Agenda - Council - 08/12/1997 - Laserfiche WebLink

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.STREET CLOSURE CHAPTER 2O ! I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I TYPE I A street closure, for the purpose of the Residential Neighborhood Traffic Control Tool Box, is defined as closing a street either at one end or the other, or at a mid-block location. The purpose is to eliminate wanted through traffic. Street closing is a fairly common traffic con- trol techrdque. It is well documented in the "Residential Street Design & Traffic Control" published by Prentice Hail (1989). There are two basic types of closure to consider. Type 1 Ls defined as being near to the main street. The dosed street can no longer gain access to or h-om the main steer. Typ'e 2 is defined as being a far closure. The dosed street can ordy . ge. in' access to the ro~n street. Type 1 is most effective at reducing through traffic volumes. Effect. s 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. Neighborhood Traffic Control January 1994 '~?E Z Speed. Again, the impact is drastic, reducing the speed to that normal.ly assodated with short dead-end residential streets. Traffic Noise, Air QuaIipy and Energy Con- sumpfion- There should be a dramatic reduction in nois~' directly related to the reduction in traffic volumes. This is also compIished with an increase in air quality. Energy Corusnmption. /'40 change in energy consumption is expected since vehicle imps are not diminated, but merely rerouted to main streets. Traffic Safety. There is a substantial increase in traffic safety. The neighborhood abutting the dosed street has less traffic arid the traffic that remains is ail Iocal, usually weit known amongst themselves. There is also a safety improvement to the main street. Traffic entering or exiting the main street is eliminated at the close, d 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- 20-1