Traffic Calming and Sidewalk Administrative Regulations
Updated Administrative Regulations — effective July 1, 2024
At the direction of Council, staff developed two revised Administrative Regulations regarding traffic calming and sidewalk requests. The regulations make it easier for residents to make requests, and establish a review process with community engagement and Council’s role.
As specified in the regulations, a Takoma Park resident may submit a request to the City Manager for a new sidewalk facility or a new traffic calming device located within one-quarter (1/4) of a mile from their primary residence. The request form is below.
Traffic Calming Devices
Procedures for New Traffic Calming Requests (PDF) (effective July 1, 2024)
Sidewalks
Procedures for New Sidewalk Facility Requests (PDF) (effective July 1, 2024)
Submit a Request
To submit a request for traffic calming devices or sidewalks, please use this form: Traffic Calming and Sidewalk Requests.
Requests submitted by November 20, 2024 will be considered in the FY 2026 Budget process. Later requests will be considered for future budget years.
Background
In Resolution 2022-41, Resolution on Pedestrian and Transportation Safety, Council directed staff “to develop and present revised traffic calming, sidewalk request, and street safety policies and prioritization procedures for City Council consideration that:
- Prioritize safety and equity in decision-making processes and planning;
- Emphasize the wellbeing and safety of the most vulnerable roadway users and prioritize the best use of the public space for the community as a whole;
- Consider holistic approaches addressing larger geographic areas, including investigation of reduced speed limits, and integration of other City plans and priorities such as sustainability efforts, public art initiatives, and other projects;
- Utilize data-driven criteria for evaluating and prioritizing sidewalk and traffic calming installations and other traffic calming approaches such as reduced speed limits (as allowed by state law), and for planning and identifying where safety measures are needed;
- Allow for multiple avenues for initiating consideration of locations that may need traffic calming or sidewalks, speed limit reductions, or other measures;
- Make progress toward a more comprehensive approach to transportation and public space planning that prioritizes pedestrian and non-vehicle safety.
To address inequities in the existing procedures and to create a data-informed approach, staff from the Housing & Community Development, Public Works, and Police Departments developed a set of policies to update the processes for traffic calming and sidewalk projects. The updates take the form of two separate, but similar, administrative regulations
Previous Petition Process for Traffic Calming, prior to July 1, 2024:
Public Works Sections
Carroll Avenue Bridge Construction
Maryland State Highway Administration's replacement of the Carroll Avenue bridge started on July 25, 2016.
Visit the Carroll Avenue Bridge Construction project page in the Project Inventory to get comprehensive and up to the date project information including links to SHA's detour info.
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