The Crestwood Board of Aldermen unanimously approved an ordinance adopting the city’s first-ever traffic calming policy at its July 23 meeting.
According to a memo from Police Chief Jonathan Wiliams, over the past three years, the Crestwood Police Department has attempted to more proactively address traffic concerns in residential areas as opposed to reactively responding. While monitoring and enforcing traffic violations in particular problem areas has been beneficial, data
has shown that once officers are not present, drivers often revert to their “normal” driving habits of speeding. To combat this and make a more long-term impact on traffic violations, the Police Department proposed implementing traffic calming measures on residential streets.
Traffic calming measures, such as vertical deflections (speed humps, speed tables and raised intersections), horizontal shifts, roadway narrowing and median barriers alter driver behavior and improve conditions for pedestrians and residents. These measures can be implemented at an intersection, street, neighborhood, or, if necessary, an area-wide level.
“Traffic calming measures can decrease vehicle speed which can decrease the amount and severity of traffic crashes,” Williams’ memo stated. “Traffic calming measures deter the use of residential streets as a means to ‘cut through.’ This decreased traffic volume can encourage safe pedestrian use. Furthermore, this decrease in traffic volume means roadways could see extended time between resurfacing.”
To illustrate how traffic calming measures will increase community quality and roadway safety in Crestwood, the police department proposed three “demonstration projects” on streets that traditionally have a higher level of community concern: Yorkshire Estates Drive, Crest Oak Lane and Garber Road. Traffic tables – hard compound rubber mounds similar to speed humps, though with a flatter top to reduce vehicle disruption – will be added to Yorkshire Estates Drive and Crest Oak Lane, while Garber Road’s project scope is a bit more extensive and will include traffic tables, decorative medians, traffic rounds and striping.
The traffic tables are removable, limiting complications for snowplows during snowstorms. According to the manufacturer, the tables can be self-installed and/or removed in about 30 minutes, and the holes left in the roadway from the bolts can be sealed when the table has been removed. Emergency vehicles will also be able to pass over the tables.
“This was introduced at our June meeting, with the request that language be added similar to the power of due process with planning and zoning, and postponed until this evening. And that language has been added,” Mayor Scott Shipley said at the Board’s July meeting. “Does anyone have any questions or discussion they would like to add?”
Ward 1 Alderman Jim Zavist responded that while he generally supported the ordinance, he had concerns about some of the language in the bill.
“We’re requiring an after study when something is installed, but we’re not requiring us to do something with the study once we get the information,” he said. “I’m concerned if something goes in and if it’s not working, it should be brought back to the board either to be dealt with or to be removed… (as) opposed to just reporting the information and having it die.”
Zavist then made a motion to add the statement “…along with any recommended next steps” to part of the ordinance, so that portion now reads “staff will report the results to the city administrator and the board of aldermen along with any recommended next steps.”
His motion passed unanimously, as did the ordinance. Ward 1 Alderman Jesse Morrison was absent from the meeting.
“We now have a traffic calming policy,” Shipley said.