Ten frequently asked Traffic Calming questions

		In September 2004, cut through traffic on E. Scott hit this parked truck, totalling it. Fortunately, nobody was hurt. Cut through or speeding traffic has been the cause of wrecks on Grainger and W. Glenwood, to name just two other Old North Knoxville neighborhood streets. Speeding has even caused the partial demolition of a front porch to a house on W. Glenwood.

You might call this edition of Old North 
News the Traffic Calming issue. To be sure, there is other information, but no decision is as immediately important as this one. Ballots have been mailed. Along with each ballot is a map of Old North Knoxville, showing what traffic calming devices are proposed for Old North, and where those devices will be placed should you vote for traffic calming. Once you have decided and voted, please place your ballot in the return envelope and mail it back. Nobody in Old North will know how you voted. An outside firm, the East Tennessee Community Design Center, will receive the ballots and tabulate the results. Ballots must be returned by November 4th. So please cast your vote and return your ballot. 

Below is a Frequently Asked Questions section. These questions and answers were compiled by the City of Knoxville Traffic Engineering Department, and are based on their experiences helping other neighborhoods with the traffic calming process. 

After reviewing the ballot, the map, and these FAQs, if you should still have questions, contact Traffic Calming Committee Chairman Tim Sparer at or by calling 633-6579.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is traffic calming? 
   Traffic Calming is the construction of physical devices in or near the street that either encourages or forces traffic speeds and volumes to be reduced. These devices can be separated into four kinds: narrowing the road, building a device to go over (speed hump), building a device to go around (traffic circle) and roadway closures. In Knoxville enforcement and public awareness are also part of this effort. Additional enforcement of speeds in residential areas has been in place since February. Public Awareness efforts are currently being developed.
   


2. Does traffic calming work? 
   Yes. Many studies nationwide have shown that speeds, traffic volumes and even automobile crashes have been reduced by traffic calming. However, it is not always the best or only answer. Many communities have indicated they would rather use enforcement and public awareness and these can also be effective.
   


3. Where can traffic calming be built? 
   Traffic calming can be built on most low volume residential streets that are not primary fire routes, state highways, or other major roadways. The City only recommends traffic calming on a neighborhood scale. This encourages through traffic to take major roadways that border neighborhoods instead of using other adjacent residential streets.
   


4. How can we have traffic calming built in our area?
   The City has a procedure for all neighborhoods interested in traffic calming to use. It is a consensus building process involving meetings, traffic studies and petitions. The last step is a neighborhood wide ballot that is mailed to residents and property owners to vote a specified traffic calming design up or down. The report that includes the process is located at http://www.cityofknoxville.org/citycouncil/traffic.asp 
   
   In Old North Knoxville, this process was started, a design has been developed and is ready to go to ballot. This was started over a year ago, but was stopped last spring so a new process could be deve
   


5. How long does this process take? 
   The process should take about a year. This is how long it takes to get the word out to residents, build consensus in the neighborhood on exactly what needs to be done and where. The main thing the City needs in order to justify spending money on a neighborhood project is a good majority of property owners and residents agreeing that this is something they want. It is a process where the tortoise beats the hare every time. Enforcement and awareness can start much sooner.
   


6. What about Stop and Slow Children signs instead?
   These signs do not reduce speeding in an area and in many cases can make things more dangerous than they were before. This is because many motorists ignore these signs and children or drivers who expect them to be obeyed can be hurt.
   


7. Once we have an approved plan, what happens next? 
   The City has capital funding for the construction of traffic calming devices. These funds will be used to build traffic calming through the contract and bid process. Once the plan is approved, a timetable can be defined showing when construction will be complete.
   


8. What are the most popular devices?
   Speed Humps and Traffic Circles by far. Speed Humps are elongated speed bumps built at specified design speeds, usually 25 mph. Drivers must drive over them. Traffic Circles are circular islands placed in the center of a 4 leg intersection that turn it into a small round-about. Drivers must drive around and to the right of these devices. When built in combination, speed humps and traffic circles work much better than if only one or the other are used.
   


9. Will my taxes increase to pay for the traffic calming devices?
   Money has already been set aside. There will be no tax increase to pay for these devices.
   


10. How will traffic calming affect my property values?
    Traffic calming devices can actually help increase property values. If it does happen, it will not be a large increase, but it will be a positive one.
    

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