 |
 |
|
|
|
District One Newsletter
Winter 99 Due to a recent increase of road construction and the natural growth of the Salt Lake City area, neighborhoods are noticing more traffic on their streets. This is likely to continue, perhaps even increase over the next few years. Traffic calming devices will play an important role in our communities as we see the increase. Traffic calming devices are simple street design features that influence motorists to drive with more care, to drive more slowly or perhaps via another route. The major objectives of traffic calming are to reduce speed of motorists, create conditions which encourage motorists to drive calmly and enhance the environment and improve safety. According to Craig Timothy, traffic calming program coordinator, "Traffic calming is an exciting engineering tool because it provides the transportation division with the ability to address one of the most basic concerns of our residents, that of speeding in their neighborhoods." In an effort to promote beautification and safety in our neighborhoods, Salt Lake City’s transportation division is sponsoring a new tool called the "traffic calming program." As part of this program, communities can work with city transportation experts to determine what traffic calming options are available and will be most effective for their neighborhoods. The traffic calming program is a community involvement program. Neighbors need to communicate with one another and work together in private workshops with the city, if necessary, to get the most this program has to offer. In the beginning, the city will discuss with residents what options are available. Possible options could include medians, raised islands built in the center of the street that slow traffic, decrease accidents and give pedestrians a safe place to walk, and speed humps, paved mounds raised approximately three to four inches over a fourteen to twenty-one foot length that force vehicles to slow down to cross. PARTICIPATE: If you would like more information regarding this program and how to get traffic calming devices on your neighborhood’s streets, please call Craig Timothy in Salt Lake City’s transportation division at 535-6630.Mr. Timothy will mail a copy of the program to residents upon request. The program has a petition attached that is to be filled out by the resident and returned to the city, at which time a study of the requested area will begin. A meeting will then be scheduled with the petitioner to review the city’s findings.
|
|