Traffic Calming

SLOW painted on asphalt street

What Is Traffic Calming?

Traffic calming is a set of design interventions aimed at slowing or diverting car traffic to reduce the chance of crashes and improve safety for all road users.

August 29, 2022 - Diana Ionescu

Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City Streets To Get Traffic Calming

After a 19-year hiatus, the city is restarting its traffic calming program to combat the growing pedestrian death crisis.

August 17, 2022 - The Salt Lake Tribune

View of Washington Avenue, Phialdelphia

Washington Avenue Road Diet Less Likely

After one city councilmember refused to advocate for changing parking rules in his district, Philadelphia’s Washington Avenue could end up with two different safety configurations.

May 31, 2022 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Cleveland, Ohio

Ohio Pledges $51 Million for Traffic Safety

The state’s department of transportation will invest in a variety of traffic safety projects as traffic fatalities reach their highest level in decades.

May 10, 2022 - Transportation Today News

People in masks walking on Page Street, San Francisco, June 2020

San Francisco ‘Slow Streets’ Face Uncertain Future

The pandemic-era ‘slow streets’ experiment has met with mixed reviews from residents, prompting the city to consider the removal or adjustment of many segments.

May 9, 2022 - CBS Bay Area

Street Mural

Study: Street Murals Can Prevent Crashes

An analysis of asphalt art around the country indicates that painted intersections and roads can dramatically improve pedestrian safety.

May 5, 2022 - Greater Greater Washington

Google Maps street view of Diamond Street

Local Opposition Threatens San Diego’s Last ‘Slow Street’

Residents in Pacific Beach want the city to revise its design of the Diamond Street ‘slow street,’ the last remaining segment of pandemic-era pedestrian-oriented road in the city.

April 26, 2022 - San Diego Union-Tribune

Dallas

East Dallas Delays Complete Street Project

A controversial traffic calming and safety overhaul of some East Dallas streets won't be completed until 2025, but will include improved crosswalks and signals.

April 4, 2022 - D Magazine

Over-the-Rhine, Cincinnati, Ohio

Cincinnati To Consider $1 Million Traffic Calming Program

A proposal before Cincinnati's city council would boost traffic calming initiatives and use innovative technology to slow traffic on some of the city's most dangerous streets.

March 29, 2022 - Cincinnati.com

Rendering of proposed Church Street raised separated cycletracks and reduced traffic lanes

Separated Bike Lanes, Traffic Calming Coming to Decatur Street

Decatur's Church Street is set to undergo a transformation that will reduce traffic lanes, add cycletracks, and widen sidewalks in an effort to make the corridor more 'people-friendly.'

February 18, 2022 - Urbanize Atlanta

West 72nd Street

Study: Speed Camera Citations Correlate to Safe Infrastructure

New research suggests that fewer speeding tickets are issued in neighborhoods where the city has invested in traffic calming and pedestrian safety improvements.

February 16, 2022 - Streetsblog New York City

Downtown Milwaukee

Milwaukee Traffic Safety Projects To Receive $8.5 Million in TIF Funds

The city hopes to combat a growing reckless driving 'crisis' with traffic calming, bike lanes, and other projects aimed at improving roadway safety.

February 14, 2022 - Urban Milwaukee

Chicago Transit Authority

Chicago Traffic Cameras Issue Most Tickets to Black and Latino Drivers

The city's controversial traffic camera program tickets Black and Latino motorists more than white drivers. Infrastructure may play a role in why.

February 2, 2022 - ProPublica

Rendering of proposed 'diverter' at 34th Avenue

More Evidence That Open Streets Improve Safety

An analysis of New York's 34th Avenue shows substantial reductions in crashes and injuries, strengthening the body of evidence supporting car-free streets.

January 12, 2022 - Streetsblog New York City

Milwaukee

Milwaukee Traffic Calming Projects Take Aim at Reckless Driving

The city is using restriping, delineators, and other traffic calming measures to fight reckless driving and improve pedestrian safety.

January 3, 2022 - Urban Milwaukee

Highway Speed

Can't Drive 55: America's Dangerous Love of Speeding

While most Americans agree that speeding is a threat to public safety, dysfunctional laws and inadequate enforcement perpetuate a culture of tacitly sanctioned high-speed driving.

December 26, 2021 - Slate

Pedestrian Safety

Data-Driven Analytics at the Heart of Vision Zero Goals

Data is the key to crafting Vision Zero plans with community buy-in.

November 9, 2021 - Next City

South San Francisco Bay viewed from Mission Peak in Fremont, California

Vision Zero Success Story: Fremont, California

While traffic fatalities continue to rise nationwide, Fremont has drastically reduced its crash rates in the five years since it launched its Vision Zero project.

October 20, 2021 - Western City

Chicago Bikers

Chicago Dismantles Leland 'Slow Street' Three Months Early

Citing neighborhood concerns, the city is ending the Slow Street program on Leland Street as more parks and beaches reopen, but advocates want to see more permanent traffic calming measures.

September 27, 2021 - Streetsblog Chicago

Downtown Houston pedestrians

Houston's Pedestrian Death Problem, Explained

The city's roadways were built to prioritize fast-moving traffic, not safety. With a new Vision Zero plan, that could change.

August 5, 2021 - Houston Chronicle

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