Traffic Calming

When speeding problems persist along a street, residents may wish to consider the installation of traffic calming measures. The City will evaluate traffic patterns and potentially implement traffic calming techniques on residential streets to inhibit traffic issues. In some cases, the city could also re-engineer the streets to have medians and curb extensions that force drivers to alter their path of travel and subsequently reduce their speeds.

Our division evaluates a street for traffic calming based on several factors and prioritizes each street for treatment based on the severity of the problem. These factors include the amount of traffic speeding on the street, how many speed-related accidents have occurred along the street, and the amount of pedestrian activity in the area.

Traffic Calming Presentation (PPD)

Traffic Calming Requests

If your neighborhood wants to be considered for traffic calming measures, there are various guidelines as outlined in the City of Gallatin's Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NTMP) that need to be followed in order to have the City investigate the issue in a particular neighborhood.

The purpose of the NTMP is to provide procedures for application, evaluation, and implementation of traffic calming techniques on existing residential streets.  All aspects of the procedure are performed with neighborhood consensus and public participation.

Procedures

Application Submittal


A neighborhood that desires to address perceived traffic problems with traffic calming strategies must submit an application to the City Engineering Division.  The application must include:
 

  • A completed Neighborhood Traffic Mitigation Program Applicant Questionnaire.
  • A statement of concerns about traffic in the area.                 
  • A clearly identified location of desired improvement.
  • Type of traffic calming measures desired.  
  • Specific boundaries of the project area (to include the properties which would potentially benefit).
  • An Indication of the level of local support for the project.

Local support should be documented in the form of a petition containing signatures of residents of approximately 50% of the households in the proposed project area, records of meetings, and any other supporting information. A copy of the program Guidelines and Application should accompany petitions when circulated within the neighborhood to ensure that petitioners understand the application and program requirements.

Initial Review of Application


Following receipt of the completed application, the Staff will conduct an informational meeting with the applicant to explain the process, educate about traffic calming strategies, and discuss proposed projects and possible solutions in detail. The discussion should include all probable impacts, positive and negative, local and regional as applicable.

Traffic Studies

Following the initial application review, Staff will conduct traffic studies as needed to verify the traffic problems identified in the traffic calming application. This analysis will be performed during free flow traffic conditions.

Discussion of Strategies with the Applicant Neighborhood

If the analysis shows that actual traffic problems do not substantiate residents' perceptions, the analysis data and cause(s) of the residents' perceptions should be identified and discussed with them. Strategies other than a traffic calming project may be appropriate, and can potentially be implemented by the City with the neighborhood's involvement at a minimum of expense.

However, if the traffic problems documented to exist do back up the residents' perceptions of need, the application can proceed to the next stage. A diversified review team -- the Traffic Calming Steering Committee -- consisting of appropriate officials from the city, emergency services and other public service agencies will review the application. Traffic calming strategies should be selected from proven methodologies for their specific appropriateness to the identified problems. A variety of strategies may be applicable, and may be appropriate in combination with one another. The recommended improvements will then be discussed with the applicant neighborhood and any other interested or potentially affected neighbors. If consensus can be reached about how to proceed, the application can advance again.

Decision to Proceed

In most situations, proposed improvements will be initially installed as temporary measures. In exceptional situations, permanent measures may be installed without having first installed and evaluated temporary measures.

The usual course is for the project application to move into design and installation of temporary improvements. After temporary trials lasting from two weeks to several months, the traffic studies should be repeated to verify the effects of the improvements and the neighborhood should review results again.

If the temporary improvements prove to be satisfactory, the project can move into design of final improvements. Prior to final design and subsequently, construction, the city must receive a petition with signatures of either 85 percent of the property owners or 90% of the households within the project boundary, asking to construct the project. Upon receipt, the City will proceed with construction.

In the event that the City and residents are comfortable permanently constructing the recommended improvements without going through the temporary phase, the project application will move directly into final design. Prior to final design and subsequently, construction, the city must receive a petition with signatures of either 85% of the property owners or 90% of the households within the project boundary, asking to construct the project. Upon receipt, the City will proceed with construction.

Permanent Installations Maintained

Landscaped installations (excepting perimeter curbing and similar structural elements) must be maintained by the neighborhood.

Removal of Installed Devices

Removal of any installed devices will be initiated following receipt of a petition with signatures of either 85 percent of the property owners or 90% of the households within the project boundary.