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 one 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 • Landscaping • Textured & Colored • Gateway Pavement • Stationary Radar Sign • On-street parking • Pavement Marking • Modern Roundabout • Traffic Circle • Narrowed Lane • Bumpout (Neckdown/Bulbout/Curb Extension) • Signage • Reduced Corner Radii
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 NOTIFICATION SIGN MARCH 1ST: NEIGHBORHOOD POSTED FOR 15 DAYS FOR APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS CURRENT YEAR, APPLICATIONS TRAFFIC ASSESSMENT APRIL 15TH: AFTER THIS DATE WILL GO INTO INFORM NEIGHBOHOOD OF REPORTS GIVEN TO THE NEXT YEAR APPLICATION CYCLE NEIGHBORHOODS CONTRACTOR & COMMUNICATE TO NEIGHBORHOOD CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE COUNCILS THAT FINAL DESIGNS ARE COMPLETE & PROJECTS VISIT NEIGHBORHOOD CITY BLOG POST SHOWING ARE GOING TO BID PROJECT STATUS AND/OR COMPLETION COUNCILS FOR COMMENT ON CHOSEN PROJECTS March April May June July August September October November December January February March April May June July August September October OCT. 1ST: DESIGN AUTH. PROJECT DESIGN INTERNAL FORMS SEPT. 1ST: BID OUT PROJECTS FINAL CITY COUNCIL PROJECT PERFORM TRAFFIC ASSESSMENTS WORK ORDERS & CONSTRUCTION SELECTION AUGUST 1ST: TRAFFIC ASSESSMENT REPORTS PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE
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 outs • 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 of 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
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