Traffic Calming

Traffic calming refers to physical measures that are installed on streets to reduce vehicle speeds and discourage cut-through traffic. This includes things like such as speed humps, traffic circles, curb extensions, and raised crosswalks. Cities throughout our region have embraced traffic calming as an additional strategy to produce a greater impact than enforcement alone.

The policy applies to all City-maintained streets in Glendale. It does not cover:

• Streets maintained by St. Louis County (N. Berry Rd. and W. Lockwood Ave.)
• Manchester Rd., which is maintained by the Missouri Department of Transportation 
• Private streets

Complete and submit the electronic Traffic Calming Request Form. The form needs to include:

• Your name, address, and contact information.
• The street and a clearly defined location (cross streets or landmarks).
• Signatures from at least 3 other affected residents.
• A description of the problem (speeding, cut-through traffic, pedestrian safety, etc.), including when and how often it occurs.
• Any supporting documentation you have, such as photos
• A proposed solution, if you have one (this is optional and for reference only).

You'll get written acknowledgment from the City within 10 business days.

Any resident or property owner, a neighborhood/HOA, or a school/institution with frontage on the street.

To determine if a street is eligible for traffic calming evaluation, it must meet a primary, data-driven threshold, or a combination of several secondary thresholds:

Primary:

• The 85th percentile speed on the street is 5+ mph over the posted limit (e.g., over 25 mph on a 20 mph street), as observed by data collected through City speed cameras. 

These secondary factors can also support eligibility:

• Mean speed exceeds the posted limit by 5+ mph.
• 500+ vehicles per day.
• 3+ crashes in the past 3 years, or 1+ crash involving a pedestrian/cyclist in the past 5 years.
• Documented cut-through traffic.
• A combination of speed, volume, and safety complaints, as determined by the Traffic Safety Committee.

A street generally won't qualify if:

• It's a cul-de-sac or dead-end where high speeds are geometrically unlikely.
• It's maintained by the County, MoDOT, or a private subdivision.
• A measure would materially impair emergency vehicle access.
• It already received an installation within the past year that hasn't been evaluated yet.
• The concern is really about parking or noise, not traffic.
• It would violate MUTCD, Missouri Uniform Traffic Code, or MoDOT standards.

Meeting a threshold qualifies a street for evaluation — it doesn't guarantee a project will be built.

1. Initial screening: City Administrator, Police, and Public Works confirm the request is within scope.
2. Data collection: The Police Department will conduct a traffic study (minimum 7 consecutive days) that documents speeds and traffic volume, and perform a 5-year crash history review.
3. Field assessment:  Public Works evaluates street width, sight lines, driveways, proximity to schools/parks, existing signage, and snow-plow logistics.
4. Eligibility determination: the Traffic Safety Committee reviews the data and issues a formal decision.
5. Project development: the Committee develops one or more proposed solutions and documents them in a Traffic Calming Proposal Package (cost, expected impact, emergency access review, conceptual design).
6. Resident input: Once a Traffic Calming proposal is developed, the City will hold a public meeting for residents to provide feedback and ask questions. 
7. Resident petition: Following the meeting and any revisions to the proposal, the City will survey directly affected residents*. At least 60 percent of such residents must affirmatively support the project. 
8. Board approval: If the petition is successful, the last step is for the Board of Aldermen to vote on the project. The Board will review the full proposal package and all community feedback, and retains final authority to approve, modify or deny the project. 

A range of tools, chosen based on the specific problem and street conditions. Examples include speed humps or tables, speed cushions (which let emergency/transit vehicles pass without slowing), raised crosswalks, chicanes, mini traffic circles, curb extensions, and interactive signage (such as speed radar signs). Check out the appendix linked above for illustrations.