The Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program follows a five-step process:

1. Submit a Request

Residents begin the process by submitting a request through 311. After the request is received, Traffic Engineering will provide the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program application.

2. Traffic Study and Eligibility Review

Traffic Engineering reviews the requested street to determine whether traffic calming may be appropriate. This review may include street width, street grade, traffic classification, crash history, traffic volume, speed data, and other eligibility requirements.

This step typically takes 2 to 6 weeks.

3. Design and Layout

If the street qualifies, Traffic Engineering will select or design appropriate traffic-calming features and prepare a proposed layout. The plan is also reviewed by City departments, including Public Safety and Public Works, to evaluate impacts to emergency response and City services.

This step typically takes 2 to 4 weeks.

4. Funding Review

Before installation can move forward, a funding source must be identified. Funding may come from the City General Fund, City Council discretionary funds, or a Homeowners Association or Neighborhood Association.

This step typically takes 1 to 12 weeks, depending on funding availability.

5. Installation and Follow-Up Evaluation

Once approved and funded, the City manages installation of the traffic-calming measures. Projects are queued based on approval date, risk level, available resources, and material availability.

This step typically takes 4 to 12 weeks, but some projects may take a year or more to complete.

After installation, Traffic Engineering conducts a follow-up traffic study to evaluate speed reduction, traffic volume changes, and crash trends.

Traffic-calming solutions are selected based on the location, traffic data, roadway conditions, and engineering review.

Common options may include:

• Speed humps or speed cushions

• Reduced speed limits, where legally allowed

• Lane narrowing through pavement markings

• Chicanes, or alternating S-curves

• Rumble strips or raised pavement markers

• One-way conversions, when appropriate

• Neighborhood traffic circles or mini-roundabouts

New four-way stops are not considered a traffic-calming measure. Stop signs are used to assign right-of-way at intersections, not to control speeding. In some cases, adding stop signs for speed control can actually increase speeding between intersections.

The Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program is a quick-build program, which means it uses materials that can be installed efficiently and adjusted if needed.

Program materials may include:

• Paint and thermoplastic

• Raised pavement markings

• Plastic bollards

• Speed cushions or speed humps

The program does not include:

• Street widening or resurfacing

• Concrete or asphalt curb construction

• Sidewalk construction

• Traffic signal installation

These types of improvements are handled through separate capital improvement programs.

Not every street is eligible for physical traffic-calming measures. Traffic Engineering reviews each request using established criteria to help ensure improvements are appropriate and effective.

A street may be ineligible if:

• It carries more than 2,500 vehicles per day

• The requested segment is shorter than 1,000 feet between stop signs or signals

• It is within 500 feet of certain curves

• It is a designated through-truck route

• The street grade is greater than 8%

• The street is narrower than 18 feet

• The posted speed limit is above 25 mph

If a street meets the initial eligibility requirements, Traffic Engineering conducts additional analysis, including:

• Traffic volume counts

• Speed studies

• Crash history review

The City uses an objective point-based scoring system that considers speed-related crashes, traffic volume, and the 85th percentile speed over the posted speed limit. A street must score at least 3 points to qualify for physical traffic-calming improvements.

Scoring System

If a street does not qualify for physical traffic calming, staff may recommend other options such as targeted enforcement, neighborhood speed watch, signage adjustments, or education campaigns.

Traffic-calming requests require review, study, design, approval, funding, installation, and follow-up evaluation. While some projects may move through the process more quickly, applicants should be aware that all projects depend on available staff, funding, materials, and City resources.

Some projects may take a year or more to complete from initial request to installation.

Submit a request through 311. After the request is received, you will be directed to complete the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program application.

No. Traffic Engineering must review the street, conduct a traffic study, and determine whether the location qualifies.

Traffic Engineering may recommend other options such as targeted enforcement, neighborhood speed watch, signage changes, or education efforts.