Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program &
Policy Study
City Council Study Session
June 18, 2024
2City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 Agenda
1. Purpose
2. Project Overview
3. Existing Traffic Calming Program
4. Community & Stakeholder Outreach Summary
5. Traffic Calming Program in Comparable Cities
6. Next Steps & Discussion Items
3City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 Purpose
4City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 Goal for the City Council Study Session
• Share project progress and community feedback received to date • Receive information needed to help Council take an action on:
Allow traffic calming on Collectors and/or Arterials
Update speed and/or volume thresholds
Add new traffic calming measures to our toolkit
Update the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program (NTCP) process 5City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 Project Overview
6City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 Project Overview
• Sunnyvale Neighborhood Traffic Calming Policy and Program Council Policy 1.2.4 adopted in 1997
Program established in 1997 and updated in 2004
• Study Issue DPW 22-06
To re-evaluate and identify possible updates to the Policy and Program • Scope
Examine other cities’ programs and best practices
Review traffic calming measures available for use
Identify possible changes to the program and policy
7City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 Study Process/Timeline
Nov-Dec Jan-May Jun-Jul Aug-Sep Oct-Nov
2023
Recommend Potential
Policy/Program
Updates
Best Practice
research
Community
Meeting 1 &
Survey
City Council
Study Session
City Council
Hearing
We are here!
Community
Meeting 2
2024
8City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 Existing Traffic Calming Program
9City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 • Purpose of Traffic Calming:
Discourage Speeding and Cut-thru Traffic
on Local Residential Streets
• Council Policy 1.2.4 Traffic Calming
Existing Traffic Calming Program
10City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 • Resident initiated/Petition
• Qualifying Criteria:
Roadway Classification
Speeding Thresholds
•85th percentile speed > 32 mph
•95th percentile speed > 35 mph
Traffic Volume Threshold
•> 1,000 vehicles per day
Existing Traffic Calming Program (cont’d)
11City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 Existing Stage 1 Traffic Calming Measures
Radar Speed Trailer Radar Speed Feedback Sign
Enforcement Signing & Striping In-roadway Sign
12City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 • Follow-up data collection in 3 - 6 months
• If Stage 1 measures are not effective, proceed to Stage 2 Two Rounds of Community Outreach
Neighborhood Consensus ≥ 60% and 100% within 100 feet of device • Council Approval
Funding and Implementation
Existing Traffic Calming Program (cont’d)
13City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 Existing Stage 2 Traffic Calming Measures
Speed Hump Speed Cushion
Speed Table Traffic Circle Curb Extension, Choker,
Chicane
14City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 Existing Stage 2 Traffic Calming Measures (Cont’d)
Median Entry/Exit Island Median Barrier
Mid-Block Raised Median Forced Turn Island, Barrier,
Channelization
Diagonal Diverter
15City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 Existing Stage 2 Traffic Calming Measures (Cont’d)
One-Way Street One-Way Choker, Half-Closure, Semi-
Diverter
Woonerf Street-Closure, Cul-de-sac
16City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 All 2018-2023 All 2018-2023
Total requests 231 147 100% 100%
Request did not qualify for traffic calming study 180 135 78% 92% Roadway classified as "Collector" 75 57 33% 39%
Roadway classified as "Arterial" 5 4 2% 3%
Local residential streets without neighborhood consensus 92 68 40% 46% Non-residential street 1 1 0% 1%
Private Property 7 5 3% 3%
Request qualified for traffic calming study 51 12 22% 8% Study in-progress 4 4 2% 3%
Stage 1 measure under construction 4 3 2% 2%
Stage 1 measure implemented 3 0 1% 0%
Stage 2 measure implemented 12 0 5% 0%
Collected data did not meet thresholds 28 5 12% 3%
Number of Requests % of Total Requests
Sunnyvale Traffic Calming Requests
Traffic Calming Request Summary
17City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 Community & Stakeholder Outreach
Summary
18City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 • Community Meeting (hybrid) – Nov. 2023
14 attended in-person, 11 online
• Online Survey – Oct. 31 to Dec. 7, 2023
37 responses
• Stakeholder Meeting with DPS – Mar. 2024
Outreach Overview
19City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 • Make “Collectors” eligible for traffic calming
• How to address safety issues outside of NTCP?
• Need clarifications on the process of the NTCP
• Want to skip Stage 1 Measures
Things We Heard
20City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 Online Survey Response
27 24
19 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Speeding
Pedestrian Safety
Cut through Traffic in Neighborhoods
Top Neighborhood Concerns
21City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 Online Survey Response
17 15
12 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18
I think there are too many steps, and the
thresholds are too hard to qualify.
I don't have experience with it.
I appreciate that the process involves getting
support from most of the neighbors.
Top Comments on the City's Current Traffic Calming Program 22City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 Comment on Traffic Calming Measures
* Combines workshop responses with online survey responses from respondents not present at workshop 14 18
22 0 5 10 15 20 25
Speed table (Stage 2)
Traffic circle (Stage 2)
Speed hump (Stage 2)
Most Preferred Traffic Calming Measures by Respondents
6 7
8 0 5 10 15 20 25
Traffic Enforcement (Stage 1)
Speed hump (Stage 2)
Radar speed trailer deployment (Stage 1)
Least Preferred Traffic Calming Measures by Respondents 23City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 • Existing traffic calming measures work for DPS
• Balanced approach to ensure measure effectiveness and DPS response times
• Traffic calming measures on collectors and arterials will impact response times
DPS Meeting Summary
24City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 Traffic Calming Program in Comparable
Cities
25City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 • Reviewed recently
adopted/modified NTCP in 8
comparable cities within the Bay
Area
Review of Neighborhood Traffic Calming Programs
Qualifying
Criteria
Traffic Calming
Measures
Implementation
Process
Funding &
Prioritization
• Mountain View
• Cupertino
• Campbell
• Redwood City
• Fremont
• San Carlos
• Livermore
• Gilroy
26City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 Qualifying Criteria – Roadway Classification
0 1
2 3
4 Local Residential Streets Local Residential and Residential Collector Streets
Local Residential, Residential Collector,
and Arterial Streets
Number of Reviewed Cities
Cupertino
Redwood City
Fremont Gilroy
Livermore
Campbell
San Carlos
Sunnyvale Mountain View
27City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 Qualifying Criteria – 85th Percentile Speed
(Local Residential Streets)
0 1
2 3
4 5
30 mph 31 mph 32 mph 33 mph
Number of Reviewed Cities
85th Percentile Speed Thresholds (Posted Speed Limit)
(25 mph)
Sunnyvale - or
95th percentile speed >
35 mph
*Mountain View and
Cupertino use 30 mph as
threshold in school zones
** Campbell requires
both speed and volume
to exceed the threshold
Mountain
View
Stage 2*
Sunnyvale
Stage 1
(25 mph) (25 mph) (25 mph)
Gilroy
Stage 1
Cupertino
Stage 2*
Livermore
Stage 1
Campbell
Stage 2**
Redwood City
Stage 2
Fremont
Stage 1
San Carlos
Stage 1
28City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 Qualifying Criteria – 85th Percentile Speed
(Residential Collector Streets)
0 1
2 3
4 5
31 mph 32 mph 33 mph 37 mph 38 mph 42 mph 43 mph
Number of Reviewed Cities
85th Percentile Speed Thresholds (Posted Speed Limit)
(25 mph) (25 mph) (30 mph) (35 mph)(25 mph) (30 mph) (35 mph) • Mountain View – or
150 vehicles with
speed > 85th
percentile per day
• San Carlos - uses
same thresholds on
Arterial Streets
• Gilroy - or 70% traffic
exceeds posted speed
limit
Mountain
View
Stage 2
Mountain
View
Stage 2
Mountain
View
Stage 2
Campbell
Stage 2
Campbell
Stage 2
Campbell
Stage 2
San Carlos
Stage 1
San Carlos
Stage 1
San Carlos
Stage 1
Gilroy
Stage 1
Gilroy
Stage 1
Gilroy
Stage 1
Livermore
Stage 1
Livermore
Stage 1
Livermore
Stage 1
29City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 0 1
2 3
4 ADT Only Cut-Through Traffic Only ADT and Cut-Through Traffic Number of Reviewed Cities
Volume Thresholds for Local Residential Streets
Qualifying Criteria – Volume (Local Residential Streets) San Carlos
(ADT > 1,200 vpd)
Stage 1
Mountain View
(CT > 25% ADT)
Stage 2
Cupertino
(CT > 25% ADT, and
ADT > 1,000 vpd)
Stage 2
Campbell
(ADT > 1,000 vpd)
Stage 2
Sunnyvale
(ADT > 1,000 vpd)
Stage 1
Fremont
(ADT > 800 vpd)
Stage 1
Redwood City
(CT > 40% ADT)
Stage 2
Livermore
(CT > 250 vpd)
Stage 1
Gilroy
(CT > 25% ADT, and
ADT > 1,000 vpd)
Stage 1
30City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 0 1
2 3
4 ADT Only Cut-Through Traffic Only
Number of Reviewed Cities
Volume Thresholds for Residential Collector Streets
Qualifying Criteria – Volume (Residential Collector Streets) San Carlos
(ADT > 4,000 vpd)
Stage 1
Mountain View
(CT > 25% ADT)
Stage 2
Campbell
(ADT >2,000 vpd)
Stage 2
• San Carlos uses ADT >
13,000 vpd as
threshold for Arterial
Streets
• Gilroy only uses speed
threshold for
Residential Collector
Streets
Livermore
(CT > 250 vpd)
Stage 1
31City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 Measure Sunnyvale Mountain
View Cupertino Campbell Redwood
City Fremont San Carlos Livermore Gilroy
Non-Physical Measures (Stage 1)
Radar Speed Trailer Deployment X X X X X X X X X
Traffic Enforcement Action X X X X X X X
Traffic Sgining and Pavement Marker X X X X X X X X X
Community Outreach/Education X X X X X
Physical Measures (Stage 2)
Vertical Deflection
Speed Hump X X X X X X
Speed Cushion/Lump X X X X X
Speed Table/Raised Crosswalk X X X X X X X
Raised Intersection X
Horizontal deflection
Traffic Circle X X X X X X X X X
Roundabout X X X X X X
Street Width Reduction
Curb Extension/Choker/Chicane X X X X X X X X X
Median Island X X X X X X X X X
Routing Restriction
Median Barrier, Forced Turn Island,
Barrier, Channelization X X X X
Diagonal Diverter X X X X
One-Way Street X X X
One-Way Choker, Half-Closure or
Semi-Diverter X X X
Street Closure and Cul-de-sac X X
Woonerf X X
Traffic Calming Measures Included in Reviewed City’s NTCPs
32City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 Potential New Traffic Calming Measures
Community Outreach/Education
(Stage 1)
Raised Intersection
(Stage 2)
Pros
• Resident participation
• Education on traffic calming
• Direct discussion with the public on
traffic problems
Cons
• Increase staff resources need
Pros
• Slow traffic and decrease traffic volume
• Improve pedestrian safety
• Calming two streets at once
Cons
• Impact emergency response time
• Special consideration for drainage
33City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 Petition Required:
Sunnyvale ≥ 50%
Redwood City 2 residents
Rest 1 resident
Comparison of Stage 1 Measures Implementation Process
Initiation Eligibility Implementation Follow-up Data
Collection
• Roadway
classification
• 5 cities require
data collection
for thresholds
evaluation
• 4 cities have no
requirements if
implementing
signage and
striping
• Implement if meets
criteria
• San Carlos staff may
use engineering
judgement to
proceed to Stage 2 if
they feel Stage 1 will
not work
• 5 cities conduct a
follow-up data
collection to
determine
effectiveness
• 4 cities do not require
follow-up data
= Sunnyvale’s process
34City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 Petition Required:
Sunnyvale None*
Mountain View ≥ 10%
Cupertino ≥ 10%
Campbell ≥ 50%
Redwood City ≥ 50%
Fremont Staff
San Carlos > 50%
Livermore None*
Gilroy > 60%
*Not required if Stage 1 is
not successful
Comparison of Stage 2 Measures Implementation Process
Initiation Traffic Calming
Study
Neighborhood
Consensus Approval
• 1-2 neighborhood
meetings
• Postcard surveys
• City-led design
process
• Resident/City co-
lead design process
• 4 cities requires
data collection
• Sunnyvale requires ≥
60% and 100% within
100 feet of device
• >50% to >70% support
through neighborhood
vote
Livermore - 100%
support from fronting
home-owners
Gilroy - >50% within
100 feet of device
• City Council
approval only
• 2 cities -
Commission
approval then
City Council
approval
= Sunnyvale’s
process
35City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 Comparison of Stage 2 Measures Implementation Process (cont’d) Funding Test Period
• General Fund
• Grants
• Private Funding
• Capital
Improvement
Program
• Permanent
Installation
• 4 cities – 9 to 12
months
• 4 cities – first
come first
served
• 5 cities –
prioritization
per data
collected/
location
• 4 cities – do not have a process
• 4 cities – petition to remove
device
• Livermore requires the
neighborhood to fully fund the
removal cost
= Sunnyvale’s process
Prioritization Removal Process
36City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 Next Steps & Discussion Items
37City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 Study Process/Timeline
Nov-Dec Jan-May Jun-Jul Aug-Sep Oct-Nov
2023
Recommend Potential
Policy/Program
Updates
Best Practice
research
Community
Meeting 1 &
Survey
City Council
Study Session
City Council
Hearing
We are here!
Community
Meeting 2
2024
38City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 Goal for the City Council Study Session
• Share projects progress and community feedback received to date • Receive information needed to help Council take an action on 39City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 Staff Recommendation
• Potential Changes to the NTCP:
Not to Expand Qualifying Streets beyond Local Residential Streets •Impact emergency response times
•Designed for higher speeds and higher volumes
•Traffic diversion to local streets
Update to speed and/or volume thresholds
•Remove 95th percentile threshold
Only cover outliers
Have not met this criteria in previous studies
40City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 Staff Recommendation
• Potential Changes to the NTCP (Cont’d):
Add new traffic calming measures to our toolkit
•Stage 1 – Community Outreach/Education
•Stage 2 – Raised Intersection
Changes to the NTCP process
•Neighborhood Consensus to implement Stage 2 measures
Keep requirement of ≥ 60% support
Remove requirement of 100% support from homeowners
within 100 feet of device
41City of Sunnyvale – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program & Policy Study – June 2024 Thank you!