Engineering
Dublin's Neighborhood Traffic-Calming Program
Dublin’s Neighborhood Traffic-Calming Program is a proactive, community-based program designed to enhance the quality of life in Dublin neighborhoods. It is a common goal among City leaders and residents to calm traffic on local streets where speeding, accidents or non-local traffic are concerns, providing a safer environment for motorists, pedestrians and children.
Through this program residents will partner with the City of Dublin to evaluate traffic concerns in their neighborhood. While some areas in Dublin are truly in need of traffic calming, others may be addressed with solutions outside the scope of this program.
For more on the City’s Neighborhood Traffic-Calming Program download the brochure. Should you have further questions or like additional information, contact the Division of Engineering at 614-410-4600.
Traffic-Calming Brochure |
5.6 MB |
Education and Enforcement
Pre Traffic-Calming Solutions
There are several options residents can pursue to reduce speeding in their neighborhood before requesting traffic calming. Residents can request the following speed-reduction options for their neighborhood by calling the Division of Police Traffic Enforcement Unit at 614-410-4807.
Speed-Monitoring Trailers
Residents can request the use of automated speed-monitoring trailers, which display to drivers their “actual” speed to encourage their compliance with speed limits. The trailers monitor traffic patterns in a given neighborhood for several days at a time. The units record the number of vehicles and speed of each vehicle. This data is used to identify traffic-related problems.
Neighborhood Speed Watch
Residents who live in neighborhoods perceived to have a speeding problem are eligible to participate in this educational program. The program requires that at least two adults from the association attend a radar training session with a police instructor. Upon completion of the program, residents are eligible to borrow radar equipment to use in their neighborhoods. Reminder notices regarding speed limits are sent to motorists identified as violators. The notices are not citations, but reminders to obey the posted speed limit and the community’s concern for safety.
StealthStat
Dublin’s speed-measuring device called the StealthStat monitors traffic volume, average speed, high speeds and low speeds of motorists. The StealthStat collects, sorts and analyzes data using a radar unit and computer. The results are used to help the Division of Police prioritize enforcement and other responsive efforts, as well as to educate the public.
Enforcement
After a traffic analysis is completed, the Division of Police may respond with increased enforcement to address the issue. Residents should be specific regarding the days and times of traffic concerns to help determine when enforcement is needed.
Acceptable Traffic-Calming Measures
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
Why Stop signs and Children at Play signs are not used for Traffic Calming
A common request to address speeding in neighborhoods is the installation of Stop signs. This may seem like an easy way to reduce vehicle speeds, however, Stop signs used for traffic calming can actually create a less desirable situation.
Stop signs that are used as a traffic-calming measure can cause high incidences of drivers intentionally violating the stop and other traffic-related issues. When vehicles do stop, the speed reduction is often only effective in the immediate area, since motorists will then increase their speed to make up for lost time. This can result in increased mid-block speeds. There is also often an increase in rear-end collisions near the inappropriate Stop sign, frequently called “cluster” accidents. In order to avoid the extra stops and starts on streets with these Stop signs, there can be a redistribution of traffic to adjacent streets.
For these reasons, the City of Dublin does not list Stop signs as an effective traffic-calming measure. Instead, the City uses Stop signs to improve safety at intersections where traffic volumes or accidents warrant their installation.
Another common request in neighborhoods is the installation of “Children at Play” signs. National and statewide traffic studies have shown that “Children at Play” signs are not effective in increasing a driver’s attention to the point of reducing vehicle speeds or reducing pedestrian accidents. In fact, placement of these signs can increase the potential for accidents by conveying to children and parents that the area is safe for children.
For these reasons, the City of Dublin does not use “Children at Play” signs and we encourage parents and/or guardians to find alternative play areas for children, such as a backyard or local parks.