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Strategy 9: Traffic Calming Measures
Strategy Description:
The goal of the strategy is to utilize
traffic calming techniques to slow the movement of motor vehicle traffic.
The strategy provides an education process to interested municipal and
county officials and private citizens regarding the benefits of traffic
calming techniques and the type of streets for which such action is most
effective. This could lead to the development of a region-wide traffic-calming
program, which carefully documents techniques; an evaluation process; and
a selected list of first priority projects. While this could be done independently
by municipalities, there could be a need to coordinate traffic calming
projects between neighborhoods/local streets, which traverse more than
one municipality.
Key Components:
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Target priority areas in the region
for traffic calming measures such as, the villages and boroughs
on US 220 and Lemont.
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Recognize that two approaches will
be needed, a regional approach for corridors which traverse many municipalities
and a local approach for localized problems in a single municipality.
For both the regional or local approach,
the following activities must be pursued:
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Determine the extent of the problem
in each of the targeted areas by completing data collection and a survey
of the area to determine the following:
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Traffic problems associated with through
traffic volumes
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Vehicle speeds
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Noise
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Vehicle/pedestrian conflicts
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Traffic diverting to residential streets
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Pedestrian and bicycle safety
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Emergency and service vehicle access,
or other conditions.
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Determine who has a vested interest
in the targeted area and conduct focus groups and educational seminars
to reach consensus on the extent of the problem.
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Explore options or techniques to resolve
the problems (including future options to move to other modes of transportation),
and to determine who the stakeholders are who will help to implement solutions.
The key to the successful implementation of traffic calming techniques
is a tool kit of possible actions and a documented process for selecting
projects. Please see a hard copy of the report for a summary in tabular
form, of potential tools obtained from "Making Streets That Work." The
name of the tool and how it affects traffic volume, speed, noise, vehicle
conflicts (accidents between two vehicles), pedestrian safety, bicycle
safety, and emergency vehicle access is indicated. The following symbols
are used:
This symbol indicates that use of
the tool will generally increase the condition.
This symbol indicates that use of the
tool will generally decrease the condition.
"No" symbol indicates that use of the
tool will generally not affect the condition.
These indicators are included to provide
a general idea of how the tools work.
In addition to performance, the table
also includes estimates of the time to complete each project (short-term
or long-term) and relative costs (low or high). Short-term projects can
typically be completed in one year or less, and long-term projects take
at least a year to complete. Low cost projects are those that can be accomplished
for $10,000 or less, and high cost projects require over $10,000 for completion.
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Determine who will be responsible for
implementing solutions.
For the regional approach:
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Program the traffic calming measures
into the 12-year program.
For the local approach:
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Develop a program which documents the
process for how projects are selected and funded. Fashion
these programs from the Federal and PENNDOT guidelines and by reviewing
local examples in State College Borough, Patton Township, and College Township.
Understand the lessons learned by these municipalities, in particular State
College’s experience, since it is the longest using a Neighborhood Traffic
Mitigation Committee, classification system, and surveys.
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Include the program in municipal and
multi-municipal comprehensive plans.
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Develop a monitoring process to ensure
traffic calming is effective.
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Update the tool kit of traffic calming
techniques and their associated costs
Regional Applications:
Traffic calming would usually be applied
to local and neighborhood roads. However, in the case of the old US 220
corridor (new SR 3040), traffic calming projects could be considered for
communities along this corridor. This could raise regional issues, as compared
to local/neighborhood issues, as the role of this highway corridor is downgraded
to reduce through traffic.
Other locations for which such action could
be considered are on PA 192 between PA 26 and PA 144, PA 144 (Centre Hall)
and US 322 between PA 144 and PA 26. For roadways which are not local/neighborhood
roads such as US 220 (SR 3040) and the previously mentioned roads, certain
types of traffic calming such as roundabouts are more applicable than those
techniques used on slower speed/lower volume neighborhood roads.
Implementation:
A community-based planning process
will be required to engage the appropriate stakeholders. An intermunicipal
cooperation agreement should be signed between affected municipalities
agreeing to adopt a common set of measures for specific corridors. Appropriate
state, county, and multi-municipal agreements would need to be investigated
and implemented.
Indicators:
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Number of traffic calming measures employed
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Traffic counts, including trucks on roadways
targeted for traffic calming
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Vehicle speeds on roadways targeted for
traffic calming
Funding:
Depending on the type of road, state
or local funding would be possible from federal or state sources or a part
of locally funded initiatives.