1996 Local Street Tree Plan - Laserfiche WebLink

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appearance and vehicle turning speeds can be pronounced. Dimensions of curb extensions depend on a variety of factors including the desired design speed of the street and the turning radius required for city street sweepers. Chicanes A chicane is a device used to slow traffic by forcing vehicles to follow a one -lane serpentine route. Typically, a chicane is comprised of a series of three or more curb extensions located on alternating sides of a street. Like curb extensions, chicanes narrow the street by widening the sidewalks or landscaped parking strip. They also narrow the pavement and travel lane width, extending from the curb to a point past the centerline of the street. When landscaped, they create a series of screens that obscure the view of oncoming traffic. The combination of reduced vision, narrowed street width, and the curved path of travel slows traffic and elicits a cautious response from motorists. Often, these devices will yield lower traffic volumes. Traffic Diverters Traffic diversion devices are generally employed on existing streets to reduce traffic volumes within a limited area. Several traffic diverter designs may be effectively used to calm traffic. Design options range from full closure of a street to diagonal or half - diverter designs. Wherever traffic diverters are employed, provisions should be made for continuation of pedestrian and bicycle routing around or through the diverter. Street closure is a drastic option that involves the complete closure of a street at an intersection or in mid - block, leaving the street open at one end but physically closing the other. Street closures have an extreme effect on accessibility but may the most effective technique to control cut - through traffic where other traffic management devices have failed. Diagonal diverters limit access to a street by placing a barrier diagonally across an intersection. The diverter allows for greater accessibility than full street closure but still limits undesirable through - traffic movements. Half - diverters limit access by blocking half of the street. Like diagonal diverters, hey are effective in reducing volume and allow more freedom of circulation within a neighborhood than street closures. Both diagonal diverters and half - diverters should be designed and installed to allow for emergency vehicle access, where necessary. Median Barriers This device is used on arterial streets to prevent cut - through traffic on local streets or to control turning direction into or out of a neighborhood. Medians may also be used within a residential neighborhood to prevent non -local through traffic movements. As such, median barriers are used to control traffic volumes, rather than traffic speeds. Medians can be effectively used in combination with other techniques, such as forced turn channelization and turning prohibitions, to control traffic movements. Forced Turn Channelization This technique allows traffic entering or exiting a neighborhood street to move in one direction only. Its purpose is essentially the same as a diagonal diverter; it is used to discourage potential or existing through- traffic patterns and limits traffic movement