Investigation of North American Traffic Calming Processes and their Impact on Equitable Engagement and Safe Mobility

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Isabel Maletich
- ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-4653-1660
- College of Arts and Sciences, Department of City and Regional Planning

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Traffic calming policies are becoming more frequent across the United States to lower vehicle speeds on local or residential roads and improve multi-modal safety. As Vision Zero and the Safe Systems Approach has gained traction across the US, traffic calming has been identified as an important tool to develop Vision Zero communities across the country and achieve zero roadway deaths or serious injuries. This paper identifies the common practices that are included in traffic calming policies, how they align with Vision Zero principles, and how different cities create and adapt different elements of a traffic calming process to their jurisdiction. Most policies outline very similar processes that implements traffic calming through a point-based system, meaning projects are evaluated individually and implemented as a single measure at a location. The design of these processes risks perpetuating the existing inequities in the distribution of multi-modal amenities across cities and towns in the US. While traffic calming has the capacity to reduce inequities in transportation-related deaths and serious injuries across socio-economic classes, the current state of their policies are inadequate to achieve our Vision Zero goals.

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Nikhil Kaza
- College of Arts and Sciences, Department of City and Regional Planning

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