Traffic Calming Program

Traffic Calming Program (TCP) for Local Residential Streets

Traffic Engineering Division

The purpose of Traffic Calming is to address speeding conditions on residential neighborhood streets classified as local or residential roads. “Traffic Calming” focuses on slowing traffic without restricting access. Traffic calming measures will only be considered on local, residential streets with posted speed limits of 25 MPH.

Application for TCP - How to Apply?

Requests for traffic calming can be made through:

Requests may be made by groups of residents, Civic Leagues, Homeowners’ Associations, or other community groups or organizations. The requester shall identify the street for which traffic calming measures are being requested.

The requests will be evaluated and prioritized primarily in the order in which they are received unless otherwise prioritized by the City Traffic Engineer.  

Eligibility

Before a location can be considered for the TCP, the following criteria must be met:

1. Neighborhood support: A letter of support from the HOA/Civic League or at least 3 individual residences (individual current property owners) on the requested street. 

2. Eligible streets: Local residential streets with the following characteristics:  

  • 25 MPH posted speed limit;
  • Two-lane roadway;
  • Does not serve as the primary access to commercial or industrial sites; 
  • Has an actual or estimated daily traffic volume greater than 600 vehicles per day (for a subdivision, this is about 50 homes); and
  • Has a dwelling density of at least 12 residential units per 1000-feet of roadway (including both sides).

Steps Within TCP

Once the above criteria have been met, the following three phases of the program will be followed sequentially:

1. Community Awareness and Data Collection

  Traffic engineering will perform a speed study to collect data under typical conditions:

  • On a Tuesday, Wednesday, and/or Thursday
  • During the school year, when school is in session (no holidays)

 *The street will qualify for the TCP if the study results in an 85th percentile speed of 32+ MPH.

2. Targeted Neighborhood Signage

Temporary radar feedback signs that display driver speeds will be deployed for a series of one-week periods, after which a follow-up study will be performed.  

If the 85th percentile speed still meets or exceeds 32 MPH, permanent neighborhood signage will be evaluated:Radar Speed Signs | Clackamas County

  • Permanent radar feedback signs, and/or
  • “Fines Higher” ($200 Additional Fine for Speeding) signs

The selection of permanent signage will be the result of an engineering study and unique to each application.

The increased fines program requires signatures from at least 75% of the residents on the street where the fine is to be increased. City Council approval is then required for the official adoption of increased fines on the street.

If the “Fines Higher” signage is implemented, the signs will be up for a minimum of one year before further traffic calming measures will be considered. Monitoring of speeds throughout this one-year period and a follow-up speed study will determine if Phase 3 may be enacted.

3. Physical Devices

If after one year a follow-up study shows that the street remains non-compliant, the neighborhood can proceed to Phase 3: physical devices. These are designed to reduce speed by creating a vertical or horizontal shift in the roadway or travel lanes. The selection of physical devices will be the result of an engineering study and unique to each application.

Any physical device will require signatures from at 75% of the residents on the affected street, as well as unanimous agreement from residents whose property is adjacent to the proposed physical device.