DRAFT TRAFFIC CALMING POLICY
CITY OF GONZALES
DRAFT TRAFFIC CALMING POLICY
JUNE 2025
3769.docx
TRAFFIC CALMING POLICY
INTRODUCTION
Traffic calming is a method of employing specific measures to address speeding and other unacceptable driver behavior on local city streets. Requests from residents to address speeding vehicles on residential roadways occur on a regular basis. This policy was developed to establish the following:
1. The procedure to formally evaluate requests. This includes verification of the issue, a site visit to observe the existing conditions, evaluate it against set criteria, rank it against other known locations in the City, provide recommendations to address the issue, and determine the effectiveness of the recommendations that are implemented.
2. Criteria for the review of traffic calming request to determine further analysis and validation of safety problems and potential traffic calming measures.
3. The objectives and general application of traffic calming measures.
PROCESS AND REQUIREMENTS
The city places a high importance on issues related to Traffic Safety. We want residents to have a clear understanding of how to report these issues. If a resident feels that there is a speeding problem on their local residential street, they should start by reporting the problem to the Police Department.
If determined to be a valid complaint, the Police Department may increase traffic patrols and enforcement for a limited period. If this does not provide the satisfaction sought by the resident who submitted the concern, then that resident may begin the process for requesting the installation of appropriate traffic calming measure(s).
The most common types of traffic calming measures that the city will consider are those included in Category A and Category D listed in the Traffic Calming Categories in this document. Simpler and less intrusive measures will be considered first. More complex and involved traffic calming measures may require a traffic engineering analysis to determine a viable option. However, any roadway speed reduction measure or physical modification sought via this process will ultimately require the approval of the Public Works Director.
3769.docx
Step 1 - Speed Limit Reduction Request Submission
Speed Limit Reduction Requests should not be submitted unless the requestor has first advised the Police Department of their concern and police interventions have not alleviated the issue.
A resident interested in requesting that a speed limit reduction be instituted for their local street should meet with the Public Works Director to discuss their concern. To formally consider the request, the resident must do the following:
1. Submit a Request for Traffic Calming Request Form to the Public Works Department
2. Submit a Neighborhood Petition Form to the Public Works Department containing the signatures of 80% of the residents in the affected area.
Eligible signees include:
a. Those residents of the street identified for speed reduction (if the street is of significant length, additional consideration will be given to determine if only a portion of the street is anaffected area), b. Residents on adjoining streets whose sole or primary access is the street identified for calming.
The petition shall identify a resident who will serve as the primary point of contact with the City. If the Petitioner is not able to obtain 80% of the required signatures, the Public Works Department may either cease any further action for lack of interest on the part of the affected residents, or, at its discretion, the city may continue to move the application on to the next step if it is determined that the concern is a significant problem.
After the city verifies that the petition has met the criteria set forth above, pertinent traffic data will be collected to further assess the need for traffic calming measures. The data to be collected and analyzed may include traffic volumes, speed data, traffic patterns, existing conditions in the area such as stopping sight distance, and accident history documents. The findings will then be reviewed and assessed by Public Works staff.
Step 2 - Data Collection, Evaluation, and Recommendation Upon advancement from Step 1 to Step 2, a radar data collection board will be installed on the roadway at issue. This board will be in place for two weeks. During this time, Public Works staff will review and evaluate the traffic data collected. 3769.docx
If the data meets the minimum criteria as set forth below, Public Works staff may recommend Category A traffic calming measures as appropriate. City staff may also conclude that no further intervention is necessary. A letter/email will be sent to the Applicant indicating the City's determination.
Requests must have a point total greater than 0 to be further evaluated for any intervention beyond Category A traffic calming measures. However, Public Works staff may, at its discretion, continue to move the application on to the next step if it is determined that there are other factors involved that indicate the concern is a significant safety hazard to the general public.
Each valid request will be evaluated based on the criteria shown below. If multiple potential projects are being considered, they will be ranked by their score to help prioritize the order in which they are completed in relation to available resources, funds and anticipated benefits.
Traffic Calming Measure Criteria
Criteria 1 - Traffic Speeds
The traffic speed criteria will be measured by the amount the 85% speed is above the posted speed limit. The 85th percentile speed is defined as: the speed at or below which 85 percent of all vehicles are observed to travel under free-flowing conditions past amonitored point. Another way to consider this is the speed at which only 15% of traffic violate on average.
Amount the 85% speed is above the posted limit:
1-5 mph 6-10 mph 11-15 mph 16+ mph
0 points 3 points 5 points 7 points
Example: If the speed limit of a road were 25mph and 85% of drivers were going 33 mph, this application would receive 3 points, because the 85% speed was 8 mph over the speed limit.
Criteria 2 - Traffic Volumes
Average daily traffic (ADT) measured in vehicles per day (VPD) <400 vpd 401-1000 vpd 1001-2000 vpd 2001+ vpd
0 points 2 points 4 points 6 points
Criteria 3 - Additional Considerations
3769.docx
Other Considerations – (Only become a factor when the two categories above exceed a total of 5 points)
➢ School zone – 4 points
➢ Significant Pedestrian Traffic Year-Round – 3 points
➢ More than three (3) accidents per year for each of the past three (3) years - 3 points
➢ Significant Pedestrian Traffic During Summer – 2 points ➢ No sidewalk on either side of the street – 1 point
Step 3 - Follow-up Data Collection
If one or more of the Category A traffic calming measures are implemented, the City will wait approximately six weeks before collecting additional traffic data to determine the effectiveness of the implemented measures.
Step 4 - City Data Review, Evaluation, and Recommendation The City will review the follow-up data. If the measures were successful in addressing the concern, then the traffic calming process will end at this point.
Step 5 - Neighborhood Support for Category D Measures
If the City determines that Category A measures were not successful, the issue may consider the installation of Category D measures. Funding for the design and construction of the proposed improvements will need to be available before proceeding forward with this step of the process.
For Category D measures (i.e. more permanent measures), the Applicant must submit signatures of at least 80% of residents within the subject area to show support for the requested traffic calming measure (Form 2).
Step 6 - Neighborhood Site Meeting and City Review
A neighborhood site meeting will be organized by the City and held to present proposed Category D measures, which will involve physical modifications to the roadway/ intersection. This informational meeting will provide a public forum to solicit comments regarding the proposed project improvements.
The City will review feedback presented at the neighborhood site meeting and determine if design and construction of the proposed recommendations should be pursued.
3769.docx
Step 7 - Design and Construction
Actual implementation of Category D measures will be dependent on a project’s point ranking as determined in Step 2, and as compared to the point ranking from other traffic calming projects and available funding.
Once funding for a specific project is in place, design and construction of the proposed improvements will proceed.
Step 8 - Post-Construction Evaluation
After the Category D measures have been in place for approximately six months, additional data may be collected to determine their effectiveness.
Once they are installed, measures shall remain for at least 3 years. If the residents of a neighborhood collectively decide that the installed traffic calming measures are no longer desired following the first three years after construction is completed, a process similar to that used for implementation of Category D measures will be followed. This includes demonstrating public support for the removal of such measures by completion of a petition signed by 80% of the residents within the defined zone of influence, and evaluation by the Public Works department.
Appeal Process
Owners and/or residents abutting a street within the defined zone of influence may appeal a city traffic calming recommendation by filing a written notice of appeal with the Public Works Director. Written appeals must be received within 30 days of the decision.
Appeals will be heard by the Public Works Director, who has authority to make all final decisions regarding traffic calming policies.
The only issues that may be raised on an appeal are:
1. Whether there is a public justification for the change (public justification defined as meeting the policy’s volume and speed criteria).
2. Whether the method chosen to gauge neighborhood consensus was properly completed as required by thetraffic calming policy. 3769.docx
TRAFFIC CALMING CATEGORIES
Category A - Signing and Markings
The following devices and improvements are included in the Category A list:
1. Speed Feedback Signs
2. Speed Reduction Markings
3. In-Street Pedestrian Crossing Signs
4. Crosswalk Enhancement
5. Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons (PHBs)
6. Flashing Beacons/Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons
Category B - Physical Intersection Modifications
The following devices and improvements are included in the Category B list:
1. Roundabouts
2. Full Closure
3. Intersection Barrier
4. Partial Closure/Semi-Diverter
5. Right-In, Right-Out
6. Tee-Up Intersection and Reduce Corner Radii
Category C - Roadway Narrowing
The following devices and improvements are included in the Category C list:
1. Road Diet
2. Neckdowns/Chokers
3. Curb Extensions/Bulb-outs
4. On-Street Parking
5. Raised Median Island/Traffic Island
Category D - Vertical Roadway Elements
The following devices and improvements are included in the Category D list:
1. Speed Hump
2. Speed Cushion
3. Speed Table/Raised Crosswalk
4. Offset Speed Table
5. Traverse Rumble Strips
6. Raised Intersection
Category E - Physical Roadway Segment Modifications
3769.docx
The following devices and improvements are included in the Category E list:
1. Lateral Shifts
2. Chicanes
Category F - Others
The following devices and improvements are included in the Category F list:
1. Street Trees and Landscaping
2. In-Roadway Light
For a detailed description and examples of each traffic calming device included in the lists above, refer to the Traffic Calming Guide prepared by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). Download available here:
Caltrans Traffic Calming Guide
FORM 1 – Request for Traffic Calming Measures
This form is used to report a speeding or traffic issue on a residential street.
Once the form is submitted, Public Works staff will assess the complaint to determine the nature of the problem and will verify that the location is a citymaintained residential street. Once this information is confirmed, city staff will coordinate with the person(s) who submitted the report and explain the process for assembling a local community petition to verify that there is a widespread concern for the speeding or traffic issue.
1. Contact Information
Name:
Address, City, and Zip:
Phone Number:
Email:
2. Describe the location of the traffic concern. Attach a map or picture ifnecessary:
3. Describe the nature of the neighborhood traffic issue (attach additional sheets if necessary):
4. List possible solutions to the issue that you would like the City to consider:
FORM 2 - Neighborhood Petition (Page 1 of 2)
THE UNDERSIGNED AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING:
1. Persons signing this petition do hereby certify that they own property or reside within the following area:
2. Persons signing this petition do hereby agree to the following issue in the defined area:
3. Persons signing this petition do hereby agree that the following contact person(s) represents the neighborhood in matters pertaining to items 1 and 2 above:
Date Submitted:
Name of key contact person #1 (please print):
Address, City, and Zip Code:
Telephone (day): Email:
Name of key contact person #2 (please print):
Address, City, and Zip Code:
Telephone (day): Email:
(Attach additional pages if necessary to discuss the request) FORM 2 – Neighborhood Petition (Page 2 of 2)
This petition is used to verify that residents in a neighborhood agree there is widespread concern of a speeding or traffic issue. City staff will define a “zone of influence” in the neighborhood. The zone of influence includes properties abutting the street in question and properties on side streets within a reasonable distance of the identified traffic issue.
In order for the issue to be considered by the City, the petition must be signed by at least 80 percent of the owners or residents of properties within the zone of influence. Each property is entitled to one signature. Signatures from the following will be considered valid: Property owner or spouse, Adult head of household, or Adult renting the property
SIGNATURE STREET ADDRESS, PHONE, EMAIL ADDRESS DATE
(Additional copies of this page will be used as necessary) FORM 3 – Neighborhood Petition for Construction of Traffic Calming Measures (Page 1 of 2)
Form must be filled out and returned to the Public Works Director.
Date Submitted:
THE UNDERSIGNED AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING:
1. All persons signing this petition do hereby certify that they own property or reside withinthe following area:
2. All persons signing this petition do hereby agree to the construction of the following proposed traffic calming measures within the area identified above, the estimated cost of which is indicated herein: (this section to be completed by Public Works staff)
3. All persons signing this petition do hereby acknowledge that unless the Public Works department determines that the installed measures present an unsafe condition to the general public, once they are installed, all measures shall remain in place for a minimum of 3 years. If the residents of a neighborhood collectively decide that the installed traffic calming measures are no longer desired following the first three years after construction is completed, a process similar to that used for implementation of the Category D measures will be followed. This includes demonstrating public support for the removal of such measures by completion of a petition signed by 80% of the residents within the defined zone of influence, and evaluation by the Public Works department.
FORM 3 – Neighborhood Petition for Construction of Traffic Calming Measures (Page 2 of 2)
The purpose of this petition is to verify the consensus of residents in a neighborhood for the construction of traffic calming measures as described on page 1 of this form.
City staff will define a “zone of influence” in the neighborhood. The zone of influence includes properties abutting the street in question and properties on side streets within a reasonable distance of the identified traffic issue.
In order for the issue to be considered by the City, the petition must be signed by at least 80 percent of the owners or residents of properties within the zone of influence. Each property is entitled to one signature. Signatures from the following will be considered valid: Property owner or spouse, Adult head of household, or Adult renting the property
SIGNATURE STREET ADDRESS, PHONE, EMAIL ADDRESS DATE
(Additional pages may be used as necessary)