Traffic Calming/Road Safety Working Group to recommend
draft policy to Town Council
The Traffic Calming/Road Safety working group has recommended a draft
traffic-calming policy to the Town Council for consideration.
The council will consider the draft at its March 5 meeting, and is expected
to set a public hearing for April 9, 2007.
The Traffic Calming/Road Safety Working Group, established in April 2006
by the council, has identified three tasks in addressing the council's goal
to explore opportunities for road safety. "The Traffic Calming Policy is
the first task completed by the working group," according to a memo submitted
by the group.
"The Traffic Calming Policy represents a commitment by the Town of Cape Elizabeth
to promote and maintain safety and livability," the draft policy says.
The policy provides a process for identifying, evaluating and addressing
undesirable traffic conditions. It also provides procedures for town staff
to follow and an open process for citizen participation, the draft policy
says.
The policy sets up a three-tiered approach to address traffic concerns. Traffic
calming may be accomplished using "Passive Traffic Control Measures", including
speed notification sign boards, neighborhood mailings and periodic police
radar enforcement; Standard Traffic
Control Measures, including turning restrictions, pavement markings and
plantings; and finally Physical Alteration Control Measures, including speed
tables, "chokers"/pedestrian refuge islands, and traffic circles.
"Elevation to the next tier is based on data documenting traffic problems
and on support of the neighborhood," the memo says. "An effort was also made
to scale the cost of implementing the policy consistent with the progression
through the tiers," the memo says.
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