Traffic Calming Devices

An Introduction
By Scott Batson, PE
Portland Office of Transportation
Traffic Investigations

Traffic Calming - One Definition

Engineering solutions that alter
driver behavior to achieve
reduced vehicle speed or
volume or that enhance
pedestrian safety.
Traffic Calming is a subset of the more
general field of
Access Management

Traffic Calming Devices

Speed Reduction

Speed Reduction

Bumps or Humps
Purpose:
Speed Reduction.

Speed Reduction

Bumps or Humps
Design:

Maximum 3 inches in height

and 12 to 30 feet long
measured in the direction of
the vehicle path.

Speed Reduction

Bumps or Humps
Materials:
Asphalt is most
common, but concrete,
concrete pavers and
rubber are used.

Speed Reduction

Bumps or Humps
Effectiveness:
Predictably effective at reducing vehicle
speed. Bump size ( in the direction of
travel) and bump spacing affect vehicle
speed most. Shorter and closer bumps
have the greatest speed reduction.
Larger vehicles (Fire/Bus) slowed more
than smaller vehicles.

Speed Reduction

Bumps or Humps

Speed Reduction

Bumps or Humps

Speed Reduction

Bumps or Humps
Variations For Emergency Response:
Off-set
And...

Speed Reduction

Bumps or Humps
Speed Cushions

Traffic Calming Devices

Speed and Volume

Reduction

Speed + Volume Reduction

Traffic Circles
Purpose:
Intersection slowing of
vehicles and
reduction of
collisions.

Speed + Volume Reduction

Traffic Circles
Design:
Most often placed at center of
the intersection of two
streets, can be placed at T
intersection or mid-block.

Speed + Volume Reduction

Traffic Circles
Design:
Placed on streets with
low volume of traffic
Local Service
streets. Circular
roadway
accommodates
design vehicle, often
transit or school
bus.

Speed + Volume Reduction

Traffic Circles
Design:
Low, mountable curb
with standard curb
inside provides
extra space for rare
long vehicles if
needed. Corner
radii often increased
to achieve maximum
deflection and
slowing.

Speed + Volume Reduction

Traffic Circles
Design:
Pedestrian/Bike
and vehicle
pathway
overlap
should be
avoided.

Speed + Volume Reduction

Traffic Circles
Materials:
Concrete or
rubber curb, fill
or landscaping
inside center
island
deciduous
trees only.

Speed + Volume Reduction

Traffic Circles
Effectiveness:
Good slowing of traffic near the circle,
especially with shorter approach
lengths. Very effective at reducing
vehicle angle collisions. Object in
roadway is a collision hazard.
Pedestrian visibility, night-time
illumination and Emergency Response
delay can be issues.

Speed + Volume Reduction

Chicane/Serpentine Roadways
Purpose:
Slowing of vehicles by
introduction of
uncertainty and
horizontal curves to
vehicle pathway.

Speed + Volume Reduction

Chicane/Serpentine Roadways
Design:
Mid-block Islands
or off-set curb
extensions with
centerline
striping.
Drainage
requirements
can escalate
costs.

Speed + Volume Reduction

Chicane/Serpentine Roadways
Materials:
Concrete curbing;
Fill with PCC,
pavers, or
landscaping.

Speed + Volume Reduction

Chicane/Serpentine Roadways
Effectiveness:
Curb-side island design is more effective
reducing speed with opposing traffic to
ensure vehicles are constrained to the new
curved path. Curb-side design permits
emergency vehicle access straight through.
Centerline island reduces dependence on
opposing traffic but presents a obstruction to
emergency response. Either design involves
parking loss.

Volume + Speed Reduction

Chokers
Purpose:
Reduce
traffic
volume
and
speed

Volume + Speed Reduction

Chokers
Design:
Curb extensions or
roadside islands
that reduce two
directions of travel
to a single
pathway that must
be alternately
shared by
opposing vehicles.

Volume + Speed Reduction

Chokers
Materials:
Concrete curbing; Fill with PCC, pavers,
or landscaping

Volume + Speed Reduction

Chokers
Effectiveness:
More effective on higher volume streets
where opposing vehicles are more
frequent. Can be effective for the peakhour cut-through traffic without
significant inconvenience for local
residents for the remainder of the day.
Little effect on remaining vehicles
speed.

Traffic Calming Devices

Pedestrian
Enhancement

Pedestrian Enhancement

Curb Extensions
Purpose:
Shorten crossing
distance for
pedestrians.

Pedestrian Enhancement

Curb Extensions
Design:
The curb is constructed 6-7 feet closer
to the street centerline than curb at the
edge of the road where cars typically
park. Most often constructed at
corners but can be used at mid-block
crossings. Drainage issues can
increase costs.

Pedestrian Enhancement

Curb Extensions
Materials:
PCC concrete curbing,
sidewalk or
landscaping around
curb ramp, added
markings as needed.

Pedestrian Enhancement

Curb Extensions
Effectiveness:
Good increase of
visibility of
pedestrians to
drivers and
approaching
vehicles to
pedestrians.
Minimal effect on
vehicle speed.

Pedestrian Enhancement

Refuge Islands
Purpose:
Point of return for
pedestrians that
have misjudged a
crossing gap, or,
place of refuge
permitting
pedestrians to
cross one direction
of traffic at a time.

Pedestrian Enhancement

Refuge Islands
Design:
Island at centerline of
roadway, at an
intersection, or
mid-block; Bike
lane striping to
narrow travel lane.

Pedestrian Enhancement

Refuge Islands
Materials:
Concrete curbs; Infill with
PCC, pavers, or
landscaping.

Pedestrian Enhancement

Refuge Islands
Effectiveness:
Minimal reduction in
vehicle speed (1-3
mph); good increase in
crossing opportunities
for pedestrians and
crossing location is
reinforced to auto
users. Parking removal
is necessary.

Traffic Calming Devices

Traffic Volume Reduction

Full or Partial Diversion

Volume Reduction

Diverters
Purpose:
Eliminate some to
all vehicle path
choices.

Volume Reduction

Diverters

Design:
Block auto pathways with
islands, curb
extensions, or roadway
closures.

Volume Reduction

Diverters

Materials:
Concrete curbs; Fill with PCC, pavers,
or landscaping.

Volume Reduction

Diverters
Effectiveness:
Significant effect on the number of
vehicles using a street. Can
inconvenience local residents with
more circuitous path to their home.
Pedestrian and cyclist access is often
maintained. Emergency access needs
attention. Remaining drivers are not
slowed.

Diverters

Full or Complete
Diagonal Diverter

Diverters

Full or Complete
Cul-de-sacs
and
Dead Ends

Diverters

Semi or Partial
Semi-Diverter
Half Street Closure

Diverters

Semi or Partial
Channelization
(Pork Chops)

Diverters

Semi or Partial
Median Barrier

Diverters

Semi or Partial
Vehicle Specific: Bus Only Lane

Traffic Calming
Different tools have differing effects.
No one tool solves more than two
symptoms.
Traffic calming may be treating a
symptom of a more general road
network ailment.
Lastly.

Dont get carried away!

For More Information:

www.ci.portland.or.us
Subject Search:
Traffic Calming
or
scott.batson@trans.ci.portland.or.us