Description
Traffic calming measures includes roadway improvements that slow vehicles and enhance safety. There are numerous types of treatments, the more common ones are listed below. Road diets, which reduce the number of vehicle lanes on a roadway to provide more space for landscaping, bicyclists and pedestrians, are also a form of traffic calming.
- Speed humps, bumps and tables
- Chicanes, chokers and neckdowns
- Roundabouts and traffic circles
- Lane narrowing and/or landscaping
- Raised intersections
- Bollards
- Rumble strips
- Lane markings and signage
- Road diets
Implementation Details
- Use La Quinta’s road diet project as a model for communication and grant funding approaches.
- Install infrastructure such as speed humps, raised crosswalks, curb extensions, and traffic circles in high-collision zones and school areas.
- Use traffic safety audits and local collision maps to prioritize locations for calming treatments.
- Coordinate with city public works departments to embed traffic calming into pavement management plans and Safe Routes to School programs.
- Consider road diets in downtowns and central business districts, where businesses are more likely to attract foot traffic.
Mitigation Potential
Traffic calming measures reduce vehicle volumes and speeds, reducing the level of stress and perceived danger for bicyclist and pedestrians. The increased safety encourages people to walk, bike, and use transit, reducing VMT.
For more details, see CALTRANS SB743 Program Mitigation Playbook, Road Diets, pg. 35-36 and CAPCOA (2019), Traffic Calming Improvements, pg. 24 for VMT reduction quantification.
Linked Strategies
Equity Considerations
Traffic calming improves safety for pedestrians and cyclists, especially in neighborhoods where residents are more likely to walk or bike. Implementation should prioritize areas with a history of traffic violence or near schools and parks in environmental justice communities. Inclusive engagement is key to ensuring measures align with local mobility patterns.
Funding Sources
Requires funding to construct, plus continued funding for maintenance and operations. Demonstration projects are less expensive and can yield similar results though they are temporary. Active transportation grants and other one-time sources are available (though competitive). Such funding sources include the Regional Active Transportation Program (Southern California Association of Governments – Riverside Region), the Statewide Active Transportation Program (California Transportation Commission), the Local Streets and Roads Program (California Transportation Commission), California Office of Traffic Safety Grants (California Office of Traffic Safety), Safe Streets and Roads for All (United States Department of Transportation), and the Highway Safety Improvement Program (Caltrans).
Examples/Case Studies
La Quinta’s Village Complete Streets Road Diet
This project reimagined three key corridors—Calle Tampico, Calle Sinaloa, and Eisenhower Drive—by reducing them from four travel lanes to two, and repurposing the freed-up space for buffered bike and golf cart lanes, wider sidewalks, and mid-block crossings. Five signalized intersections were replaced with roundabouts, slashing conflict points and traffic speeds while improving flow. The project also added flashing pedestrian beacons, ADA-compliant ramps, enhanced lighting, drought-tolerant landscaping, and stormwater features. It was funded by a $7.3 million Active Transportation Program grant, supported by state and local funds, and wrapped up around late 2020—leaving behind a safer, greener, and more walkable village core.
City of Modesto – Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program (NTCP)
The City of Modesto has developed a Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program (NTCP) aimed at improving safety and enhancing the quality of life for residents. The program focuses on mitigating the effects of speeding vehicles, cut-through traffic, and reckless driving in residential neighborhoods. It is funded by Measure L Local Control Traffic Management funds.