Traffic Engineering

How to Use Columbia's Roundabouts

Neighborhood Traffic Program

Quality of life in residential areas is of interest to most citizens. Columbia ’s Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program is designed to help citizens work with public works engineers and technicians to identify and address traffic concerns which may be present in neighborhoods. We work with individuals and neighborhood groups to identify concerns and work creatively to find ways the city can help address them.

 

Public Works can assist with:

• Neighborhood Traffic Program - Traffic Calming Policy
• Traffic Hazard Investigation
• Sidewalk Gap Program
• Sidewalk - New Construction

Police can assist with:

• Neighborhood Policing
• Speed Trailer Deployment
• Speed Enforcement

Pedestrian Crosswalk Marking

Pedestrian safety is of prime importance when a community is encouraging walking as a means of recreation and transportation. Nowhere is the potential greater for conflict than when pedestrians cross streets.

Safe pedestrian crossings are dependent on many variables. Motorists must know and obey the vehicle laws which require them to yield to pedestrians at marked and unmarked crossing locations. Education of pedestrians regarding safety near traffic and at crossings is also important. Pedestrians must use crosswalks when they are provided.

To facilitate installation of marked and signed pedestrian crossings the City Council adopted Policy Resolution 134-00A which established a policy and standard for pedestrian crossing. Link to PDF of Pedestrian Crossing Policy.

Special Need Signs"Children at Play"

"Children at Play” signs are occasionally requested by citizens. The pros and cons of
posting these signs has received much discussion. Columbia uses the Manual on
Uniform Traffic Control Devices to evaluate installation of signs. The following points
are useful in considering the intended purpose of the “Children at Play” sign.

• A "Children at Play" sign gives no instruction to the motorist.
• Warning signs are intended to advise motorists of an unusual or unexpected condition ahead. Children playing in a residential area is a normal, expected condition and thus the sign will provide no information or safety benefit.
• Warning signs are most effective when used sparingly. Since children live on nearly every residential block, there would have to be signs on each street. Blocks with no signs could have the effect of suggesting no children live in that neighborhood.
• The presence of children in a residential area is ample warning for prudent drivers to exercise caution. In the case of a less prudent driver, it is unlikely a sign will be as useful as parental supervision in safeguarding children.
• If signs encourage parents and children to believe they have an added degree of protection, which the signs do not and cannot provide, a great disservice results.
• Children should be taught to play safely, away from streets. Children should be taught to safely cross streets.
• Specific warnings for schools, parks, and cross walks are available for use where indicated by policy.
• If there are safety concerns with other roadway features such as a curve, hill or lack of sidewalks, a traffic safety investigation can be conducted, to verify and possibly mitigate these concerns.

For the above reasons, Columbia does not install "Children at Play" signs.

Special Needs Sign "Deaf Child"

The “Deaf Child” special needs sign can provide additional information to the motorist.
The sign does not identify which child or where the child is, and the sign is there even
when the child may not be. Although we recognize the potential drawbacks to using a
Deaf Child sign, the sign does provide useful information about the possibility of an
unexpected condition, therefore requests for Deaf Child signs are processed with three
requirements.

1. Need a note from doctor stating “child is unable to hear normal traffic noise”.
2. Parents agree to notify department when they move.
3. Parents agree to teach the child traffic safety and to supervise child.

 

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