-end or sidewalks that lead to nowhere
• 7. Consider whole street and whole neighborhood when

choosing projects, outreach to the membership.

Traffic Calming Project Timeline

Traffic Calming Application Timeline

NEIGHBORHOOD

INTERNAL

MARCH 1ST: APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR CURRENT YEAR, APPLICATIONS AFTER THIS DATE WILL GO INTO NEXT YEAR APPLICATION CYCLE AUGUST 1ST: TRAFFIC ASSESSMENT REPORTS PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE TRAFFIC ASSESSMENT REPORTS GIVEN TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS COMMUNICATE TO NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS THAT FINAL DESIGNS ARE COMPLETE & PROJECTS ARE GOING TO BID

• OCT. 1ST:

DESIGN AUTH. FORMS NOTIFICATION SIGN POSTED FOR 15 DAYS FOR RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS BID OUT PROJECTS CITY BLOG POST SHOWING PROJECT STATUS AND/OR COMPLETION March April May June July August September October November December January February March April May June July August September October PERFORM TRAFFIC ASSESSMENTS

• SEPT. 1ST:

FINAL CITY COUNCIL PROJECT SELECTION VISIT NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS FOR COMMENT ON CHOSEN PROJECTS

WORK ORDERS & CONSTRUCTION

PROJECT DESIGN APRIL 15TH: INFORM NEIGHBOHOOD OF CONTRACTOR & CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE

Project Traffic Assessment

Basic Analysis Process

• Define The Problem
• Is There a Realistic Solution?
• Gather Facts For The Problem
• Create Possible Solutions to The

Problem

• Review Possible Solutions and Select

Your BEST Solution

• Submit your BEST Solution

Basic Analysis Process

• Define The Problem

– Clearly state what you believe to be the problem

• Speeding?
• Too many collisions - safety?
• Too much volume?
• Example

– ABC Street has a lot of speeding cars with a lot of collisions and we want to reduce the number of collisions

• This is potentially Speeding AND Safety

Basic Analysis Process

• Is There A Reasonable Solution?

– Look at solutions that are realistic

• Refer to the Traffic Calming Toolbox
• Meet with City staff for help
• Example

– ABC Street should be closed to all traffic immediately

• This is effective by not realistic for residents or emergency

services

– ABC Street should have a traffic circle or bump

• uts
• This is realistic and still accommodates all users of the

street

Basic Analysis Process

• Gather Facts For The Problem

– What facts would help to determine our next steps?

• Traffic counts
• Speed counts
• Collision records
• Example

– ABC Street has 1,000 cars a day, an average speed

• f 30 mph, and an average of 3 collisions per year
• This is higher than usual volume and speed, collisions not

unusual

• ABC Street collisions all occurred at night and involved

pedestrians

Basic Analysis Process

• Create Possible Solutions to The Problem

– Look at available resources to brainstorm

• Refer to the Traffic Calming Toolbox
• Meet with City staff for help
• Example

– ABC Street possible solutions:

• Traffic circle
• Better street lighting if collisions are at night
• Improve the closest arterial to make it more inviting
• Interactive speed signs
• Street bump outs

Basic Analysis Process

• Review Possible Solutions and Select Your

BEST Solution

– Look at the possible solutions and select your BEST

• City staff can help
• Select the solution you feel is most likely to help and be

selected

• Example

– ABC Street needs a traffic circle MOST

• This might be supported MOST by the neighborhood
• Add street lights to it also at crossing points

Basic Analysis Process

• Submit your BEST Solution

– Fill out the traffic calming application

• Clearly define the problem
• Identify your project solution
• Submit the supporting information for your project
• Example

– ABC Street application

• Be specific and fill out all the boxes!

Past Project Examples

• Maxwell and Elm Pedestrian Island and

Crossing

– Define The Problem

• A lot of pedestrians

during the summer for the pool

• Speeding cars
• Too many cars

– Is There a Realistic Solution?

• Neighborhood wanted a flashing light
• Costs and seasonality of pedestrians were an issue
• Look at other pedestrian options

Past Project Examples

• Maxwell and Elm Pedestrian Island and

Crossing

– Gather Facts For The Problem

• Over 5,000 cars per day traffic volume
• Average speed was 28 mph – posted 30 mph
• Seasonal 20 mph speed limit zone
• Over 80 pedestrians in an hour when the pool is open

– Create Possible Solutions to The Problem

• Pool staff put out signs daily
• More pedestrian signs
• Pedestrian refuge island

Past Project Examples

• Maxwell and Elm Pedestrian Island and

Crossing

– Review Possible Solutions and Select Your BEST Solution

• Having pool staff put out signs was not safe
• Portable signs put out by pool staff could be stolen
• Hard concrete island in the median to protect

pedestrians

• Use of special pedestrian crossing signs

– Submit your BEST Solution

• Concrete pedestrian island
• Pedestrian signing
• Special pedestrian signing

Past Project Examples

• Maxwell and Elm Pedestrian Island and Crossing

Past Project Examples

• Montgomery Traffic Circles

– Define The Problem

• Cars going through the neighborhood to get to the light

at Monroe

• Speeding cars
• Too many cars

– Is There a Realistic Solution?

• Neighborhood wanted to cut off traffic onto

Montgomery

• Take the traffic signal out at Montgomery and Monroe
• Cut off traffic access on Northwest Blvd.

Past Project Examples

• Montgomery Traffic Circles

– Gather Facts For The Problem

• Over 1,800 cars per day traffic volume on a residential

street

• Average speed was 18 mph – speed limit is 25 mph
• Trinity Catholic School on Montgomery
• No pedestrian collisions at Montgomery

– Create Possible Solutions to The Problem

• Change signal
• Chicane
• Bump outs
• Traffic circles

Past Project Examples

• Montgomery Traffic Circles

– Review Possible Solutions and Select Your BEST Solution

• Changing the traffic signal may not have much effect
• Bump outs affect street drainage
• Traffic circles would fit

– Submit your BEST Solution

• Traffic circles will fit and not effect street drainage
• Change the signal timing to delay Montgomery more

Past Project Examples

• Montgomery Traffic Circles

Potential NEW Project Example

• Maxwell and Cedar

– Define The Problem

• Street alignment leads to speeding and neighborhood

cut thru

• Street alignment encourages circumventing the traffic

signal

• Encourages neighborhood speeding

– Is There a Realistic Solution?

• Block the street (emergency services issues)
• Traffic circles or bumpouts
• Change the street alignment

Potential NEW Project Example

• Maxwell and Cedar

– Gather Facts For The Problem

• Collect traffic volumes
• Collect traffic speeds
• Review collision history
• Address long history of complaints

– Create Possible Solutions to The Problem

• Narrow the roadway
• Install traffic circles or bumpouts
• Change the street alignment

Potential NEW Project Example

• Maxwell and Cedar

– Review Possible Solutions and Select Your BEST Solution

• Changing the street alignment is most likely to produce

significant and long lasting change in traffic patterns

– Submit your BEST Solution

• Street alignment
• Landscape the new alignment for a neighborhood

amenity

Potential NEW Project Examples

• Maxwell and Cedar - Existing

Potential NEW Project Examples

• Maxwell and Cedar - Proposed