Traffic Calming

The Process


Through the Traffic Calming Program, the City and residents work together to improve public safety on neighborhood streets. Traffic calming is a method of slowing traffic through physical treatments to streets originally designed primarily for vehicles. The most common examples include speed humps, medians and traffic circles. 

The City has a formal process (PDF) for addressing traffic concerns on local streets and any resident can request information about traffic calming for their neighborhood by contacting the Traffic Engineering Division at 467-4360 or by email. 

There are numerous traffic calming studies going on concurrently citywide and the amount of time it takes to complete the process varies from neighborhood to neighborhood. Major steps include:

  • The kick-off meeting, where residents learn about the program and the options available 
  • Data collection, which is done by City staff and provided to a study team comprised of neighborhood residents
  • Development of a plan to address the traffic issues, which is done by the study team, and
  • A neighborhood vote on the elements of the plan

TRAFFIC CALMING VOTE RESULTS

Vote tallies for neighborhood traffic calming ballots are posted for 2 weeks on this page.

Active Traffic Calming Studies

Location Kick-off
Meeting		 Status Results
Oscar Street 02/11/2021 Virtual meeting 12/17/20 at 6 p.m. Petition completed 1/19/21
Otis Street 01/21/2021 Virtual meeting 12/21/20 at 6 p.m. Data collection scheduled
Belhaven 01/07/2021 Virtual meeting 01/07/21 at 6 p.m. Data collection scheduled
Collins Creek 12/17/2020 Virtual meeting 12/17/20 at 6 p.m. Data collection scheduled
Cleveirvine Avenue 12/03/2020 Data delivered to study team 01/27/21 Plan being developed
Woodvale Avenue 11/12/2020 Data delivered to study team 12/21/20 Plan being developed
Haynie Street 10/29/2020 Data delivered to study team 12/14/20 Plan being developed
David Street 10/15/2020 Vote on five speed humps began 1/12/21 Vote closes 2/4/21
Rockwood Drive 07/23/2019 Vote on 10 speed humps began 1/28/21 Vote closes 2/16/21
Burdette Street 10/04/2018 Voting completed on 2/3/20 6 speed humps and 2 landscape medians approved
Lanneau Drive 08/28/2018 Data delivered to study team 12/21/18 Plan being developed
Brookdale Avenue 04/16/2018 Voting completed on 8/19/19 20 speed humps approved
Dupont Drive 09/18/2017 Data delivered to study team 3/12/18 Plan being developed
West Greenville 06/12/2017 Data delivered to study team 4/17/18 Plan being developed
Bernie Street Extension 01/11/2017 Data delivered to study team 4/24/17 Plan being developed
Ben Street 03/03/2016 Data delivered to study team 3/21/16 Plan being developed
Frank Street 06/02/2015 Installation of seven humps completed           Completed December 2020
Pinckney Street 06/02/2015 Installation of three humps completed            Completed December 2020

Landscape Medians


A landscape median is a raised landscaped island located along the center-line of a street that narrows the adjacent travel lanes.

Placed at the entrance of a neighborhood, the median can serve as both a gateway into the neighborhood and a way to slow down traffic.
A traffic island with greenery and a median traffic sign

Traffic Circles


Traffic circles are raised islands, placed in intersections, around which traffic circulates. Circles are used for calming intersections where large vehicle traffic is not a major concern but speed, volume, and safety are problems.
A traffic circle with a garden in the middle

Speed Humps


Speed humps are rounded raised areas of asphalt placed across the roadway. A speed hump provides the most aggressive form of traffic calming and is beneficial in locations where low speeds are desired.
A traffic hump in the road with white arrows to indicate direction

Roundabouts


Roundabouts are one of the most effective intersection control treatments available with the added benefit of calming traffic. Take a look at the Roundabouts page for more information.
Aerial view of a roundabout with 3 merging areas of traffic and all of the signals painted on the ro

Traffic Calming Device Categories

Neighborhood Vote
 Engineering Approval
 Council Approval
Speed Humps
(parabolic / full or split)
 Circles with or
without outer rings
Curb Extensions
 Alternate Parking
 Textured Pavements
Lateral Shifts
 General Use Signs
 Chicanes ("S" Shapes)
Speed Cushions
 "Psycho Perspective"
Controls / Tricks
Narrowing / Neckdowns

Adjacent Landscaping / Streetscapes

Temporary measure

Traffic Islands