Traffic calming alters the appearance or geometry of a roadway in an attempt to reduce traffic volumes and speeds. This report will assist engineers with the evaluation, implementation, and application processes as they relate to traffic calming. It provides a "toolbox" containing purpose, cost, pros and cons, and effectiveness of various applications, as well as specific examples of projects in Minnesota. The success of traffic calming often hinges on the approval of residents and businesses who will be directly affected. To ensure success, engineers must work with the public to first define the problem, explore options, and then work with the residents and any service providers to decide the best solution. Temporary devices should be installed whenever possible. It also is crucial that engineers consider the overall design plan, since traffic calming is often retrofitted to existing roadways. Engineers must also be sure to collect any before/after data, Average Daily Traffic (ADT), 85th percentile speed, and related information to better document the outcome of installing a traffic calming device.
Speeding and speed control are often considered critical issues on residential and collector streets. Activities to reduce speed and volume on residen...
Many rural communities have developed around highways or major county roads; as a result, the main street through small rural communities is often par...
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United States Department of Transportation
[PDF-2.54 MB]
