Transportation System Plan 2018-2038

facilitate better m anagem ent of traffic signal operations. Currently perm anent counters have been installed at three locations and installation of three to five m ore counters is anticipated. • Addition of 40 to 60 traffic m onitoring cam eras over the next 20 years at critical locations in the city’s street sy stem . These cam eras can be used to m odify traffic signal tim ing in response to actual conditions. They can also be connected with a web site such as ODOT’ s Trip Check for use by motorists to evaluate road conditions before they leave hom e so they can plan travel routes accordingly . • Install ITS equipm ent at selected intersections to facilitate traffic flow and enhance system communications. Traffic Calming Overview and Needs Assessment Traffic calm ing refers to various design features a nd strategies intended to reduce the speed and overall volum e of traffic on particular roadway s, typically through or near residential areas. Pedestrians, residents, business custom ers and property owners can also benefit from implem entation of traffic calm ing im provem ents in that they can result in slow er traffic, fewer cars, less noise and create a m ore inviting environm ent for walking or bicy cling. Traffic calm ing ty pically consists of the progressive application of education , enforcement and engineering . Education can involve m ailings and fly ers providing inform ation and photos or drawings of various devices, their benefits and costs. Enfor cement can include passive techniques such as portable vehicle-actuated devices that display the speed of passing motorists, to citations issued by officers or by photo radar. Engineered traffic calm ing techniques range from very restrictive devices such as full or partial street closures, to m oderately restrictiv e devices such as speed hum ps and traffic circles or roundabouts, to m inimally restrictive applications like warning signs. Som e devices focus on reducing speeds, while others reduce traffic volum e. Acco rding to the Congress for the New Urbanism , physical changes to the roadway are generally more self-enfor cing (and likely more effective) than education and traditional enforcem ent efforts and they may not require continual intervention. Traffic calm ing has both advantages and disadvantages, and tradeoffs may need to be m ade. For exam ple, residential property values m ay increase with slower speeds in neighborhoods, reducing the potential for crashes involving injuries or fatalities to motorists or pedestrians, but em ergency vehicle response tim e may increase. Another ty pical tradeoff is between traffic noise and traffic speed; however, techniques that produce “reasonable” speeds of 25-30 m ph will m inimize noise of acceleration and deceleration from drivers try ing to m ake up for slower travel speeds. Because m any of the concerns that residents have about traffic problem s in neighborhoods rest with perceptions, it is very important that devices enhance the neighborhood and that the positiv e im pacts are clearly seen as off-setting any negative im pacts that are experienced. A broad range of techniques exists, and each situa tion should be evaluated in conjunction with the residents and/or businesses affected by implem entation of a potential strategy to identify an appropriate solution. Typical measures for the City of Medford’ s traffic calm ing program might include one or m ore of the strategies identified in Table 8-3. Medford Transportatio n System Pl an 8-5 Public Transportation Plan