Weekly City Update: Traffic Calming Initiative

Effective March 16, 2010, multi-way stops will be installed at the following intersections in Crystal Place subdivision: 

            Crystal Drive at Lockridge Ave

            Crystal Drive at Taurus Ave

            Crystal Drive at Scorpio Ave 

      A traffic calming study was conducted by the city on Crystal Drive from February 8 through February 11, 2009 after receiving a request from residents who live on Crystal Drive who were complaining about speeding, accidents, and reckless operation of vehicles.   

      The study revealed that 25.6% of the drivers in the southbound direction and 34.2% of the drivers in the northbound direction were driving at least 10 mph over the posted 30 mph speed limit.  Forty-three vehicles were driving over 55 mph on the street. 

      The city of Central has a traffic calming program which requires certain standards to be met before traffic calming initiatives will be considered on a street, one of which requires the 85^th percentile of speeds to be at least 8 mph over the posted speed limit.  The 85^th percentile speed on Crystal Drive was 46 mph, which is 16 mph over the posted speed limit.  It also requires a petition of at least 65% of the property owners along the effected street.  In this case, residents along the street signed the petition requesting traffic calming initiatives within 2 days and returned it to city officials. 

      Residents in the area also held a subdivision meeting with city official David Barrow to go over the results.  Barrow explained several options that were available, including the installation of multi-way stop signs, which the residents requested to be installed at three intersections along Crystal Drive. 

      Both the city and the Sheriff’s Department will monitor Crystal Drive for stop sign enforcement and radar enforcement in an effort to further provide safety along the street at the request of the residents.