Title
Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (Traffic Calming) Overview
(Informational Item)
Presenter:
Todd Frisbie, PTOE, City Traffic Engineer, Public Works Department
Body
Summary:
The City of Colorado Springs Traffic Engineering Division of the Public Works Department manages and implements the City’s Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NTMP). The purpose of this program is to investigate and to determine whether traffic calming measures are warranted to address neighborhood concerns regarding safety, speeding, and cut-through traffic on neighborhood streets.
Background:
Each year the Traffic Engineering Division receives over 250 requests for traffic calming. Each request is considered and in most cases studied to determine whether existing traffic conditions meet criteria to take action in order to address a neighborhood traffic issue. Typically, the Traffic Engineering Division implements 15 to 20 traffic calming projects per year.
The NTMP process begins when a citizen, or group of citizens, contacts the city with traffic concerns on a residential street. The Traffic Engineering Division investigates each request and determines whether a traffic study should be conducted to verify concerns. The traffic study involves collecting speed, volume, and crash data to determine whether traffic conditions warrant the installation of traffic calming measures. If traffic conditions meet certain criteria for speed and cut-through traffic volumes, then the division will work with the neighborhood to create an implementation plan of traffic calming measures to address the issue. The traffic calming measures generally considered for use by the Traffic Engineering Division include the following:
• Traffic Control Signage (e.g. radar activated speed signs)
• Increased Enforcement
• Neighborhood Entry Features
• Lane Narrowing either through restriping or curb adjustments
• Roadway Diet
• Chicanes
• Roadway Medians/Islands
• Traffic Circle/Roundabout
• Roadway Dip
• Road Closure/One-Way
After the development of the traffic calming plan, Traffic Engineering will coordinate with City staff or contractors for installation of the traffic calming measures. Once traffic calming measures are installed, follow up studies are conducted to determine the effectiveness in addressing the neighborhood traffic issue.
Communication occurs throughout the process with the citizen(s) who originally bring the issue to us. Additionally, neighborhood meetings take place to bring the issue to a broader group of citizens who may be affected by the traffic calming measures under consideration.
Previous Council Action:
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City Council Appointed Board/Commission/Committee Recommendation:
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Stakeholder Process:
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Recommended Action
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Summary of Ordinance Language
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