Spring 2009
NEWTOWN CONNECTICUT
TRAFFIC CALMING PROGRAM and RESOURCE GUIDE
Newtown Department of Police Services
3 Main Street
Newtown CT. 06470
203-426-5841
Newtown Traffic Calming Procedures
The Police Commission of the Town of Newtown has been designated the implementing authority for the organization and operation of a Traffic Calming Program. In developing traffic calming programs for community streets and roadways, the Police Commission may utilize measures to reduce speed, enhance pedestrian safety and reduce traffic diversion in residential neighborhoods. The intent of this procedure is to make efficient, cost effective use of town resources by screening and prioritizing requests for traffic calming.
Upon notice to the Board of Police Commissioners of a formal neighborhood request for traffic calming, the Board of Police Commissioners will request that the Chief of Police or his designee research the request and determine a prudent coarse of action based on available resources within the Newtown Police Department and report these findings back to the Police Commission within 60 days.
After the Chief reports his findings back to the Commission, he/ she will be asked, based on his/her training and experience, if the issue can be resolved and properly addressed utilizing the resources that are currently available to the Newtown Police Department. If the Chief feels that the issue presented to his agency can be resolved within the department's resources, the Chief will be asked to implement his plan for 120 days and report his findings back to the Board of Police Commissioners.
After the completion of the process outlined in the above paragraphs, the Police Commission will decide if the Newtown Department of Police Services has properly and satisfactorily addressed the issue. If the Police Commission decides by a simple majority that the issue has been addressed properly, the Chief will be asked to continuously monitor the area when resources are available to ensure traffic compliance in the area of impact.
If neighbors in an area of impact still feel that the town needs to put additional traffic calming measures into an area, the neighbors of the affected area (area of impact) will need to submit a detailed written description of their traffic concern with a minimum of 20 registered voter's ( or less with Police Commission approval) signatures residing in the area of impact. The written document with the signatures and addresses of the residents will need to be presented to the Board of Police Commissioners at a regularly scheduled monthly meeting to formally request additional traffic calming measures. The Police Commission will evaluate whether the impact area meets basic requirements.
After verification of the signatures and addresses is completed by the Registrars of Voters Office, a public hearing regarding the area of impact will be scheduled and posted. If after a public hearing the Police Commission may decide by a simple majority to move forward with requesting additional traffic calming evaluation.
Prior to The Board of Police Commissioners recommending neighborhood traffic control devices or traffic calming measures, funds will be requested for a professional engineered traffic study. The professionally engineered traffic study should be completed by a state certified licensed firm, seeking a professional opinion of how to best address the presented traffic concern for reduced speed, enhanced pedestrian safety and reduced traffic diversion in residential neighborhoods. Considerations for data collection may include, but are not limited to:
Traffic volumes.
Speed.
Safety.
Intersection volumes.
Extent of bicycle and pedestrian activity.
Upon completion, the study shall be submitted to the Board of Police Commissioners for review. The Board of Police Commissioners will decide a course of action, establish the plans priority and advise the Department of Public Works to request the appropriate amount of funding for materials and labor based on the most recent available cost estimates in its next budget or request funding sooner if such improvements are deemed desirable and consistent with the Police Commission's plan. The Police Commission may authorize a temporary course of action prior to moving forward with a permanent traffic calming solution.
The Board of Police Commissioners may request a demonstration of interest and support from neighborhood impact residents (impact area to be designated by the Police Commission) in the form of a petition signed by more than 60% of residents on the affected street(s). The petition must specify the area under consideration, the nature of the problem (speed, traffic volume, through traffic) and the traffic calming solutions being recommended by the Police Commission.
Upon the completion of the installation of any traffic calming measures, the Newtown Police Department will monitor the effectiveness of the calming measures. After one year. The Board of Police Commissioners will review the installation and decide if the calming measures implemented were effective to the targeted area. The Board of Police Commissioners will reserve the right to remove any traffic calming installations that are deemed to have not produced a desired or intended result or are deemed dangerous at any time.
Newtown's traffic calming should be considered a "living document," meaning it will be updated from time to time as new techniques in traffic calming are developed, tested and accepted for use within the State of Connecticut. Procedures may be revised as the Town gains more exposure and "hands on" experience with traffic calming in our community. Additionally, installation and maintenance guidelines may be added and/or modified as they are developed and/or tested.
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