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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTRF_Traffic_Calming_(Color)Wh a t i s T r a f c C a l m i n g ? Traffic Calming Devices in Your Neighborhood The County of Hawai’i uses traffic calming devises in residential areas to encourage motorists to drive the speed limit speed, making our local streets and neighborhoods safer and more livable. Traffic calming reduces accidents, collisions, fatalities, and pollution in our communities by compelling drivers to slow down, enabling them to react to unexpected situations such as a child darting across the street. Traffic calming devices used by the County of Hawai’i include: • Center Island and Chokers • Roundabouts and Traffic circles • Speed Humps and Speed Tables • Smart (or Radar) Signs • Zig Zag and Curve Line Pavement Marking How are traffic calming projects chosen? If you think your street could benefit from traffic calming, contact the Traffic Calming Project Manager. The City maintains a list of potential traffic calming projects. City departments work together to establish priorities, based on such factors as: • severity of the speeding problem • ability to coordinate with other projects • proximity to elementary schools and playgrounds. When a street nears the top of the priority list, City staff work closely with neighborhood residents to determine the best way to slow traffic. The width of the street and the volume and speed of traffic will help determine what alternatives are possible. To learn about traffic calming devices in your community, contact: County of Hawai‘i, Department of Public Works Traffic Division 108 Railroad Avenue, HIlo, HI 96720 Traffic website: https://hawaii-county-public-works- hawaiicountygis.hub.arcgis.com/pages/traffic Phone: (808) 961-8341 • Fax: (808) 961-8591 Tra f f i c C a l m i n g D e v i c e s Slow Down County of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Center Island and Choker Center islands and chokers slow traffic by narrowing the travel lanes and creating a sense of enclosure. A center island is a raised area along the centerline of a street that narrows the travel lanes. Chokers are curb extensions that also narrow the roadway. The successive use of the center island and choker also creates a horizontal deflection (pushing vehicles to the outside of the lane, then back towards the center (as illustrated), further adding to the calming effect. Roundabout and Traffic Circle Roundabouts and traffic circles are used to improve safety, and traffic flow, at intersections. Traffic circles are raised islands in the center of residential street intersections and reduce speed by forcing motorists to maneuver around them. All traffic travels in acounter-clockwise direction around the roundabout’s center island. Thus all left-turn conflicts at intersections are eliminated. Drivers should be aware of the pedestrian crossing when approaching and departing the intersection. Large vehicles are able to drive over the asphalt center island if they cannot completely maneuver within the travel lane. Pedestrians and bicyclists can continue to use the shoulder to go around roundabouts and traffic circles. Traffic circles are installed on Haleki‘i Street in Kona Scenic Subdivision. Smart Signs Smart (radar) Signs are informational signs that display the speed of oncoming vehicles or a reminder for the driver to slow down.   Smart Signs use highly visible LEDs to make motorists more aware of their speed and to encourage safer driving behavior. They are a traffic-calming solution that has been proven to slow traffic down and are installed in residential areas and in school zones. They provide speed data to the police department but are not to be confused with radar cameras. Smart Signs are installed Ali’i Drive and Haleki‘i, Kaiminani and Hina Lani streets in Kona and Paniolo Drive in Waikoloa. Speed Humps and Speed Tables Speed humps and speed tables slow traffic by creating a vertical deflection in the roadway. A speed hump is a rounded, raised area three to four inches high placed across the road in parking lots and residential areas. A speed table is a wide flat-topped speed hump and slows vehicles more gradually than humps. Speed tables are used in locations where low speeds are desired but provide a gentler ride and are preferred by emergency response providers. Look for speed humps on La'e La'e in Waimea, and Haleki'i and Kupuna streets and Royal Poinciana Drive in Kona, and Hilo at Kūkūau, Alaē, and Haili streets. Zig Zag and Curve Lines Hawai’i County uses innovative traffic calming devices such as zig zag pavement markings. Zig zag lines are painted on the street at busy intersections and in school zones to get motorists’ attention to slow down, making our streets and highways safer for everyone. Other markings on County roads include the center-lines, crosswalks, stop and turn symbols, no passing and safety zones, and parking spaces. To report markings that are faded or need attention, call the Traffic Division, (808) 961-8341 or visit https:// hawaiicounty.311service.com/ Zig zag lines mark intersections in downtown Hilo and school zones at Kapiolani and Kealakehe Elementary. Sharks Teeth painted along Leilani Avenue in Puna were recently installed to focus a drivers' attention to the curves of the road. Definition Traffic calming guidelines developed from research done by the Institute of Transportation Engineers and adapted to fit Hawai'i’s geography, provides the basic information on the concept and the approach the County of Hawai'i has taken to apply traffic calming measures. Goal The goal of trafc calming is to make our streets safer for all users, especially children. Implementing calming devises creates efcient trafc fow and allows residents to enjoy safer neighborhoods.