EFFECTIVENESS OF CERTAIN DESIGN SOLUTIONS ON REDUCING VEHICLE SPEEDS

1
EFFECTIVENESS OF CERTAIN DESIGN SOLUTIONS ON
REDUCING VEHICLE SPEEDS

• Principal Investigator
• Janice Daniel
• Investigators
• Rachel (Rong-Fang) Liu
• Steven I-Jy Chien

Project Manager Nazhat Aboobaker
2
Research Objectives

• To identify locations in New Jersey where traffic
  calming treatments may be beneficial to
  motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians
• To determine appropriate traffic calming
  treatments for these locations and
• To conduct a human factors study to evaluate the
  potential benefits and effectiveness of the
  proposed traffic calming treatment.

3
Potential Locations
Route 28, Cranford
Route 28, Westfield
Route 57, Washington
Route 67, Fort Lee
4
Potential Locations
Route 94, Newton
Route 27, Princeton
Route 161, Clifton
Route 172, New Brunswick
5
Potential Locations
Route 206, Princeton
Route 94, Newton
6
Vertical Control Measures

• Speed Humps

Vertical control measures use forces of vertical
acceleration to discourage speeding
Speed Tables
Raised Crosswalks
7
Horizontal Control Measures

• Traffic Circles

Horizontal measures impede straight-through
movements, causing drivers to shift horizontally
Chicanes
Roundabouts
8
Road Narrowings

• Center Islands

Road narrowing uses a psycho-perceptive sense of
enclosure to discourage speed
Curb Extension
Choker
9
Speed Impacts Downstream of Traffic Calming
Measures
10
Human Factors Study
Expected Speed Reduction
Meta-Analysis
Visual Preference Survey
Community Acceptance of Traffic Calming Measure
Potential Benefit of Design Solution
11
Visual Preference Survey

• 1. Please indicate your reason for coming to this
  area
•   ? You live here ? Shopping ? Recreational
  ? Work ?Other__________________
• 2. Please indicate your age
•   ? Under 20 ? 21 to 30 ? 31 to 64 ? 65 or
  above
• 3. How often do you cross French Street as a
  pedestrian?
•   ? At least once a day ? At least once a
  week ? At least once a month ? Never
•  4.How often do you bicycle on French Street?
•   ? At least once a day ? At least once a
  week ? At least once a month ? Never

12

•  5.Do you believe French Street, between Oxford
  Street and James Street, is safe for a pedestrian
  or a bicyclist to cross?
• ? Yes
• ? No, Please specify the reasons
• ? Lack of pedestrian crossing
• ? No bicycle lane
• ? Too many vehicles
• ? Too many trucks
• ? Speeding
• ? Other (please specify) ________
•  6.How fast do you believe vehicles on French
  Street should be allowed to travel to improve
  safety for pedestrians and bicycles?  

13
7.Rate these designs for their safety, driver
convenience and aesthetics.
14
(No Transcript)
15
Question Hoped to be Answered

• How do you identify locations appropriate for
  traffic calming?
• How does traffic calming differ on State routes
  compared to local/residential roadways?
• Do New Jersey residents accept traffic calming as
  a viable means of reducing speeds?
• How should projects involving traffic calming be
  promoted to gain the greatest acceptance from
  neighborhoods/businesses?