Raleigh Seeks to Complete More Traffic-Calming Projects

Jayne Kirkpatrick, Director, Public Affairs
Prepared by: John Boyette, Public Affairs Specialist

For more information: Thomas Fiorello, Traffic Calming Coordinator, Public Works Department, 919-996-4066

Aug. 30, 2012

Raleigh Wants to Complete More Traffic-Calming Projects

Constructing more traffic-calming projects is a top goal of the City of Raleigh. These projects, designed to reduce speeding on neighborhood streets, are driven by the citizen petition process. Since the program began in 2006, the City has completed four successful major traffic-calming projects but more are either in the construction or design phase.
 
Traffic-calming projects, part of the City’s Neighborhood Traffic Management Program, include a combination of public education, police enforcement and changes to the roadway in order to reduce speeding by motorists traveling through neighborhoods. The roadway changes may include the installation of curb extensions, bulb-outs, median islands, speed humps or traffic tables.

Every year, the City’s Public Works Department staff evaluates or re-evaluates residential streets for traffic-calming projects. A rank is assigned to each street based on engineering criteria. After having completed four traffic-calming projects in the last six years and with changes to the program approved in 2011, the City plans to do up to 13 traffic-calming projects per year. The City Council’s adopted 10-year Capital Improvement Program allocates a total of $2.7 million to traffic-calming efforts.

Citizens Petition Process
The highest ranking streets are the first streets considered for traffic calming. Before a project can begin, it must be supported by residents in the effected area via a citizen petition, under a policy adopted by the City Council. The petition has to be signed by owners or occupants of at least 75 percent of the properties on the street proposed to receive traffic-calming assistance. Residents, not City of Raleigh staff members, must carry the petitions door-to-door to collect signatures.

Once a petition is approved, City staff develops a preliminary design for the traffic-calming project. Public meetings are held with residents on the effected street to review the preliminary design. The City strongly encourages public input at these meetings and during a 30-day public comment period. A public hearing is held on the proposed final design of the project to get additional public comment. Subsequently, the City Council considers the final design and, if approved, allows the project to proceed.

Completed Traffic-Calming Projects
Following is a summary of the four major traffic-calming projects completed by the City of Raleigh. The speed limit on all the streets was reduced to 25 mph:

• Ashe Avenue (including nearby Cox Avenue, Flint Place, Dexter Place and Park Avenue) in west Raleigh. Traffic-calming measures included landscaped median islands, pedestrian refuge areas, updated pedestrian ramps and crossings, bulb-outs and speed humps. A sidewalk and a bicycle lane also were installed. Cost of the project: approximately $135,000;
• Eagle Trace Drive in northeast Raleigh. The City installed a landscaped median island, pedestrian refuge areas, updated pedestrian ramps and crossings, bulb-outs, a T-intersection channelization and curb extensions on the street. Total cost: approximately $150,000;
• Plaza Place in northwest Raleigh. Traffic-calming devices installed include landscaped median islands, pedestrian refuge areas, updated pedestrian ramps and crossings, bulb-outs, a T-intersection channelization and curb extensions. Project cost: approximately $90,000; and,
• Mourning Dove Drive from Six Forks Road to Heathfield Drive in north Raleigh. The project included landscaped median islands, bulb-outs, updated pedestrian ramps and crossings, a four-way stop intersection channelization and curb extensions. Total cost: approximately $59,000.

A fifth traffic-calming project on Anderson Drive in north Raleigh is currently under construction, with completion scheduled for late this year. This project includes the removal of the merge lane from southbound Six Forks Road to westbound Anderson Drive and the addition of a median islands and a bicycle lane. The speed limit on Anderson Street Drive also is being reduced to 30 mph.

New Traffic-Calming Projects
The City of Raleigh’s goal is to complete three major traffic-calming projects and eight to 10 minor projects a year on residential streets.

Major projects would entail significant modification to a street, including installing curb extensions, median islands, bulb-outs or traffic circles. Minor projects would typically include speed humps or speed tables.

Below are major traffic-calming projects that are currently in the design process:

• Kaplan Drive from Kent Road to Melbourne Road;
• Brookside Drive from Watauga Street to Glascock Street;
• Glascock Street from Norris Street to North Raleigh Boulevard;
• Rainwater Road from Spring Forest Road to Hunting Ridge Road; and,
• Milburnie Road from Raleigh Boulevard to Chatham Lane;

Minor traffic-calming projects are listed in two categories: minor projects beginning the construction process and minor projects in the design process. Minor projects beginning the construction process are:

• Shelley Road from North Hills Drive to Six Forks Road;
• Rose Lane from Maplewood Road to Poole Road;
• Baugh Street from Old Buffaloe Road to Starmount Drive;
• Northbook Drive from North Hills Drive to Pamlico Drive;
• Wimbleton Drive to its two intersections with Shelley Road;
• Glascock Street from Wake Forest Road to Norris Street;
• Merrie Road from Avent Ferry Road to Merwin Road; and,
• East Rowan Street from Six Forks Road to Lakemont Drive.

Minor traffic-calming projects proceeding through the design phase are;

• Lake Boone Trail from Dixie Trail to Brooks Avenue;
• Southgate Drive from Rock Quarry Road to Red Quartz Drive;
• Southgate Drive from Star Sapphire Drive to Red Quartz Drive;
• Beverly Drive from Little John Road to Poole Road;
• Neuse Crossing Drive from Cashew Drive to Mitchell Mill Road;
• Marcom Street from Stovall Drive to Varsity Drive; and,
• Rumson Road from Marlborough Road to Barksdale Drive.

The City Council is scheduled to receive an update on traffic-calming projects at its Sept. 18 meeting.

For more information about the City of Raleigh’s traffic-calming efforts, including the citizen petition process, contact Traffic Calming Coordinator Thomas Fiorello at 919-996-4066 or Thomas.Fiorello@raleighnc.gov; or visit the City’s website at www.raleighnc.gov.