NEW DESIGN STANDARDS FOR NEO-TRADITIONAL AND LOW SPEED NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS

Speeding traffic through residential neighborhoods is the number one concern of most community associations. There are a number of reasons for speeding in residential areas. Generally, the real culprit in residential speeding is the use of improper design standards for residential streets. Residential streets are typically designed using minimum geometric standards of 30-35 mph (48-56 kph), despite planned operating speeds of 25 mph (40 kph). Such overdesign contributes to speeding. If the minimum curve radius is 300 ft (91 m) for a 30 mph (48 kph) design standard, the use of a longer radius increases the theoretical design speed of the street and contributes to even higher speeds. Street width is another important factor in residential speeding. Wide streets contribute to speeding. Fortunately, street width standards in recent years have been revised downward. Yet, even the new widths contribute to residential speeding. The main principles of traffic calming introduce geometric changes or visual changes to reduce speed. Introducing speed humps, roundabouts, road narrowing, midblock chokers, chicanes, semidiverters, gateways, pavement texture, and other traffic calming tools modifies existing streets. Such calming measures may be introduced on individual streets or through entire neighborhoods.

• Record URL:
  http://www.ite.org/traffic/documents/AHA99B18.pdf
• 
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Conference proceedings available only on CD-ROM.
• Corporate Authors:

  Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)

  Washington, DC  United States 
• Authors:
  • Walter, C E
  • O'Brien, A P
• Conference:
  • Transportation Frontiers for the Next Millennium: 69th Annual Meeting of the Institute of Transportation Engineers
  • Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Date: 1999-8-1 to 1999-8-4
• Publication Date: 1999

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 5p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Design standards; Geometric design; Highway curves; Highway design; Neighborhoods; Residential streets; Roundabouts; Speed control humps; Speed limits; Speeding; Traffic calming; Width
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00770228
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Publication No. CD-006
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 16 1999 12:00AM