Off-campus UMass Amherst users: If this thesis is NOT open access, please use the following link to log into our proxy server and download this thesis.
The Application of Traffic Calming and Related Strategies in an Urban Environment
Document Type: Open Access
Degree Program
Civil Engineering
Degree Type
Master of Science in Civil Engineering (M.S.C.E.)
Year Degree Awarded
2008
Month Degree Awarded
May
Primary Subject Category
Transportation
Secondary Subject Category
Regional planning & development
Keywords
Traffic Calming, Traffic Safety, Urban Transportation, Community Livability
Advisor(s) or Committee Chair
Knodler, Michael A
Abstract
This thesis presents a collection of network optimization strategies aimed at aiding the local practitioner in selecting, implementing, and evaluating appropriate strategies to achieve community goals and objectives in the urban environment. The urban environment is often challenging due to the plethora of activity and variety in mode choice. Growing interest in sustainable transportation practices along with encouragement at the Federal, State, and Local levels to is leading to the growing use of non-motorized modes of transportation such as walking and bicycling. The combination of high population density and mixed land use in the urban environment creates unique safety and operational challenges.
This research presents a synthesis of strategies designed to improve local transportation safety and efficiency by targeting speeding and cut-through volumes as improving pedestrian and bicycle facilities in urban areas such as those found in Western Massachusetts. Additionally, this research evaluates two local network optimization strategies; speed cushions and reverse angle parking. The effectiveness of the speed cushions in achieving the community’s goal of reducing speeds was evaluated and determined to be a recommended strategy for future implementation, especially when couple with enforcement. Reverse angle parking, however, was not determined to be an effective strategy due to the high occurrence of events as well as lower parking volume exhibited during implementation.
Recommended Citation
Metzger, Stacy A., "The Application of Traffic Calming and Related Strategies in an Urban Environment" (2008). Masters Theses. Paper 125.
http://scholarworks.umass.edu/theses/125
Download 