Traffic Calming Source Page
Sample letters at bottom of page
Traffic Calming Library
Traffic
Calming Bibliography
Walkable Communities
Pedestrian & Bicycle
Information Center
Traffic Calming . org
America Walks
Palo
Alto
Portland,
Oregon
San Francisco's
Liveable Streets
Walk
San Jose's 10
Ways To Safer Streets:
Other sites:
Surface Transportation Policy Project , STPP,California
Overview of Traffic Calming Devices:
Physical
Methods of Traffic Control. In: Transport Planning and Traffic Engineering.
Author: O'Flaherty, C. A. (ed.); O'Flaherty, C. A. Publisher: London: Arnold Year: 1997
'Traffic calming' is a term used in the UK to describe changes to the horizontal
and/or vertical alignments
of roads in built-up areas to reduce the speeds of motor vehicles. It has been
defined more widely as a
transport policy to reduce traffic speeds in built-up areas, but also promotes
public transport, walking, and
cycling. It can also be used to control vehicular speeds in outdoor recreational
areas. Traffic calming
originated in continental Europe, and began to be applied in the UK mainly in
residential areas. Its main
objectives are to: (1) reduce vehicle speeds; (2) encourage motorists to drive
carefully; (3) remove
extraneous car and lorry traffic; (4) enhance the environment; and (5) reduce
accident numbers and
severity. Its engineering elements and structures include road humps, build-outs,
rumble devices, and
gateways. Pedestrian priority schemes aim to give priority to pedestrians over
motor vehicles at specific
locations; they include footways, completely separate from vehicular traffic,
at-grade and segregated
pedestrian crossings, and pedestrian zones in urban centers. Cycle priority
schemes include especially
cycle lanes and cycle tracks.
Safety
Benefits of Traffic Calming Author:
Zein, S. R.; Geddes, E.; Hemsing, S.; Johnson, M. Journal:
Transportation Research Record Vol: #1578 pp. 3-10 Year: 1997
Abstract: This study was conducted
to determine whether there are quantifiable collision-reduction benefits
that result from traffic calming. Traffic calming is typically implemented to
address speeding and external
traffic concerns. It is intuitively recognized that successful traffic calming
would therefore result in safety
benefits. This research attempted to determine whether these safety benefits
are measurable and significant.
Four local traffic-calming projects in the Greater Vancouver area were reviewed
as part of the research. All
four of the projects achieved reductions in collision frequency, severity, and
the annual collision claim costs.
The magnitude of these benefits varied among the projects, with an average 40%
reduction in collision
frequency and 38% reduction in the annual claims costs. A total of 85 case studies
from Europe, Australia,
and North America were reviewed to determine the safety benefits of traffic
calming as measured by other
jurisdictions. The international case studies in which more than five precalming
collisions per year occurred
were analyzed separately. In this group of 15 studies, the decrease in collision
frequency ranged from 8%
to 95%. The implementation of traffic calming involves participation on the
part of the general public, local
municipalities, and emergency response organizations. The planning, engineering,
and public consultation
process are all a necessary part of the process to improving neighborhood livability.
The results of this
research provide evidence that the safety benefits of traffic calming are both
quantifiable and significant.
Traffic Calming for Crime Reduction and Neighborhood Revitalization Author:
Lockwood, Ian M.; Stillings,
Timothy Journal: ITE Annual Meeting Compendium, 1998 Publisher: Washington (DC):
Institute of
Transportation Engineers Year: 1998
Excerpts:
"The City of West Palm Beach is
implementing innovative transportation planning and land use planning,...."
"Initially, the impetus of the traffic calming projects was to reduce the amount
of cut-through motor vehicle
trafic and speeding within certain commercial corridors and residential areas."
"Since the first traffic calming project¹s completion, the City has witnessed
additional benefits of crime reduction,
areawide revitalization and increased community pride."
"3. TRAFFIC CALMING AND COMMUNITY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES When one hears the words
³traffic calming,² especially in North America, there are three community goals
that typically spring to mind:
1) slowing down motor vehicles;
2) reducing collision rates and severities; and in some cases,
3) reducing the volume of drivers cutting through sensitive areas such as residential
streets.
"Traffic calming has the potential
to do much more than the three goals above. Traffic calming involves changing
the design and the role of the street to reduce the negative social and environmental
effects of motor vehicles on
individuals and on the community in general. Traffic calming promotes many other
community goals such as:
increasing the quality of life;
incorporating the preferences and requirements of the people using the area
(e.g., working, playing, residing)
along the street(s), or at the intersection(s);
creating safe and attractive streets;
helping reduce the negative effects of motor vehicles on the environment (e.g.,
pollution, sprawl);
and promoting pedestrian, cycle and transit use."
" Traffic calming also helps
achieve many community objectives such as: achieving slow speeds for motor vehicles;
reducing collision frequency and severity;
increasing the safety and the perception of safety for non-motorized users of
the street(s);
reducing the need for police enforcement of motorists; enhancing the street
environment (e.g., streetscaping);
encouraging water infiltration into the ground; increasing access for all modes
of transportation;
and reducing cut-through motor vehicle traffic. (1)"
"The general approach to traffic calming in West Palm Beach is to conduct area-wide
projects. The City has finished
four projects, with six projects under construction, and approximately 50 projects
at various stages of planning and
design. Each project involves between one and 14 streets and tackles a challenging
part of the neighborhood, district,
or corridor. Later, subsequent area-wide projects will be added, until the entire
urban area is affected with appropriate
levels of traff[c calming on all the various types of streets. The ultimate
goal is to make West Palm Beach unique,
Iiveable, sustainable, walkable, and the model for cities throughout the Country.
Interesting aspects of four projects
were selected for specific discussion."
" CONCLUSIONS
1. The decline of West Palm Beach was, to a large extent, due to poor land use
and transportation planning which
caused its streets to be incrementally transformed to cater only to the mobility
of motor vehicles."
2. Traffic calming has many benefits besides reducing speeding and collisions.
It results in streets that feel safe;
it attracts investment and new businesses; it improves social links; and it
raises property values.
3. Traffic calming techniques can
have a direct impact on crime patterns and can be used alone or in conjunction
with other crime prevention programs such as CPTED.
4.Traffic calming projects can attract investment and redevelopment even before they are implemented.
5.Done well, traffic calming results in aesthetically beautiful streets.
6. Community redevelopment areas
area a useful tool to finance projects and redirect tax money into revitalizing
an area.
7. Besides New Urbanism and trafilc
calming, West Palm Beach¹s successes have several other key factors,
ranging from ownership programs to political commitment and leadership."
Additional Traffic Calming Devices Not Included in San Mateo's Plan:
Walk
San Jose - Square the Corners
Restore our Stolen Corners San Jose should restore tight, old-fashioned "square" corners to our intersections, and discard the broad, rounded "speedway" corners currently favored by the traffic engineers. The modern, broad corners induce motorists to speed, create unduly large intersections that are frighteningly dangerous to cross on foot, and, and effectively steal key territory from pedestrians and give it to automobiles. Click on any image to enlarge A traditional intersection with "square corners" Current street design standards steal space from pedestrians and give it to motorists. A tighter corner (also called smaller "curb radius") causes motorists to take their right turns much more slowly. Tighter corners enable pedestrians to cross the street twice as fast. Which means pedestrians are exposed to traffic for only half as long. The "Walk" cycle can be shorter, thereby reducing delays for motorists. It is easier to place a "push button" within easy reach of pedestrians and cyclists on a squared corner.
Very Brief Sample Letter:
date
San Mateo Public Works Commission
330 W. 20th Avenue
San Mateo, CA 94403
Jay Finkelstein
Robert Logan
Kelly D. Moran
Chris Schultz
Marion Weiler
RE: Comments on the Revised Draft Traffic Calming Policy and Procedures
Dear Commissioners,
While I believe that traffic calming will be beneficial for San
Mateo, I am concerned that
the proposed Traffic Calming guidelines are not workable or effective in their
current state.
Thus, I recommend the following changes:
1. Amend the definition of traffic calming:
Adopt Palo Alto¹s definition:
³For purposes of this program, traffic calming is defined as
the combination of physical,
educational, and enforcement measures that reduce the negative effects of motor
vehicle use,
alter driver behavior, improve safety for non-motorized street users, and improve
neighborhood livability.²
2. Use Palo Alto's Traffic Calming Policy as a guide, rather than Caltrans standards.
3. Adopt a Flexibility in Design Standards similar to Caltrans' ³Context-Sensitive Design Document².
Sincerely,
name
address
phone
Amended Sample Letter :
May 29 , 2002
San Mateo Public Works Commission
330 W. 20th Avenue
San Mateo, CA 94403
Jay Finkelstein
Robert Logan
Kelly D. Moran
Chris Schultz
Marion Weiler
RE: Comments on the Revised Draft Traffic Calming Policy and Procedures
Dear Commissioners,
While I commend the San Mateo Public Works Department and the
Commission for studying the laudable goal of traffic calming,
it is very frustrating to be part of a large and consistent citizen response
and to see no significant change to this document. Please
tell us if public comments will influence the final document, because if this
document is not subject to amendment, it is not workable
and we should no longer waste our time and effort on it.
However, I will continue to persist:
First, I would like to ask, what do we want? Do we want quiet
streets where people can walk across without fear, where cyclists can
traverse the city quickly and safely? Do we want residential streets where children
can play? Do we want well-mannered car drivers
and an end to the donut-spinning and speeding?
Or do we want a further deterioration of our streets, as more
aggressive and reckless drivers push the envelope to see what they can
get away with?
Because, if we truly want the former, traffic calming can help achieve it , but this draft document will not take us there.
Necessary changes:
1. Goals: The stated purpose of traffic calming in this document
is one-sided and only studies the effect on motor traffic. Traffic
calming needs to be balanced - both seeking to decrease motorized traffic and
increase non-motor traffic. The end result should
be an increase in community interaction and safety , which can only occur outside
the car, not a stifling of over-all movement. I
believe the reason for this is that, despite evidence to the contrary, there
is an unstated view that everyone drives and no one really
walks or bicycles or that such activity is not really important. In fact, where
sincere efforts to calm traffic have been engineered in
other cities, bicycling rates have doubled or qaudrupled and over- all traffic
safety and mobility has increased.
Solution:Adopt Palo
Alto¹s definition: ³For purposes of this program, traffic calming is defined
as the combination of physical,
educational, and enforcement measures that reduce the negative effects of motor
vehicle use, alter driver behavior, improve safety
for non-motorized street users, and improve neighborhood livability.²
2. Community Involvement: The hurdles that neghborhoods have
to surmount are too high and should be based on more realistic
standards that other cities like Palo Alto have adopted.
3. Inappropriate ³Experts²: Standards for roundabouts and traffic
circles should not be derived from Caltrans standards. Caltrans
is responsible for state highways and has very little experience with such structures
and only just recently formed a task force to
investigate the implementation of roundabouts. Again, more closely following
Palo Alto¹s lead should be more effective.
4. Overly Rigid Standards: More flexible standards need to be
adopted for classifying roads, which may change in character along
their route. More flexible standards for implementation of specific traffic
calming devices need to be adopted and exceptions need
to be allowed where warranted. Even Caltrans has a new ³Context-Sensitive Design
Document². A similar amendment is sorely
needed by this document. In conclusion, I expect to see that our public comments
have affected the final document and that any
denial of our recommendations is met with well-reasoned and well-supported arguments.
Sincerely,
Dani Weber,
709 S. Eldorado St.
San Mateo, CA 94402
650-579-4728
Below is a sample letter to send to the commissioners:
Copy the text and paste. Try to personalize if you can. For more information,
check out the links on this page.
The more topics covered and the more varied the letters, the better weight they
will carry. Check out what other cities have done.
cc the letter to the City Council(see bottom) and me
or to the CNA mailing list
and cc to:
Larry Patterson, Public Works Director
lpatterson@ci.sanmateo.ca.us
Department of Public Works
330 West 20th Ave.
San Mateo, CA 94403
Date
San Mateo Public Works Commission
Jay Finkelstein
Robert Logan
Kelly D. Moran
Chris Schulz
Marion Weiler
330 W. 20th Ave.
San Mateo, CA 94403
RE: Traffic Calming Policy:SUPPORT IF AMENDED
Dear Commissioners,
I support the concept of traffic calming and feel that proper implementation will improve the quality of life
and increase safety in my community and in the City of San Mateo as a whole. I would like to congratulate
the Public Works Department and the Public Works Commission for drafting this policy for review.
One method by which we can improve our chances of success is by clarifying our goals and means. If we focus
on improving our community instead of simply blocking unwanted traffic, the traffic calming policy will be
more effective and less likely to be divisive.I believe our goals should be primarily to:
Improve safety for all through reducing motor speeds and collisions.
Promote non-motorized forms of transportation such as bicycling and walking as an alternative to driving.
Revitalize our community by improving the esthetics of the street - improve landscaping, reduce noise.In order to refocus on these goals, I believe we should not set overly rigid standards about arterials vs.
collectors vs. residential streets. We should look at the streets as a whole and as overlapping sections. The
character of each street changes as it passes through different areas of the city. For example, 3rd and 4th are
currently considered arterials, but through downtown, they already have bulb-outs and the effective speed
is only 15 mph.Further, we should not apply Caltrans standards. Caltrans' mission statement is "to increase the flow of
traffic" with "traffic" traditionally being considered as motor vehicle traffic only. This policy, by its very
nature, negatively affects bicycle and pedestrian traffic and has contributed to California's present status
as the second most deadly in the nation for road collisions. Instead, we should study Portland, Oregon and
West Palm Beach, Florida, among other cities, which have successfully implemented traffic calming.Roundabouts or traffic circles, in particular, should not be required to adhere to Caltrans' standards. Caltrans
does not deal with residential streets and part of their policy is accommodating heavy truck traffic, whereas
we should be trying to confine and divert such traffic. Caltrans has only just recently (2001) issued a
directive on studying roundabouts, so they can hardly be considered experts at implementing such devices.We should reconsider what our basis for measure is ,too. I do not consider 1,000/cars a day on any street to
be ideal. Instead, we should look to reduce collisions, rather than set an artificial level of service for motor
vehicles. Or we should focus on trying to increase pedestrian and bicycle traffic as a measure of success.Finally, there are other traffic calming devices which should be considered. Walk San Jose's top ten list
includes an item on "Squaring the Corners" which means removing the wide radius curves on turns and
replacing the sidewalk to force the car to make a slower, right-angle turn. This increases safety for pedestrians
by reducing the width of street they have to cross and reducing the speed of cars coming at them around the
corner.If one is concerned about rear-end collisions, one must remember that rear-end collisions
constitute only 1 % of all collisions whereas pedestrians constitute 1-4% of the traffic but 20% of the fatalities.I make these recommendations with all due respect. I look forward to working with the City on formulating
an effective Traffic Calming Policy and reiterate my enthusiasm for the project.Sincerely,
name
affiliation
address
contact info
Address for City Council:
City Council
Sue Lempert, Mayor
Claire Mack
John Lee
Jan Epstein
Carol Groome330 West 20th Ave.
San Mateo, CA 94403
fax 650-522-7041Other contact info:
San Mateo City Council members,
Sue Lempert,Mayor lempert@ci.sanmateo.ca.us 650-522-7049
John Lee,jlee@ci.sanmateo.ca.us 650-522-7048
Carole Groom cgroom@ci.sanmateo.ca.us 650-522-7049
Jan Epstein epstein@ci.sanmateo.ca.us
Claire Mack mack@ci.sanmateo.ca.us 650-522-7049
Stephen Scott, Senior Planner sscott@ci.sanmateo.ca.us 650-522-7207 fax 650-522-7201