The recent accident on Bribane and Sunderland has increased concerns over high speeds in the neighborhood.  Neighbors also report that stop signs are frequently disobeyed.

These have been ongoing concerns. Over the years residents have expressed concerns about the speeds of traffic in our residential neighborhood.  We took these concerns to our city Traffic Engineer, Andy Kilpatrick and Bob Johnson, Director of Neighborhood Planning and Development.

In response to our concerns they have done the following:

(1) ASSESSED. Conducted traffic assessments and road counts

(2) SLOWED. Brought the LPD speed trailer to assess speeds and provide a visual reminder to neighbors to slow down

(3) SIGNS. Installed (temporary?) stop signs at key street intersections on Averill where pedestrian crossing from school and park are most likely. Mr. Johnson indicated he would like to replace those stop signs with speed humps.  Discussion is ongoing.

(4) DIVERTERS. Began a discussion about traffic diversion on Starlight/Waverly and Malibu/Waverly to slow speeds and to create a "territorial feel" to keep criminal activities from entering the neighborhood.  In the summer of 2009 we were intially told we would have temporary water walls placed for experimentation and evaluation.  However, that was later pulled off the table by Mr. Johnson after further examination.

(1) MORATORIUM. There is a city-wide moratorium on traffic calming measures at this time, although some types of exceptions might be available.

(2) SAFETY HAZARDS. After some initial traffic calming measures were implemented we discovered that there were problems for emergency vehicles and snow plows getting through those streets.

(3) PROBLEMS MOVED. We also learned that solving one neighborhood's traffic problem inadvertantly caused more traffic problems for a nearby neighborhood.

(4) COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. Therefore City Council enacted the moratorium until such time as a comprehensive city-wide plan for traffic calming could be developed to avoid these pitfalls.  However, the funds for the development of such a plan has not been included in the city budget due to declining revenues.

(5) COSTS. Additionally, speed humps/bumps are expensive to install and maintain. With declining city revenues these are difficult to include in the budget.

(6) CITIZENS PAY. There has been some discussion about having a special assessment for speed humps/bumps, meaning that properties in the vicinity of the speed humps/bumps would be assessed extra taxes to pay for them. This is an ongoing discussion.

(1) GET EDUCATED. Learn about the different kinds of traffic calming measures that exist and what each type does. Learn the pros and cons of different approaches. Evaluate your traffic concern and think about what strategies might be most appropriate. Check out these simple brochures to learn more.

(2) STAY INFORMED. Keep in touch with the neighborhood association about your ideas and concerns. Check our website and blog for updates and join the email list.

(3) TAKE MATTERS INTO YOUR OWN HANDS. Literally!  Get into the dirt. Dig up the grass and plant lovely flowers in the right of way (or sometimes known as the "hell strip" of grass inbetween the sidewalk and street) especially at the intersections. Appealing landscaping in the curb has shown to reduce speeds.  Care must be taken so that plants are not too tall and do not block sight lines for drivers. Get inspired and let your creativity go wild and help us make our streets safer with these resources.

(4) GET COLORFUL.  You might get inspired by these colorful ideas, although I do not recommend actually implementing the last idea presented here.