Lexington, NC
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About the Lexington Traffic Calming Program
City of Lexington staff are guided by our Traffic Calming Policy, which governs our Traffic Calming Program, to follow a process that:
- Encourages citizen engagement
- Uses data to inform decisions
- Prioritizes highest need
The process includes seven (7) steps, each with varying duration and detail. Lexington aligns with ITE's statement that "In many cases, a successful neighborhood traffic calming program is dependent more on public participation and consensus building than on the specific technique used." Accordingly, our process puts substantial emphasis on community involvement and leadership; Lexington staff serve to support and guide the process.
Traffic calming projects vary in complexity, but Lexington recommends that citizens anticipate up to an 18 month duration from start to finish. More details on the process can be found in the City's Traffic Calming Policy.
What is Traffic Calming?
In the simplest terms, traffic calming endeavors to enhance the livability of our neighborhood streets by reducing vehicle speeds and/or volumes through the use of devices that have demonstrated an ability to produce desired results. Such devices commonly include those that induce a vertical or horizontal deflection into the vehicle path and strategic changes to pavement markings that impact the drivers perception of speed relative to the environment.
The Specifics of Traffic Calming
City of Lexington staff collaborates with community representatives to make informed decisions on traffic calming using current data and documented research. Our tools include the wealth of information that has been written, reviewed and aggregated by transportation professionals on the subject of traffic calming. One of the most comprehensive references was a joint effort of the US Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), the Traffic Calming ePrimer.
The ePrimer includes discussions on:
- The basics of traffic calming
- Types of traffic calming devices and how they each affect traffic speed and volume
- Previous case studies that inform our decisions on traffic calming
Traffic Calming VS. Traffic Control
Traffic calming is a device or group of devices that is meant to achieve a desired result by becoming a self-enforcing, perceptible part of the road geometry. The use of traffic calming measures is guided largely by collective traffic engineering experience, documentation and best practices, balanced against local, state and federal regulations governing public transportation facilities.
Traffic control is a system of signs, signals and pavement markings that is intended to regulate, warn or guide facilities open to public travel. The selection and placement of traffic control devices is standardized by the FHWA in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). Use of these devices is subject (and/or restricted) to the conditions noted in the MUTCD.
The difference between traffic calming and traffic control can be summarized by the following:
Want to Request Traffic Calming in Your Neighborhood?
If you would like to initiate a new traffic calming project in your neighborhood and believe there is sufficient community support, please continue using the link below to fill out an application.