Title
Annual Survey of Traffic Calming Projects Constructed in 2009
Memorandum
It has been about a year since the Maplewood Avenue, Devonshire Road, Gladstone Avenue, and Jewett Avenue traffic calming projects have been completed. After the review of the post construction traffic analysis and the feedback from the affected residents, we have concluded that the Traffic Calming program has been successful in meeting both objectives of reducing the speeds on the respective residential streets and in receiving the public's approval.
The Maplewood Avenue Traffic Calming project, between Packard and Oakwood, included three speed humps and one raised intersection. The Devonshire Road Traffic Calming project, between Londonderry and Arlington, included two speed humps. The Gladstone Avenue Traffic Calming project, between Packard and Independence, included one raised intersection. The Jewett Avenue Traffic Calming project, between Packard to S. Industrial, included four speed humps and one raised intersection.
In June 2010, approximately one year after the installation of the traffic calming devices on the above streets, we conducted the follow-up traffic studies. The results indicate speed reductions of 6 to 9 mph, to levels below the anticipated 30 mph (25 mph speed limit + 5 mph) as shown in the following table:
Project Area Speed Before Speed After
Maplewood Avenue (Packard to Oakwood) 30 mph 22 mph
Devonshire Road (Londonderry to Arlington) 31 mph 25 mph
Gladstone Avenue (Packard to Independence) 31 mph 25 mph
Jewett Avenue (Packard to S Industrial) 31 mph 22 mph
In addition to the speed study above, we surveyed the residents in the projects' area to learn about the residents' level of satisfaction with the traffic calming improvements. The survey post cards asked if the residents were satisfied with the traffic calming devices installed on their street, and provided space for comment.
The survey cards were mailed to the affected residents on Maplewood (44), Devonshire (31), Gladstone (57), and Jewett (54). The following table summarizes the survey results.
PROJECT AREA # MAILED RESPONDED SATISFIED DISSATISFIED Neither
Maplewood Avenue 41* 17 9 6 2
(Packard to Oakwood)
Devonshire Road 30* 17 9 6 2
(Londonderry to Arlington)
Gladstone Avenue 57 32 18 13 1
(Packard to Independence)
Jewett Avenue 52* 18 14 4 0
(Packard to S Industrial)
Average %
Maplewood 100% 52.94 35.29 11.76
Devonshire 100% 52.94 35.29 11.76
Gladstone 100% 56.25 40.63 3.13
Jewett 100% 77.78 22.22 0.0
*Number adjusted for letters returned to city due to "Return to Sender"
The Devonshire and Gladstone projects both used the never-before-utilized step 10 of the Traffic Calming program. This step allows a plan that does not achieve 60% resident support to be revised based on survey results and comments to be resurveyed as a revised final plan that might receive required support to pass. The Gladstone traffic calming plan includes a raised intersection at Independence and Gladstone. This raised intersection is important for the upcoming Independence Traffic Calming project plan. The Independence Project has received support from the residents for their final plan based on the inclusion of this raised intersection and will be submitted to City Council for review and construction for FY12.
For more information on this annual survey for Maplewood, Devonshire, Gladstone, and Jewett, please see Attachment A which includes all the comments provided by the area residents.
Staff
Prepared by: Patrick Cawley, P.E.
Reviewed by: Homayoon Pirooz, P.E., Project Management Manager, Sue F. McCormick, Public Services Administrator
Approved by: Roger W. Fraser, City Administrator