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STREET CLOSURE CHAPTER 20 TYPE 1 ~ ~,e~t~d St TYPE 2. A street 'closure, for the purpose of the Residential Neighborhood Traffic Control Tool Box, is defined as dosing a street either at one end or the other, or at a mid-block location. The purpose is to eliminate un- wanted through traffic. Street closing is a fairly common traffic con- trol technique. It is well documented in the "Residential Street Design & Traffic Control" published by Prentice Hall (1989). There are two basic types of closure to consider. Type 1 is defined as being near to the main street. The closed street can no longer gain access to or from the main street. Type 2 is defined as being a far closure. The closed street can only gain access to the main street. Type 1 is most .' effective at reducing through traffic volumes. Effects Volumes. The impact on traffic volume is drastic, reducing traffic volume to that which is generated by the land use on the abutting properties. To be most effective, the closure must be visible to the drivers, so that the driver does not run onto the street and then finds it to be a dead-end. A "dead-end" sign may be needed. Sufficient capacity on the alternative route is also needed. Speed. Again, the impact is drastic, reducing the speed to that normally associated with short dead-end residential streets. Traffic Noise, Air Quality and Energy Con- sumption. There-should be a dramatic 'reduction in noise directly related to the reduction in traffic VOlumes. This is also ac- complished with an increase in air quality. Energy Consumption. No change in energy consumption is expected since vehicle trips are not eliminated, but merely rerouted to main streets. Traffic Safety. There is a substantial increase in traffic safety. The neighborhood abutting the closed street has less traffic and the traffic that remains is all local, usually well known amongst themselves. There is also a safety improvement to the main street. Traffic entering or exiting the main street is eliminated at the closed street and relocated at adjacent intersection with better traffic con- troL This portion of traffic safety has been the driving force in the majority of street closures described in the case study section. Community Reaction. Reaction from people who live on the street is usually very positive. It is important to have all the residents in- Neighborhood Traffic Control January 1994 20-1