Modesto has plan for speeders, cut-through drivers. Learn how neighborhoods have a say
Modesto has a plan to reduce and slow traffic in neighborhoods plagued by speeders and drivers who use the two-lane residential streets as detours to avoid congested, main roads.
Residents of these neighborhoods will have a say in how Modesto carries out the plan because the city will pick projects from among those submitted by the public.
This is part of the city’s neighborhood traffic calming program. More information about the program will be available on the city’s website, modestogov.com, in the coming days.
The projects could include improved signage, crosswalk striping, speed humps and tables, slightly raised intersections to slow traffic, as well as roundabouts and traffic circles, which are raised, circular medians in intersections.
The traffic calming program is for two-lane residential and minor collector streets with a posted speed limit of 25 to 35 mph. Applicants will need the signatures in support of at least 60% of the homes on the block of a proposed traffic calming measure. The city cites Griswold and Sycamore avenues in the college area neighborhood as examples of the types of streets.
The City Council approved the program in December. Its annual schedule calls for residents to submit projects from June 30 to Sept. 30 of each year. After evaluating the submissions, city staff will pick projects by Dec. 31 of each year.
Modesto is funding the program through the city’s portion of Measure L’s local control traffic management funds. Measure L is the 25-year, countywide transportation sales tax voters approved in 2016.
Deputy City Manager Caluha Barnes said Modesto has budgeted $1.4 million over the next three years for its neighborhood traffic calming program. That breaks down to $500,000 in each of the first two years and $400,000 in the third year.
As examples of how far that money could go toward projects, a city document estimates the cost of a speed hump at $10,000, slightly raising an intersection at $75,000, signage at $5,000, a mini-roundabout or traffic circle at $75,000 each and a roundabout at $500,000.
In evaluating submissions, city staff will consider a potential project’s ability to improve safety, its location (which includes a project’s proximity to parks and schools and ensuring projects are distributed throughout the city), how well a project conforms with city policies and its level of neighborhood support. Staff also will conduct a cost benefit analysis.
Improving safety makes up 50% of the staff’s evaluation, followed by 20% for location, 15% for conforming with city policies and neighborhood support, and 15% for the cost benefit analysis.
Modesto worked with public transit and police and fire in development of its neighborhood traffic calming program to ensure projects do not impede buses, police cars and fire engines. This program replaces the city’s speed hump program, which the city adopted in 1992.
This story was originally published January 3, 2022 at 7:00 AM.
