Traffic Calming
Overview
Traffic speed and volume is a recurring topic of discussion. We continually evaluate our streets to ensure that vehicle traffic is moving at a safe speed and that drivers are operating their vehicles conscientiously. While there is not a notable safety issue on any of our local streets, improvements can always be made to slow down traffic and to promote bicyclist and pedestrian safety.
Towards that end, the City has been and continues to implement traffic calming methods on Ridge and Woodward Heights, as these are our primary local connector streets and carry the highest volume of traffic.
Residents on other streets in the City can petition the City to begin a traffic calming process on their street or block.
Traffic Calming Manual
The traffic calming manual provides background information on street design, traffic calming practices, specific traffic calming elements that can be used in Pleasant Ridge, and a detailed description of the process by which residents can petition the City to begin a traffic calming process on your street or block.
Woodward Heights Traffic Management Study
The City retained Toole Design to conduct a traffic management study for Woodward Heights in response to a petition submitted by residents of the street. You can review all project information and the final report at the link below.
Click Here for Woodward Heights Traffic Management Study Information
Woodward Avenue Road Diet Plan
Pleasant Ridge and Ferndale have been awarded a Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant to implement a road diet on Woodward, primarily in Ferndale. The project will reduce travel lanes from 8 to 6, and will add two-way cycle tracks on each side of Woodward.
The proposed plan would implement the road diet with paint and bollards as an interim measure. No concrete curbs would be moved until a complete reconstruction of Woodward occurs.
- Road Diet Traffic Analysis Report – this document demonstrates that the project is feasible
- Concept Design Plan – preliminary plans
Pleasant Ridge is implementing a similar but separate project on northbound Woodward that is being funded by MDOT and EGLE grants, with the local portion of the project being funded by the DDA. The streetscape will be reconstructed to include green stormwater infrastructure and a two-way cycle track will be constructed at sidewalk level from Sylvan to 696.
Supporting Documents
Following are studies, research documents, and links to other traffic calming resources:
- NACTO Urban Street Design Guide
- Woodward Heights Traffic Calming Test Project Summary (September 8, 2020)
- Traffic Calming Town Hall Meeting Presentation (January 22, 2019)
- FHWA Stop Sign Fact Sheets
- Lane Width-Safety Correlation
- Michigan Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (2010)
- Multi-Way Stops – Research Shows the MMUCTD is Correct
- Study on Speed Humps (Iowa State University)
- Traffic Calming State of the Practice (ITE-FHWA 1999)
- Woodward Heights-Bermuda Stop Sign Warrant Study (2018)
