Issaquah officials recently undertook a study in Olde Town on the effectiveness of traffic “calming devices”, and based on the success of that program, are moving ahead with permanent solutions. To that end, the city council recently approved a request for $310,000 to implement the work.
Traffic calming devices are the likes of speedbumps and directional turn Signs, which passively help slow traffic. The pilot effort put these devices in specific areas, then collected data on volumes of traffic and speeds on the roads in question. They also gathered data about the community, and received more than 300 comments from residents. Based on the information collected and the program's success, the city has decided to remove the temporary devices, and install more permanent versions.
Public works engineer Kurt Seemann said generally Issaquah would use speedbumps in Olde Town, except in one traffic circle. He also said the study indicated that the no-left-turn signs should be removed permanently, since they were taken down approximately halfway through the study and there was no noticeable effect on drivers' speeds, or in traffic cutting through various streets. He did say another speed bump on Andrews Street was under consideration.
One resident suggested that the city follow up in six months to see if the devices are successful, and Seemann said this idea is a good one.
Officials working on projects like this can use flyer printing to send information to residents.
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