What is Traffic Calming?
Traffic calming is the use of physical solutions to reduce traffic speeds and/or cut-through traffic with the goal of making streets safer and more accessible for motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. It has been proven as an effective way to reduce speeding on residential streets, avoid traffic crashes, and prevent needless fatalities.
There are many strategies for traffic calming including speed humps or tables, emergency-friendly speed cushions, lane narrowing, traffic circles, and improved bicycle access with designated bike lanes. These solutions are used to create more complete streets that offer safe access to all users.
Traffic calming has been shown to:
- Reduce speeding
- Improve speed limit compliance
- Decrease injury severity when crashes occur
- Lower fatality rates
- Encourage varied transportation modes
- Improve street aesthetics
- Increase property value
- Reduce crime
Woodward Avenue, Lakewood, Ohio (Photos at street level and from above)
Chicanes designating bump outs and alternating sides of the street for parking. Naturally slows traffic because visually it narrows the street for the driver causing the driver to slow down and take caution. The chicanes pictured have been replaced with curbs and plantings as a more permanent feature. (Seen from Above)
Examples of other options for traffic calming:
Speed Awareness Signs
3D Crosswalks
Speed Bumps with Pinch Points
Traffic Speed Tables
Traffic Circles
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Franklin Boulevard Traffic Data+-
The city has been conducting traffic volume and speed studies on various roadways in Lakewood for many years. These studies help with planning for public safety, public works infrastructure repair/replacement, and economic development.
Franklin is one of several main East/West thoroughfares through the south portion of Lakewood. Police have performed traffic studies in this area on a regular basis. Recent and historical traffic studies on Franklin Avenue between Warren and 117th may be found below. In addition, a PowerPoint presentation from a recent community meeting about traffic on Franklin Avenue is also found below.
- Franklin Boulevard Workshop Summary
- Franklin Boulevard Public Meeting/Workshop – October 17, 2018
- Community Meeting PowerPoint Presentation-August 15, 2018
- Franklin Boulevard Crash Data
- Franklin Boulevard Crash Data Summary
9/4 thru 9/11/18 – Franklin Radar Reports
- Hourly Report – Franklin
- One Day per line Franklin
- One line Summary Franklin
- Volume Franklin
- Graphs Franklin
- Speed Enforcement Evaluator – Franklin
- Best Time for Enforcement – Franklin
10/9 thru 10/16/18 – Franklin Radar Reports
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Marlowe Avenue Traffic Data+-
As part of a traffic study on Franklin Avenue, north/south traffic was also studied on Marlowe Avenue, south of Franklin. Traffic study information is found below:
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Woodward Avenue Traffic Data+-
The city began monitoring traffic flow on Woodward Avenue in 2011.
In an effort to reduce speeds on the residential street, the city installed six chicanes, creating extra bends — or what’s known as a modified S design — on the street to slow traffic for safety.
Below is data collected from Woodward Avenue — before and after the pilot project began.
1483 Woodward, Aug. 20, 2013
- Speed Enforcement
- Evaluator
- One Line Summary
- One Day per Line
- Hourly Graphs
- Best Times for Enforcement
1523 Woodward Avenue, Aug. 30, 2012
- Best time for enforcement
- graphs
- hourly report
- one day summary
- one line report
- Speed enforcement evaluator
1523 Woodward Avenue, Oct. 3, 2014
- Best times for enforcement
- Graphs
- Hourly Summary
- Woodward one day summary
- One Line Summary
- Speed Enforcement Evaluator
- Volume Summary
1539 Woodward, July 29, 2011
- enforcement evaluation
- enforcement time
- graph
- hourly tabular
- one day tabular
- one line tabular woodward
1551 Woodward, Sept. 16, 2011
- graphs
- hourly
- one day summary
- one line summary 1
- speed enforcement evaluator
- best times for enforcement
1555 Woodward, April 30, 2014
- Best Times for Enforcement
- Graphs1 Hourly
- One day per line
- One Line Summary
- Speed Enforcement Evaluator
1555 Woodward, May 18, 2014
1555 Woodward, May 1, 2013
1578 Woodward, Dec. 11, 2012
- Best time for enforcement
- Evaluator
- Graphs
- Hourly
- oneday
- oneline
- Best Times for Enforcement
- Hourly
- One Day per Line
- One Line summary
1582 Woodward, March 4, 2015
- BEST TIMES FOR ENFORCEMENT
- GRAPHS
- HOURLY SUMMARY
- ONE DAY SUMMARY
- ONE LINE SUMMARY
- SPEED ENFORCEMENT
- EVALUATOR
- VOLUME SUMMARY
1582 Woodward, Aug. 21, 2014
1603 Woodward, May 9, 2012