Traffic Calming Policy

Because of increased congestion on the city’s arterial and collector road network and drivers' desire to find shorter travel routes, drivers frequently seek alternate travel routes. Frequently, the routes include the City’s local and residential neighborhood streets. Many of these streets have experienced increased volume and speeding that have diminished the quality of life and the safety of residents, pedestrians, bicyclists, and other motorists.

Traffic Calming, as defined by the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), is the use of physical and psychological devices “to reduce the negative effects of motor vehicle use, alter driver behavior, and improve conditions for non-motorized street users.” Traffic calming techniques may improve the quality of life and safety in a neighborhood by alerting drivers to share the road, drive with more care, drive more slowly, and sometimes divert to more appropriate routes.

While each neighborhood and situation may be somewhat unique, the Traffic Calming Program takes a systematic approach. Thus, the same definitions and criteria, as outlined in this policy, are applied in all cases. As part of that approach, the city's transportation system must be considered as a whole. Solving a problem in one neighborhood or street should not cause another problem to appear elsewhere.