Traffic Calming

When dealing with a neighborhood traffic calming issue The City of St. Augustine utilizes the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Traffic Calming ePrimer which is a free, online resource for public use. The Traffic Calming ePrimer is the result of the FHWA and the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) collaborating and documenting several decades of traffic calming measures including their effectiveness in the U.S.

The Purpose of Traffic Calming

The FHWA and ITE define the primary purpose of traffic calming is to support the livability and vitality of residential and commercial areas through improvements in non-motorist safety, mobility, and comfort. These objectives are typically achieved by reducing vehicle speeds or volumes on a single street or a street network. Traffic calming measures consist of features that use self-enforcing physical or psycho-perception means to produce desired effects such as:

  • Horizontal features
  • Lane narrowing
  • Roadside features
  • Vertical features

Planning Process

  1. Public participation
  2. Identification of problem or issue that is appropriate for traffic calming
  3. Quantification of problem or issue to be resolved
  4. Development of traffic calming plan
  5. Approval of plan
  6. Implementation of plan
  7. Evaluation (and refinement) of traffic calming plan

Reference Materials

The Speed Management Reference Materials page of the US Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration website offers a wide range of:

  • Outreach materials
  • Reports
  • Studies
  • Webinars
  • Workshops

Questions

Have a question about traffic calming on your street? Submit a traffic inquiry by emailing our staff.