| Interim Traffic Study |
| |
|
Disclaimer
The purpose of this traffic study is to provide the Village Board of Trustees
and community an update on the See-Gwun Avenue Traffic Calming Project.
Recommendations from Staff or comments regarding the success or failure of
various aspects of the project will not be offered at this time. Based on the
established schedule, the Village is only half way through this one-year test
project. Conclusions from the Police Department, Fire Department and Public
Works Department including the Engineering Division will be provided in a final
report in the spring of 2007. The study below simply provides recent traffic
volume and speed data along with results of a resident survey.
|
Summary
Per the direction of the Village Board of Trustees, seven speed humps were
installed in May on See-Gwun Avenue between Golf Road and Lincoln Street. Based
on a traffic study performed by the Engineering Division in September, both
vehicle speed and volume are lower on See-Gwun Avenue. Average daily traffic has
increased on We-Go Trail and Na-Wa-Ta Avenue, parallel streets on either side of
See-Gwun Avenue, but not equal to the difference in volume on See-Gwun Avenue.
It is believed that other north-south streets in the neighborhood such as
Lancaster Avenue and Can-Dota Avenue have also experienced an increase in
traffic since installation of the speed humps. With respect to overall vehicle
speed on adjacent streets, We-Go Trail and Na-Wa-Ta Avenue have seen no
noticeable change.
Based on the response received from the surveys, See-Gwun Avenue residents
overall perceive lower vehicle volume and speed. They also believe the street to
be safer for pedestrians and bicyclists. However, some mixed feedback indicates
that residents are still divided on speed humps even after they have been
installed. A majority of the completed surveys from residents on We-Go Trail and
Na-Wa-Ta Avenue reveal they believe there to be an increase in vehicle speed and
volume on their street since installation of the speed humps. Also, a majority
of the residents on these adjacent streets do not favor speed humps on See-Gwun
Avenue nor do they favor speed humps for their street or throughout the
neighborhood.
|
Traffic Data
Collection
Soon before the speed humps were installed in May, the Engineering Division
gathered speed and volume data on See-Gwun Avenue as well as two adjacent
streets, We-Go Trail and Na-Wa-Ta Avenue. During this five-day test period,
school was in session and the golf course experienced activity. In September
after the speed humps were installed, speed and volume data were again gathered
at the same locations. Similar to the initial study, school was in session and
the golf course was busy. Click on the map below to see the locations of the
traffic counters during both studies.
As expected, since the speed humps have been installed both vehicle speed and
volume are lower on See-Gwun Avenue. At the two locations where speed data was
gathered between speed humps (south of Go-Wando Trail and south of Sunset Road),
the average speed was down between 3 and 8 mph. Between Lincoln Street and Go-Wando
Trail, the traffic counter on See-Gwun Avenue was placed 50’ from the speed hump
for the purpose of gauging speeds just before vehicles traverse the speed hump.
The average recorded speed was 17 mph. And the fourth traffic counter was placed
between the Stop sign at Council Trail and the speed hump at the top of the hill
near Lonnquist Boulevard. While the spacing between the speed humps is typically
350’ to 450’, the distance between the Stop sign and speed hump on this block is
575’. The average recorded speed was down 1 mph. At three of the four traffic
counter locations on See-Gwun Avenue, volume was down approximately 40%. The
fourth location was near the bridge where there are no other north-south
alternatives to get across Weller Creek in the neighborhood. Still, volume was
down nearly 20%.
On We-Go Trail and Na-Wa-Ta Avenue, the average recorded speeds at all four
traffic counter locations did not change. Average daily traffic increased on
We-Go Trail and Na-Wa-Ta Avenue but not equal to the difference in volume on
See-Gwun Avenue. Volume was up anywhere between 3% and 42%. It is believed that
other north-south streets in the neighborhood such as Lancaster Avenue and Can-Dota
Avenue have also experienced an increase in traffic since installation of the
speed humps.
Below is a table summarizing the data of the two traffic studies.
|
Table 1
|
|
Traffic Volume & Speed Graphs |
Below are links to graphs highlighting the traffic volume and speed data.
See-Gwun Avenue Before & After Volume Data
|
We-Go Trail Before & After Volume Data
|
Na-Wa-Ta Avenue Before & After Volume Data
|
See-Gwun Avenue Before & After Speed Data
|
Resident Survey
In April prior to installation of the speed humps, residents on See-Gwun Avenue
were surveyed to gauge the severity of the traffic issues. Questions ranged from
traffic volume and speeding concerns to pedestrian and bicycle safety. Also,
there were questions concerning the expected impact speed humps would have on
the street. 70% of the 98 residents along See-Gwun Avenue responded to the first
survey. Below are the results of that survey.
|
Survey 1 - See Gwun Avenue |
|
In October, a second survey was sent to the See-Gwun Avenue residents to gauge
the impact of the speed humps. 65% responded to the latest survey. Overall,
residents have perceived lower vehicle volume and speed. Residents also believe
the street to be safer for pedestrians and bicyclists. One interesting finding
came from the last question that asked residents how satisfied they were with
the speed humps (1-unsatisfied, 5-somewhat, 10-totally). The average score was
5.9, the same score as the final question on the first survey that gauged the
confidence residents had in the positive impact the speed humps would have on
the street. In the latest survey, 20 surveys scored the final question between 1
and 3 and 22 surveys scored it between 8 and 10. The results seem to indicate
that residents may still be divided on speed humps even after they have been
installed. Below are the results of the recent survey. |
Survey 2 - See Gwun Avenue |
|
In October, a survey was also
sent to the 157 residents along We-Go Trail and Na-Wa-Ta Avenue in the project
area. 49% responded to the survey. A majority indicated they believe there to
be an increase in vehicle speed and volume since installation of the speed
humps. Also, a majority did not favor speed humps on See-Gwun Avenue nor did
they believe speed humps on their street or throughout the neighborhood would
have a positive impact. Below are the results of the survey.
|
Survey 1 We-Go Trail & Na-Wa-Ta Avenue
|
Conclusion
The Engineering Staff will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the speed
humps. In addition, during the winter months, the Public Works Department will
evaluate the impact the speed humps had on snow plowing operations. The Fire
Department will provide feedback on any emergency response issues and the Police
Department will comment on their enforcement efforts. In April, traffic volume
and speed data will once again be gathered and surveys will be sent to
residents. Soon after, the Engineering Staff will compile the information and
provide the Village Board of Trustees a final report on this project.
|
