OWASSO: The City Without Limits(TM)

Today, because of the increased dependency of vehicles for mobility, we see a dramatic increase in vehicle speeds and daily neighborhood traffic volume on local streets. Additionally, as delay on arterials has increased, some motorists have decided to bypass the congested arterials and use neighborhood streets to get from one arterial to another or as a shortcut to their destination.

When concerns regarding traffic speeds, pedestrian safety and cut-through traffic arise in residential areas, it is often frustrating for both residents and traffic engineers. Neighborhoods often request a quick fix solution such as enforcement, reduction in posted speed limits or the addition of stop signs. This type of fix often increases the pressure to implement haphazard solutions that may not be in the best interests of the neighborhood, the city or the traveling public.

Traffic calming involves the application of engineering techniques to physically change the character of streets, improve pedestrian safety and encourage drivers to obey speed limits. A variety of physical devices can be used to alter the geometry of the street, along with more traditional traffic engineering techniques to slow traffic. Generally, a successful traffic calming plan is not a single device, but rather a series of integrated improvements to slow traffic and/or direct traffic to more appropriate routes.

The use of traffic calming devices must be carefully documented so that they are not used inappropriately or too frequently. A four-phased procedure is typically used by which traffic calming devices are requested, evaluated for appropriateness and implemented:

Documentation of the problem and the need for traffic calming devices;
The collection of field reconnaissance and traffic study data;
Selecting the proper device to correct the problem; and
Monitoring the effectiveness of solving the problem once the device(s) are installed.

It is the intention of the City of Owasso Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program to address traffic problems and concerns on local streets and applies to all residential subdivision streets in the City of Owasso. While not intended to make streets play areas for children or adults, the Program is intended to generally improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and others who travel along or across these streets.

Current City Practices

The residential speed limit in the City of Owasso is 25 miles per hour. Initial attempts to provide traffic calming has centered around stop sign installations to affect speeding and cut-through drivers on collector and local residential streets. Since February 1995, the city has administered the Policy of Residential Neighborhood Traffic Control. This policy sought to discourage all traffic from traveling at excessive speeds through neighborhoods. As more multi-way stop signs are installed, there are fewer and fewer reasonably spaced locations for sign installations. Additionally, stop signs have not allows been effective and may present a greater risk due to driver failure to stop. These guidelines provide city officials and residents with the opportunity to recommend, select, analyze and critique measures aimed at improving traffic conditions in and around local neighborhoods.

The Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) defines traffic calming in the following manner:

Depending on the specific location and the residential street classification, the purpose of traffic calming is to restore streets to their intended function to provide combinations of mobility and accessibility.

Experiences in other localities have shown that traffic calming is not a program that can be implemented under strict guidelines. Various solutions are often available and a successful program depends on staff and citizens that are willing to work together toward a common goal.

Recommended Practices

Based on cost, ease of construction and availability of materials, the speed hump is recommended to be the primary traffic calming device for existing residential and collector streets in Owasso. In general, speed humps have been found to reduce traffic speed, volumes and accidents. In addition, they discourage through traffic from using a local street as an alternative route to inconvenient or congested arterial and collector streets.

Traffic Calming Process

Planning

The traffic calming process is planned at the neighborhood level, but implemented on an uninterrupted street segment basis. Planning on a neighborhood-wide basis will help to identify if solving a problem on one street shifts it to another street. Additionally, an opportunity to plan for a comprehensive series of devices that will work together to improve the traffic operations of a neighborhood will be used.

Public Involvement

A successful traffic calming program must involve the public and clearly be understood by all participants. Participation by those living along the affected street and adjacent registered neighborhood associations is essential.

Homeowners living along the affected street segment will be asked to complete petitions that account for their participation and either affirm or not affirm their support for the installation(s). The requester of the traffic calming device(s) will solicit the neighborhood(s) for signatures and submit the petition. Additionally, registered homeowner associations that are directly affected will be ask to complete a statement that acknowledges adjacent streets to the traffic calmed street may see an increase in traffic and/or speed.

Funding

Traffic calming measures will be funded using approved capital funds included in the annual budget. Warranted and approved traffic calming measures will be identified and prioritized for installation according to the established criteria. The application date on approved installations will serve as secondary criteria. Installation will commence and continue based on the availability of capital funding as outlined in the current and adopted budget.

Authority and Scope

The Director of Public Works will administer the traffic calming program. In accordance with established procedures, the Director will have responsibility to develop application forms, install or remove traffic calming devices. The effective date for the traffic calming program is January 1, 2004.

Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program

Introduction