1. What is your past involvement with the Traffic Calming Program? (check all that apply)
I regularly drive on streets where traffic calming devices are installed
I am interested in petitioning for traffic calming on my street
I do not have past involvement with the Traffic Calming Program but I am interested in learning more
2. Which of the following do you view as benefits of the Traffic Calming Program? (check all that apply)
Reduced speed
Increased safety
Less cut-through traffic
Other - Increased attention to speed in residential areas
3. Please check any concerns that you have about the Traffic Calming Program
Traffic diverted to neighboring streets
Slowed emergency response
4. Do the proposed thresholds for community participation and support seem reasonable?
Undecided
5. Does the community engagement format and strategy seem effective?
Undecided
6. Do you have additional comments or questions related to the proposed engagement process?
- Is a city liaison available to assist with the organization and petitioning process?
- At what point would city staff become involved in or begin assisting with the project?
- How much influence would residents of the area have on the ultimate solution that is developed (i.e., the measures proposed for calming)?
7. Do the proposed program objectives capture what you think is important?
Undecided
8. Have we missed anything in the proposed objectives that you think should be added?
- Unclear to me what "Vision Zero" is meant to refer to.
- The resident-driven focus is great concept, but will be complicated in reality. Top-notch facilitation and conflict resolution will likely be required in order to bring 50% of the residents of an area to alignment on a single solution.
- Top-down pressure, rather than waiting for residents to organize, will likely be required in order to get traffic-calming measures in place in key areas of Ann Arbor.
9. Do you have concerns about any of the proposed qualification criteria?
Qualifying Petition Support
- Is it entirely "resident-initiated?" Speaking for myself, I wouldn't have the first idea how to begin a petition drive. Will tools or support be available to residents from the city?
- Why is 50% the magic number? Depending on the size or configuration of a "project area" (see next comment), that number seems excessive. If even 25% of the residents in an area are willing to sign a petition indicating that they are concerned, that would seem to be enough to at least conduct a public meeting to gauge further interest.
- What is an "identified project area" in terms of size and configuration?
10. Have we missed any other factors that should be included in determining eligibility for the Traffic Calming Program?
No response.
11. Do you have concerns about anything included in the proposed toolbox of devices?
Curb extensions have been used on the street adjacent to mine. They have mainly had the effect of causing lazy and discourteous drivers to drive down the middle of the road to avoid slowing down, thereby forcing other drivers to the extreme other side of the road. On the other hand, the speed humps further up the same street are much more effective in slowing traffic, since drivers know they will lose the underside of their vehicles if they travel over the humps too quickly.
I travel frequently on streets in Ann Arbor with pedestrian gateway treatment and would simply note that while signage may improve awareness for some drivers, I have seen many crosswalks where drivers have actually hit the signs and destroyed them.
12. Have we missed any devices that should be added to the toolbox for traffic calming on local streets?
No response.
13. What questions or concerns do you have about how the Traffic Calming Program will function?
No response.
A2 Open City Hall is not a certified voting system or ballot box. As with any public comment process, participation in A2 Open City Hall is voluntary. The responses in this record are not necessarily representative of the whole population, nor do they reflect the opinions of any government agency or elected officials.
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1. What is your past involvement with the Traffic Calming Program? (check all that apply)
2. Which of the following do you view as benefits of the Traffic Calming Program? (check all that apply)
3. Please check any concerns that you have about the Traffic Calming Program
4. Do the proposed thresholds for community participation and support seem reasonable?
5. Does the community engagement format and strategy seem effective?
6. Do you have additional comments or questions related to the proposed engagement process?
- Is a city liaison available to assist with the organization and petitioning process?
- At what point would city staff become involved in or begin assisting with the project?
- How much influence would residents of the area have on the ultimate solution that is developed (i.e., the measures proposed for calming)?
7. Do the proposed program objectives capture what you think is important?
8. Have we missed anything in the proposed objectives that you think should be added?
- Unclear to me what "Vision Zero" is meant to refer to.
- The resident-driven focus is great concept, but will be complicated in reality. Top-notch facilitation and conflict resolution will likely be required in order to bring 50% of the residents of an area to alignment on a single solution.
- Top-down pressure, rather than waiting for residents to organize, will likely be required in order to get traffic-calming measures in place in key areas of Ann Arbor.
9. Do you have concerns about any of the proposed qualification criteria?
Qualifying Petition Support
- Is it entirely "resident-initiated?" Speaking for myself, I wouldn't have the first idea how to begin a petition drive. Will tools or support be available to residents from the city?
- Why is 50% the magic number? Depending on the size or configuration of a "project area" (see next comment), that number seems excessive. If even 25% of the residents in an area are willing to sign a petition indicating that they are concerned, that would seem to be enough to at least conduct a public meeting to gauge further interest.
- What is an "identified project area" in terms of size and configuration?
10. Have we missed any other factors that should be included in determining eligibility for the Traffic Calming Program?
No response.11. Do you have concerns about anything included in the proposed toolbox of devices?
Curb extensions have been used on the street adjacent to mine. They have mainly had the effect of causing lazy and discourteous drivers to drive down the middle of the road to avoid slowing down, thereby forcing other drivers to the extreme other side of the road. On the other hand, the speed humps further up the same street are much more effective in slowing traffic, since drivers know they will lose the underside of their vehicles if they travel over the humps too quickly.
I travel frequently on streets in Ann Arbor with pedestrian gateway treatment and would simply note that while signage may improve awareness for some drivers, I have seen many crosswalks where drivers have actually hit the signs and destroyed them.
12. Have we missed any devices that should be added to the toolbox for traffic calming on local streets?
No response.13. What questions or concerns do you have about how the Traffic Calming Program will function?
No response.