NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 3, 1999

CARY TO BEGIN TRAFFIC CALMING PILOT STUDY ON WEDNESDAY

CARY, NC – Starting later today, the Town of Cary will try to slow things down a little in one Cary neighborhood as it launches its first pilot study of the use of traffic calming devices. The Town of Cary’s Department of Development Services Engineering Division is coordinating the $25,000 effort to test several types of traffic calming measures over the next four months along Farmington Woods Dr.--between Bissett Dr. and Hampton Valley Rd.--and along Hampton Valley Road--between Cary Parkway and Willowbrook Dr. Traffic calming is the application of physical and non-physical devices to roadways as a means to curb speeding in residential areas without restricting access to the motoring public.

The actual roadway changes will be made by Cary’s Public Works & Utilities Department, and traffic during the study period will be monitored by the Engineering Division as well as the Cary Police Department. Each traffic calming measure will also be evaluated by the Cary Fire Department to ensure that there are no negative effects on emergency response.

"The Town routinely receives requests from citizens to address chronic speeding on certain residential streets," said Senior Engineer and project coordinator Joe Moore. "While these requests are typically handled through enforcement by the Police Department, there are situations in which enforcement is not as effective as we would all prefer. In those cases, traffic calming may be the way to go." Moore added that such situations might include times when the speeding is chronic and re-occurs after enforcement ends or where there is no effective staging area in which to conduct the enforcement.

The Town chose the Farmington Woods Drive and Hampton Valley Road areas for the pilot because staff had recorded 85^th percentile speeds up to 13 mph over the 25 mph posted speed limit and there is no effective staging area for enforcement.

Cary’s traffic calming pilot will be phased using devices as follows:

• Phase I

The first phase will test a device known as a chicane. The chicane creates alternating constrictions in the roadway such that vehicles travel in a snake-like fashion (graphics of devices available on website). By using barrels to mimic the effects of a chicane, Town staff can make alterations in the field and quickly disassemble, if necessary. These devices will be tested for a two-week period before removal.

• Phase II

The second phase will test a device known as a choker. The choker creates a constriction in the roadway such that vehicles travel in a narrow lane (see figure on website). By using barrels to mimic the effects of a choker, Town staff can again make alterations in the field and quickly disassemble, if necessary. These devices will also be tested for a two-week period before removal.

• Phase III

The third phase will test several devices. These devices include speed humps, raised crosswalks, and narrow lanes (see figure on website). A speed hump is a raised, elongated hump in the roadway. A raised crosswalk is a raised hump in the roadway with a 10-foot-wide flat top. Narrow lanes are created by simply placing pavement lines further in from the curb to give the appearance of a narrower lane. This is the only phase of the project that will be semi-permanent. These devices will be tested for a minimum two-month period and may remain as permanent fixtures depending upon their performance.

To prepare residents in the affected area, letters advising property owners of the upcoming study were mailed earlier this week. The Town will also distribute notices to every house and building along the route within 24 hours before the testing to advise residents to move parked vehicles from the street. The Town also has comprehensive information on its website about the project.

"Responses to traffic calming in other communities have been mixed among both staff and citizens," said Moore. "The Town of Cary needs to have first-hand experience with a study of the effectiveness of traffic calming in our community, which includes getting feedback from pedestrians as well as Cary’s motoring public."

Citizens can register their feelings about the study or request further information anytime by calling the TRAFFIC CALMING PILOT STUDY HOTLINE at 462-3900 or by visiting the Town’s website at <www.townofcary.org>.

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PRIMARY CONTACTS: Joe Moore, Senior Engineer, 469-4035

Bill Coleman, Town Manager, 469-4002

Susan Moran, Public Information Officer, 460-4951