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SUBJECTS › TRANSPORTATION › Traffic Calming
Updated 03/08

Traffic Calming

Contents

Introduction

The term 'traffic calming' is a real oxymoron. After all, what is calming about traffic? Actually, 'traffic calming' refers to a wide range of techniques used to improve safety, to reduce negative effects of motor vehicle in impacted neighborhoods and to encourage non-motorized street uses.

Almost every elected city or county official has fielded requests for lower speed limits, additional stop signs and 'children at play' signs to slow traffic. And, probably, they also have heard from other citizens completely frustrated by slow speeds, traffic congestion, and stop signs seemingly every block. Several larger Washington communities have experienced citizen complaints to the point that they have established formal traffic calming programs to evaluate requests. Even small communities have neighborhoods where speeders endanger lives, millions of cars whiz by at certain times and children can't safely cross the street or walk to school, and could benefit from a traffic calming program.

Traffic calming objectives include slower speeds for motor vehicles, reducing collisions, reducing the need for police enforcement, improving the streetscape, and reducing cut-through motor vehicle traffic.A neighborhood's perception of safety is as important as the reality. Experience and research have shown, however, that not all quick fixes requested by citizens are effective, and that systematic evaluation of these requests can reduce wasted expenditures and lead to better long-term solutions.

As noted above, several larger cities and counties have traffic calming programs in place. Bellevue has  had a two phase program that covered all the bases and is described in detail on its Neighborhood Traffic Calming Web page. In Phase I, Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program (NTCP) staff members analyze traffic and accident data for the neighborhood and take suggestions from residents. They recommend a combination of these Phase I solutions (See Neighborhood Traffic Calming Phase I  Web page for detailed explanations):

  • Neighborhood Traffic Safety Newsletters
  • Neighborhood Speed Reduction Program
  • Neighborhood Speed Watch Program
  • Pavement Markings
  • Radar Trailer
  • Signing
  • Targeted Police Enforcement
  • Trimming Brush

About a year after implementation of Phase I measures, City staff again collect traffic and accident data and compare it to the previous year's information. Consideration  given to installation of physical devices such as these (See Neighborhood Traffic Calming Phase II Web page for details:

  • Curb Extensions
  • Entry Treatments
  • Medians
  • Partial Closures
  • Permanent Radar Signs
  • Speed Humps
  • Traffic Circles

Specific guidelines exist for the use of each device. Safety, including access for emergency vehicles, is a primary concern.Area residents are also involved in the process. Neighborhood meetings are held, and majority support is required before proceeding with the construction of the physical device.   See Bellevue's Page listing Traffic Calming Studies and Reports.

Links to Washington City and County Traffic Calming Webpages

Traffic Calming  Information Resources

MRSC Library Holdings on Traffic Calming