Agenda - Council - 09/09/1996 - Laserfiche WebLink

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'l'KRhfl' I TYPE 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 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 (t989). 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. 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 Consol January 1994 TYPE 2 Re.~t~J St ~ I · Speed. Again, the impact is drastic, reducing I the speed to that normally associated with short dead-end residential streets. I Traffic Noise, Air Quality and Energy Con- sumptioru There should be a dramatic ~ reduction in noise directly .related to the reduction in traffic volumei. This is also ac- I ~ 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 force in the majority of s2'eet closures I driving described in the case study section. Reaction. Reaction from people I Community who live on the street is usualiy very positive. It is important to have all the residents in- I 20-1 I I