Horizontal Traffic Calming Measures

A curb extension is where the sidewalk is extended into a parking or non-moving lane at an intersection or mid-block crossing. They shorten the distance pedestrians need to cross, making them more visible to drivers and reducing the time they are exposed to traffic. They also reduce the turning speed for vehicles by reducing the turning radii which creates safer streets. Additionally, they can provide space for street furniture, landscaping, and public art.

Chicanes is a traffic calming device that are created by installing staggered mid-block bump-outs on alternating sides of a street. These curves slow vehicles down and reduce cut-through traffic in residential neighborhoods. They create new areas for landscaping or public spaces. By narrowing the roadway, chicanes make it easier and safer for pedestrians to cross the street.

Traffic circles are circular islands, typically found at the intersection of two residential streets. They lower speeds at minor intersection crossings and are an ideal treatment for uncontrolled intersections. The center of a traffic circle can be used for landscaping as long as it does not limit vehicular sight distance.

Roundabouts are streamlined circular intersections where vehicles travel in a counterclockwise direction. Entering traffic must yield to circulating vehicles. They force vehicles to slow down when going through an intersection and improve traffic flow. Roundabouts also improve traffic safety by significantly reducing the number of conflict points and changing the type of potential crashes from “T-bone” to “side swap”