Initial Traffic Calming meeting notes
Initial Traffic Calming meeting notes courtesy of Elizabeth Cash.
Gordon Derr and Alan Hughes from the City ran the initial general meeting on Dec. 11th. We are the #1 neighborhood for traffic calming based on our having the worst volume and speed problems in Austin. Traffic calming can be done only on residential streets with more than 300 vehicle trips/day.
See a data sample of Central West Austin map of 24 hour traffic count. Download traffic_count_data.pdf
At this meeting, a Working Group was formed of 10 neighbors and 10 alternates drawn from various sectors of the neighborhood. Data is being collected both from neighbors and from various engineering studies. That data will be provided to the Working Goup, which will meet 4 to 6 times. They will devise a plan, which will be represented on a map and as a narrative. The plan will be mailed to every household and entity in the traffic calming area for a yes/no vote on the plan in its entirety. If 60% of the respondents approve, the plan passes. Then there will be an open house to showcase the plan. Then temporary traffic calming devices will be installed, followed by permanent devices. A post-traffic calming study is done to make sure there are no unintended results.
Traffic calming devices:
1. Speed cushions (different from speed bumps).
2. Medians.
3. Traffic circles.
4. Chicanes. These are bulges coming out from the curbs along the street in an alternating manner, so that cars must drive down the road going back and forth. Converts runway type roads to undulating S type roads.
5. Partial street closures. Traffic can go in or out but not the opposite.
6. Diagonal diverters. Takes a 4-way intersection and barricades it along the diagonal, re-routing traffic.
7. Permanent installations to indicate speed. The city did not present this as an option but some neighbors asked about it and the city said it is possible but expensive.
Note: 4-way stop signs may not be installed unless certain TxDOT requirements are met. These aren’t really traffic calming measures.
The first Working Group meeting has not yet been set.
