Neighborhood Traffic Calming

In Summer 2022, the City of Cleveland is launching a residential speed table pilot to inform a future citywide traffic calming policy. The City will also be deploying radar speed feedback signs to raise awareness of speeding on residential streets.

Radar Speed Feedback Sign (Clackamas County)

Please take the survey to share your opinions and experiences of the pilot speed tables that were installed in 2022.

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Traffic calming refers to street design solutions that slow vehicle speeds, making streets safer for all road users.

Speed tables are vertical bumps in the road that cause drivers to slow down to drive over them. Speed tables are flat on the top and are not as abrupt as speed bumps, which are narrower and rounded.

Radar speed feedback signs are posted near speed limit signs and show the travel speeds of passing vehicles to increase drivers' attention and awareness.

Modular Rubber Speed Table (RubberForm)

Traffic Calming Goals

  • Increase quality of life for residents by creating safer, calmer streets.
  • Reduce the chance of serious injury or death if a crash does happen.
  • Expand local experience with street design interventions that reinforce lower speeds in residential areas.
  • Inform citywide traffic calming programs and guidance in alignment with the Vision Zero Cleveland initiative.

2022 Pilot Objectives

  • Use removable, modular rubber speed tables at nine locations across the city to document the impact of speed tables on vehicle speeds.
  • Investigate the feasibility, cost, and effectiveness of a City-installed asphalt speed hump at one location.
  • Address any service delivery challenges experienced by Public Safety, Public Works, or Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority.
  • Document the effectiveness of radar speed feedback signs in addressing residential speeding.
  • Collect resident feedback to inform a citywide approach.

Location Criteria

The neighborhood speed table pilot targets local, primarily residential streets with medium traffic volumes and documented speeding issues. Eligibility is determined by:

  • Average daily traffic of 1,000 to 4,000 vehicles
  • Average speeds at or above the posted speed limit (>25 mph)
  • 85th percentile speeds at 6 mph or over the posted speed limit (31 mph)

Additional prioritization factors may include documented crash history and presence of schools, parks, or other bicyclist/pedestrian demand generators.

Lower volume local streets in 7 pilot locations will receive 10.5' wide speed tables, with a target design speed of 15 miles per hour.

Image Credit: Traffic Logix

Neighborhood collectors in two pilot locations (including one along a transit route) will receive 14' wide speed tables, with a target design speed of 20 miles per hour.

2022 Speed Table Pilot Locations

  • Edgewater Drive between W. 117th and W. 115th
  • West 101st Street between Madison Avenue and N Marginal Drive
  • West 56th Street between Denison Avenue and Eichorn Avenue
  • West 50th Street between Kouba Avenue and Clark Avenue
  • Bohn Road between East 40th Street and Kennard Road
  • Dickens Avenue between Larry Doby Way and East 116th Street
  • Corlett Avenue between East 120th Street and East 127th Street
  • East 147th Street between Bartlett Avenue and Glendale Avenue
  • Judson Drive between East 151st Street and East 160th Street
  • East 174th Street between Ozark Avenue and Nottingham Road

Pilot Evaluation

The City will collect data from a variety of sources to measure the pilot program's effectiveness and to inform a citywide traffic calming policy.

Project Objective Evaluation Metric Measure of Success
Document effectiveness of speed tables. Pre- and post-speed and volumes on pilot streets Achieve 85th percentile speeds at or below the posted speed limit.
Pre- and post-speed and volumes on adjacent parallel streets No significant impact on speeds or volumes of adjacent streets
Pre- and post-crash data review on pilot streets No significant increase in crash severity on pilot streets
Address service delivery challenges, if any. Qualitative interviews with Public Safety, Public Works, and GCRTA personnel Insignificant or acceptable levels of service impact due to presence of speed tables
Use resident feedback to refine approach. Feelings of safety, program approval, and qualitative feedback gathered via survey Documented resident approval based on increased feelings of roadway safety
Investigate potential for City-installed asphalt speed tables. Installation time, cost, and durability Cost-effective and maintainable, with no significant difference in effectiveness compared to modular installations
Measure impacts of radar speed feedback signs (rotating locations) Speeds and volumes prior to sign installation, while sign is installed, and following sign removal Speed reductions when signage is present; speed reductions following signage removal

Pilot Timeline

  • June, 2022: Announce program to the public; place equipment orders.
  • August, 2022: Equipment is delivered and installed.
  • October, 2022: The City begins post-data collection, including speeds and traffic volumes, service provider input, and community input.
  • November, 2022: Snow plow operators are trained and winter data collection begins.

This timeline may be impacted by delivery schedules and supply chain barriers, and will be updated if necessary. During the pilot, the City will also continue gathering speed data on additional residential streets to inform the next round of the program.

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