The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's publication, Pennsylvania's Traffic Calming Handbook outlines a recommended process for implementing traffic calming in a neighborhood. Included in this section is an outline summary of the preliminary traffic calming process and the study and approval process sections of Pennsylvania's Guide to Traffic Calming. The outline is to serve as a useful example of the overall process. Please use the link below to connect you to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation web site where you can view and print the on-line version of the plan.

The preliminary traffic calming process:

A. Funding: "Local governments should determine how their traffic calming program will be funded before they begin to study identified areas." (3)

B. Ranking System: "A ranking system should be established to prioritize projects that meet the criteria established in the study and approval process." (3)

Below is a recommended ranking system that can be modified to fit your local conditions.

C. Local Traffic Advisory Committee (LTAC): It is advised that employing a LTAC should be considered before traffic calming measures are employed. "The LTAC is a standing committee which coordinates all requests for traffic calming measures made within the local jurisdiction. The committee is composed of various people that will be involved with traffic calming in the area. " (3)

The Study and Approval Process (3)

Step 1: Submittal of Request for Study along with Supporting Data

• Request for Study
• Collect and Compile Supporting Data
• Identification of Project Area
• Street Functional Classification
• Eligibility Determination
• Neighborhood Petition for Traffic Calming
• Document Speeding or Cut-Through Problem and Determine Eligibility
• Project Ranking
• Pass Resolution or Ordinance

Step 2: Traffic Calming Plan Development

• Kick-off Meeting
• Neighborhood Traffic Calming Committee (NTCC)
• Local Traffic Advisory Committee
• Plan Development
• Collect and Analyze Data
• Identify Appropriate Traffic Calming Measures
• Concur on Device, Location, Design

Step 3: Approval Process

• Open House or Public Meeting
• Finalize Plan
• Neighborhood Petition
• Local Government and PennDOT Approval

Step 4: Installation and Evaluation

• Pending approval, a Temporary Device is installed
• Install or Modify Device
• Conduct Follow-up Studies
• Modify Design or Remove Device if Needed

Prince George's County, MD has a Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NTMP) booklet which offers a process for identifying, evaluating, and addressing undesirable traffic conditions related to speeding and excessive volumes. Below are the overall goals of the program.

1. "Improve neighborhood livability by reducing the speeds and impact of vehicular traffic on residential streets, while providing for the safe, efficient, and economical movement of persons and goods throughout the County.
2. Promote safe and pleasant conditions for residents, pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists on neighborhood streets, while preserving access for emergency-vehicles, busses, and other users.
3. Encourage and promote citizen involvement in all phases of NTMP.
4. Make efficient use of County resources by ranking requested streets according to their NTMP point assignment scores and other factors." (10)

The program provides a point assignment system to determine a numerical score for each residential street for which a request for traffic calming has been received. The numerical score is used to rate the streets according to traffic conditions and to determine appropriate actions. Below is a brief summary of how the Prince George's County's process works. Please consult the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program in Prince George's County, MD for details.(10)

First step:

To calm traffic in a neighborhood, the neighborhood must submit a request to the Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPW&T) traffic division notifying them of the perceived problem. Individual citizen(s), elected official(s), or the neighborhood association can submit the request.

Second step:

After receiving the request the DPW&T traffic division conducts a traffic study of the street to determine volume, speed, accident, pedestrian safety, and physical street condition information.

Third step:

The information that is gathered in the second step is used to identify a requested street's category. The categories are as follows.

• Minor secondary residential - A 26' wide or narrower local access street.
• Major secondary residential - A 26' wide or narrower street which functions as a main access point to a neighborhood or as a through road.
• Minor primary residential - A 36' wide street which functions as a main access point to a neighborhood or as a through road, but does not directly connect two major roads.
• Major primary residential - A 52' wide street which functions as a main access point to a neighborhood or as a through road, but does not directly connect two major roads.
• Minor residential collector - A 36' wide street that directly connects two major roads. This type of street, along with the major residential collector described below, serves a significant volume of commuter traffic.
• Major residential collector - A 53' wide street that directly connects two major roads.(10)

It is recognized that some streets are constructed to non-standard designs, but it is through sound traffic engineering judgment that a street will be fitted into a category.

Fourth step:

The point assignment system is implemented to determine the number of points the requested street receives. Below is a summary of the criteria used to assign points; it is provided to give an idea of how each criterion is weighted.(10)

Fifth step:

After the points have been assigned to the street, the staff will recommend the appropriate actions to address the street's prevailing conditions. If physical measures are necessary, further review of the situation including the physical conditions (horizontal curvature, grade, and drainage…), emergency services, bus access, and impact on adjacent streets and communities will be investigated to determine the best course of action.

Sixth step:

The DPW&T traffic division will provide a written recommendation to the original requestor at the conclusion of the study. If the study shows that the street is eligible for a level of neighborhood traffic management, the requestor will be informed of the next step in the process, which is to schedule a meeting between the neighborhood residents and the Traffic Division's staff.

Seventh step:

At the meeting between the Traffic Division's staff and the neighborhood residents, "details about the various NTMP educational measures (such as the Speed Awareness Program), the instillation of physical traffic management devices (traffic circles, speed humps, etc.), or the implementation for traffic diversion plans (one-way street patterns, turn prohibitions, etc.) will be discussed. The required neighborhood approval (by agreement, petition, and/or public hearing) for the selected measure will also be discussed." (10)

Eighth step:

Once the required neighborhood agreement and approvals are obtained, the "Traffic Division will proceed as follows:

• For educational measures, schedule and coordinate Speed Awareness Days;
• For traffic diversion plans, install the appropriated traffic control devices (signs) to establish one-way streets or turn prohibitions; and
• For the installation of physical traffic management devices, place the eligible street on a candidate list for installation which will be prioritized according to each street's point score, the initial date of request for the street, available funding, and other factors.

Upon installation of any measure, the Traffic Division's staff will monitor the street and the residents' input to determine the effectiveness of the utilized measures and their impact on the surrounding road network." (10)

Asheville, NC has a Neighborhood Traffic Calming Policy which "was developed to guide city staff and inform residents about the processes and procedures for implementing traffic calming on residential streets." (11) Below is a very brief step by step summary of how Asheville's process works. Please consult Asheville North Carolina's Neighborhood Traffic Calming Policy for details.(11)

First step:

• Citizen(s) contact staff with concern or a study is initiated by City staff or a City-based public body.
• Traffic Engineering staff wends questionnaire to resident(s).
• Citizens return completed questionnaire to City staff.

Second step:

Traffic Engineering staff:

• Conducts a preliminary evaluation including a basic speed and volume study,
• Recommends reduced speed limits if necessary, and
• Determines whether the traffic problem is significant enough to warrant further study and prioritization for traffic calming measures.

Third step:

• Traffic Engineering staff conducts a more detailed evaluation and study of the street.
• The data collected from the evaluation is input into the rating chart in order to create a prioritized list of street segments that have significant traffic problems.

Asheville's rating chart : (11)

Fourth step:

City staff uses the prioritized list to help implement some interim strategies to provide citizens with some improvement to their traffic problems. These strategies may include:

• Police enforcement,
• Speed display signs,
• Awareness campaigns, and
• Low-cost traffic control device changes.

Fifth step:

• Projects are selected based on the prioritized list and the connectivity of streets in specific areas.
• A citizen committee of residents who live on or near the project streets is formed.
• Staff and the committee identify the petition area for the project, and the citizen committee gathers signatures from residents within the petition area.
• At least 40% of the households in the petition area must be represented on the petition in order to move on to the next step.

Sixth step:

• City staff works with neighborhood residents to hold a public meeting to develop the project.
• Staff presents the data for the project area and a "toolbox" of traffic calming measures.
• Citizens and City staff work together to identify the key problems and recommend solutions for the neighborhood.

Seventh step:

• Traffic Engineering staff develops a draft conceptual plan based on the recommendations from the neighborhood meeting.
• This plan is reviewed by representatives of other City Departments.
• A final plan is developed based on any internal comments.

Eighth step:

• Traffic Engineering staff presents the final report and conceptual plan to the neighborhood at another public meeting where meeting participants comment on the conceptual plan.
• Traffic Engineering staff refines the design as necessary.

Ninth step:

• Citizens petition residents of the petition area to determine the level of support.
• Signatures must be obtained the represent at least 60% of the households in the petition area.

Tenth step:

• Traffic Engineering staff completes the detailed design.
• Agreements are signed between the neighborhood and the City stating that the neighborhood will install and maintain any landscaping.
• Traffic calming measures are installed.

Eleventh step:

• After six months, Traffic Engineering staff evaluates the project.
• Additional data is collected.
• Comments are solicited from neighborhood residents and other citizens.
• Corrective measures will be taken if necessary.