The Town of Timnath is committed to improving the safety and livability of our neighborhoods. The Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program (NTCP) provides a structured, step-by-step approach for addressing concerns related to speeding, cut-through traffic, and pedestrian safety. Traffic calming is a partnership between residents and the Town. Residents play a key role in identifying concerns and participating in the process, while Town staff are responsible for determining appropriate solutions based on traffic data, engineering principles, and national best practices.
How the Program Works
The NTCP follows a three-tiered approach, progressing from education and outreach to engineering-based solutions only if warranted. This ensures that resources are used effectively and the most appropriate solutions are implemented.
- Step 1: Education and Awareness
- Step 2: Tier 1 – Visual Traffic Calming Measures
- Step 3: Tier 2 – Physical Traffic Calming Measures
What Types of Roads Qualify
- Local residential streets
- Minor collector streets
- Major collector roads and arterial streets (Managed through Town-Initiated Projects)
- Emergency response routes where traffic calming would significantly impact public safety
- Private roads or state-controlled highways
Step By Step Process
- Step 1: Education and Awareness
- Step 2: Tier 1 – Visual Measures
- Step 3: Tier 2 – Physical Elements
- Program Implementation & Prioritization
- Town Initiated Projects
- Enforcement
Residents can contact the Timnath Public Works Department via email with concerns about traffic in their neighborhoods. Staff will explain the traffic calming program and offer immediate options for educational awareness for the neighborhood.
Residents are encouraged to start by raising awareness in their neighborhood. The Town provides:
- Brochures with information and explanation of the program.
- Yard signs are available for pick up free of charge. (Signs must be placed on private property).
- Sample communication that residents can send out to the neighborhood via HOA or other means.
After education actions have been undertaken and ongoing concerns remain (for at least 1 month), residents can request further countermeasures. Following a staff evaluation, the Town may implement Tier 1 measures, which include:
- Speed Limit Signs
- Pavement Marking & Striping
- Temporary Driver Feedback Signs
- Delineators
Staff will communicate with the resident who submitted the request with the findings of the evaluation and any next steps. The implementation of Tier 1 Engineering – Visual elements is done free of charge for residents. If no Tier 1 elements are appropriate for the neighborhood, Timnath staff will direct the resident to available options within the educational elements of the program.
If concerns persist following the educational elements and Tier 1 review, the residents are then welcome to pursue physical construction options. These are called Tier 2 Engineering Physical elements and include items such as speed tables and other horizontal or vertical features built into the road to support slower travel speeds.
- Speed humps or speed tables (Raised areas that slow vehicles while allowing smooth traffic flow.)
- Curb extensions (Bulb-outs) & chicanes (Narrowing roads to reduce speeds & enhance pedestrian safety.)
- Traffic diverters or roundabouts (Restricting vehicle movements to prevent cut-through traffic.)
Tier 2 Process
Step 1 Application: Fill out a Tier 2 Application Request
Step 2 Eligibility Review: Timnath staff will review the request for basic Tier 2 eligibility.
Step 3 Engineering Study: Timnath staff will complete a traffic engineering study to identify issues and
provide data to make determinations for potential mitigation.
Step 4 Severity Index: Timnath staff will then calculate a ”severity index”. This is an evaluation that assigns
points to all of the gathered data based on criteria such as adjacent land use, access points, vehicle volumes and speeds, safety data, presence of pedestrians and more. The higher the total number of points, the greater the level of need for traffic calming.
Step 5 Mitigation Plan: If the roadway is a good candidate for physical mitigation, a mitigation plan is
created. This is a basic plan with a map that identifies the type and location of proposed
mitigation.
Step 6 Neighborhood Petition: Staff will prepare a petition packet that includes:
- A cover letter
- A map with petition boundaries and proposed mitigation device locations
- Petition signature sheets
- Details on mitigation devices (e.g., speed table design)
- The traffic study evaluation report
The Town determines the petition boundary, usually covering properties most directly impacted by the physical measures. The packet is sent to the application’s lead sponsor to collect approval signatures.
The petition needs a super majority (at least 66%) of households in the petition area to support it, plus 100% support from properties immediately next to any planned physical device.
Basic Tier 2 Eligibilty
- Classification as local or minor collector road
- Speed limit of 30 mph or less.
- Number of lanes is 2 or 3
- Volume of 500 to 5,000 veh/day
- Review emergency routes
- (Major collectors with speed limits of 35 mph will be reviewed
as Town-initiated projects.)
Due to limited resources, traffic calming projects are prioritized based on need and funding availability.
- Tier 1 Requests are typically reviewed and implemented within weeks to months, depending on staff workload.
- Tier 2 Requests undergo a yearly prioritization process, with approved projects scheduled for construction the following summer.
Requests are ranked based on:
- Available funding (Not all requests may be funded in a given year.)
- Traffic data (speed studies, traffic volume, crash history, etc.)
- Severity of pedestrian safety concerns
- Community support (For Tier 2, a 66% majority is required.)
Roadways that are classified as major collectors and have a speed limit of 35 mph will be reviewed for potential mitigation and managed as Town initiated projects. The evaluation is similar to resident requested Tier 2 evaluation. If mitigation is appropriate, it can move forward without the need for a neighborhood petition as these roadways are less neighborhood streets and more a part of the community wide transportation system.
Enforcement of travel speeds is also an available element in a traffic calming program as the Police Department (PD) is a partner in transportation safety. Public Works staff will coordinate and communicate with PD on the various requests to determine if targeted enforcement are options. Consideration of enforcement priorities at a particular location will include:
- Availability of enforcement staff
- History of concern
- Available speed data (from previous studies or driver feedback signs or trailers)
- Volume of vehicles on the roadway
- Crash history
The Town evaluates and prioritizes requests yearly based on traffic data, safety concerns, and funding availability.
Key Timing Considerations:
- Tier 1 requests (Signs, striping, radar displays) → Implemented within weeks to months, depending on staff availability.
- Tier 2 requests (Speed tables, curb extensions, traffic diverters) → Require a neighborhood petition, engineering review, and funding approval. Annual prioritization happens at the end of each year, with construction typically occurring the following summer.
How Requests Are Prioritized:
- Severity of the traffic issue (speeding, crash history, cut-through traffic, pedestrian activity, etc.)
- Traffic study results (volume, speeds, and existing conditions)
- Community support (petitions and neighborhood engagement are required for Tier 2 solutions)
- Funding availability (Projects are ranked, and those with the greatest need receive priority funding.)
Not all requests will be implemented immediately, but all are reviewed and considered for future funding.
Contact
Email: [email protected]
Address: Timnath Public Works, 4800 Goodman Street
Frequently Asked Questions
General Program Information
What is the NTCP?
The NTCP is a structured program that evaluates and addresses neighborhood traffic concerns through a step-by-step process involving education, signage, and engineering-based solutions.
Who determines what solutions are implemented?
Residents identify issues, but Town staff determine appropriate solutions based on traffic studies and engineering principles.
Submitting a Request
How long does it take for a request to be implemented?
Tier 1 Requests → Weeks to months
Tier 2 Requests → Evaluated yearly, construction occurs the following summer
Traffic Calming Measures
Can I request a speed limit sign?
Yes, but the Town minimizes unnecessary signage to avoid “sign pollution.” Staff will review requests on a case-by-case basis.
Can a STOP sign be added to slow traffic?
STOP signs are not a traffic calming tool and are only installed where national safety guidelines warrant them.
Can we get a crosswalk installed?
Crosswalks are evaluated based on pedestrian volume, traffic speeds, and safety factors. For more information on how pedestrian crossings are selected visit the Pedestrian Crossing Treatment page.
Can we install a speed bump?
Speed bumps require a Tier 2 request, a traffic study, and a neighborhood petition.