Shall we strengthen both freedom of choice and the promotion of the social good while making the case for a gentle nudge towards actions of the common good?
I have a safe streets proposal to create a “perspective of narrow roadway” along the 25mph section of Browns Trace. I am interested in hearing Jericho resident’s comments and thoughts on it. See details below.
The core of the proposal is for the town to re-paint fog lines (road maintenance) on Browns Trace to make the travel lane narrower on the entire 25 mph speed zone section than it is on the 35 mph section. (*See Transition description). This means the lines would taper to a narrower width once entering the 25 mph zone (and staying so until reaching the 35 MPH zone), thus giving drivers a VISUAL CUE and constant REMINDER of the residential 25 mph zone.
"There's absolutely no reason a 25MPH section of road should have the same physical characteristics as a 35MPH or 45MPH section." - FPF comment, Matt Kloecker • Jericho
Maintaining a well-designed travel space in these transition zones is essential to improving traffic safety and enhancing community livability.
Also, re-paint the lines whenever they become faded as they are now.
The narrower lanes can reduce motor vehicle speed, which may reduce total pedestrian crashes. They give more room for bicyclists who ride as far to the right as is safe. They also reduce the lengths of pedestrian crossings.
Data shows that driving at or below 25 MPH improves drivers’ ability to avoid crashes. Pedestrians struck by vehicles traveling at 25 MPH are half as likely to die as those struck at 30 MPH.
Drivers who exceed the posted speed limit or drive too fast for conditions are involved in nearly one-third of all fatal crashes.
Browns Trace in Jericho is a 4-rod ROW (66 ft) road. The paved section is 24 feet wide.
For a narrowing lane example, IF the minimum travel lane is 9 feet then the fog line could be painted at 9 feet from the center leaving 3 feet outside the travel lane. A traffic engineer should be able to state what is the ‘minimum’ for a travel lane width.
The average car is 5.8 feet wide. A school bus is 8 to 9 feet wide. A semi truck's maximum width is 8.5 feet wide.
I understand that government studies have concluded that reduced lane width via painted fog lines ("perspective" narrowing of streets) can be effective in slowing traffic.
The narrower lines could be used in conjunction with digital speed signs, sheriff patrols, and public discussion to communicate our desire for safe streets.
The public has a role to play in clearly setting and educating others on public morality regarding road safety in our community.
The town has the authority if not the responsibility to assist with enforcement and in this case visual reminders of what is socially acceptable regarding driving speeds in our residential and school districts.
Terminology
* Transition from 35 MPH to 25 MPH. In cases of poorly delineated transition zones, drivers who have been traveling for some distance on the high-speed road, and are only passing through the community (i.e., not intending to stop for any services or visits), may not receive sufficient visual clues that the character of the roadway is changing, and may not adjust their speeds appropriately. As a result, a proper transition zone provides an area where drivers are alerted that the roadway conditions are changing, in an effort to allow them time to react and slow down to the appropriate speed (Hallmark et al. 2013).
Deceleration area: This area should include treatments to reinforce the need for a speed reduction. For more read https://highways.dot.gov/safety/speed-management/speed-management-eprimer-rural-transition-zones-and-town-centers/4-setting
In the book Nudge by Thaler, and Sunstein, pages 37-39 read about the Chicago Lake Shore Drive, where drivers often failed to take heed of the reduced speed limit (25 mph). The city employed a new way of encouraging drivers to slow down.
"At the beginning of the dangerous curve, drivers encounter a sign pained on the road warning of the new lower speed limit, and then a series of white stripes painted on the road. The stripes do not provide much if any tactile information (they are not speed bumps) but rather just send a visual signal to drivers. When the stripes first appear, they are evenly spaced, but as drivers reach the most dangerous portion of the curve, the stripes get closer together, giving the sensation that driving speed is increasing [see figure .15 in the book]. One's natural instinct is to slow down. When we drive on this familiar stretch of the road, we find that those lines are speaking to us, gently urging us to touch the brake before the apex of the curve."
Bernie Paquette
Jericho, Vermont
Below is a summary of my responses to numerous folks who emailed me about this subject.
I do not think any one proposal is the fix-all to get control of the average speed and create safer streets. But I still believe this narrow street proposal deserves further discussion and perhaps a more in-depth look. If it has been tried in the past, then perhaps we could look at the data (particularly if measurements of effectiveness were collected). Another option offered up by a resident is center islands at Plains and Barber.
I think by defaulting on doing nothing we are encouraging more traffic to flow through Browns Trace just as water will flow through the easiest least obstructive path. For example, the more that speed is controlled on say, Route 15, and not on B.T., the more traffic will choose B.T. (I think).
Without discussing the current situation, collecting and analyzing traffic crash, speed, and volume data, and taking other steps to change the dynamics, we will I think, eventually get to a point where 85% of the traffic travels above the 25 MPH limit, thereby pressuring if not forcing us to raise the speed limit.
We each can as one person suggested to me, stop just accepting “things as they are” and dream again of better ways.
Comparing options is fine. However, I hope our first big step is getting more folks included in a decision that says we need to bring Safe Streets (including steering where traffic flows) to the forefront of public discussion and a Town priority.
I have only been in Jericho for about six or seven years. My observations led me to think that the most effective way to get the ear of the Select Board is to channel resident voices and requests through one of the town's boards or committees as well as organizations such as the JCPA (Jericho Center Preservation Association).
I do think the discussion on FPF if managed with respect, kindness, thoughtfulness, and willingness to listen well to others, can prompt a board or committee to take up the topic, subject, or proposal being discussed.
I'll offer some initial thoughts in response to your question, but also say that such details often require deeper analysis. One of my primary objectives is to have a more in-depth discussion (as a community) on the problems (perceived as well as data supported) and the options for solutions along with any possible side effects that might need to be mitigated.
Lines or no lines I think we need to drive at a speed that recognizes and seeks to keep safe all users of the road. My basis for recommending narrower road perspectives (not a narrower paved area) is based on a Federal Government report as I stated in the proposal that states they can help slow traffic, and that the fog lines give a narrower perspective of the road thus giving the driver a constant visual reminder in this case a reminder that this is a residential road with many types of road users and many families with children.
This justification (for town dollar expense for this proposal) is to slow traffic to within the speed limit, which in turn as I defined in the proposal, lessens the chance of death from a car collision, and lessens the risk of crashes. Also, they can make the road easier to cross (by pedestrians). In short, the justification is the same as the money spent on road signs, engineering road safety design studies, road snow plowing, police radar and speed enforcement, and other public safety measures related to roadways.
It takes an outspoken community on this issue to get the wheel to turn (in this case to get the wheels to turn more slowly). Thank You for adding your voice with concerns and requests for change and actions by the town regarding road safety on Route 15 in Jericho. Please know change can happen. Let us keep this community conversation alive through friends, family, FPF, and whatever forum we find to reach out to others - this is a cause (health and safety) we can bring to the forefront.
FYI, I understand that the Jericho Center Preservation Association is planning on addressing road safety issues at an upcoming Select Board hearing. The Selectboard meets on the first and third Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. Meetings are in a hybrid format (at Town Hall and on Zoom) and are recorded by MMCTV.
~ Bernie
POSTSCRIPT
Speedy Traffic in Jericho - Social Values?
Underhill – FPF Post No. 4897 • Bernie Paquette • Browns Trace, Jericho
Posted to: Jericho, Underhill
Nov 9, 2023
Discussion
Speeding is akin to littering. Studies have shown that litter begets litter. People are more apt to drop litter on the ground in a place already littered than where there is no litter. Perhaps it is with speeding on our community roads in Jericho. Are we approaching a tipping point where speeding becomes more the norm than the exception?
As one community member suggested, we could stop accepting things as they are and dream again of better ways. We could try proven methods of traffic calming. We could create some novel approaches that fit with our community values. Maintaining a well-designed travel space in our community is essential to improving traffic safety and enhancing community livability.
"Social values are a set of principles that are morally acceptable by society. These principles are created by the dynamics of the community, institutions in the society, traditions, and cultural beliefs of the people in the society. The laws are a guide for people in society on how to conduct themselves appropriately." From the Carbon Collective.
Does the community of Jericho wish to expend effort to promote, enforce, and otherwise set a standard regarding traffic safety, and driving within the speed limit in particular?
What say you folks of Jericho?
I will always believe that caring plus sharing (contribution) equals community.
Bernie
(Additional Traffic Calming ideas)
- Establish a Jericho town Traffic Calming working group.
- Collect traffic and speed data
- Average MPH over the speed limit.
- Percentage of cars traveling over the speed limit by 5%, by 10%, and greater than 10%.
- Crash data (on Browns Trace).
- Develop solution options, Evaluate solution options, determine potential impacts, and collect additional information as necessary.
- Select the recommended option(s). Discuss mitigation of potential impacts. Schedule a public workshop.
- Seek and collect community feedback.
- Determine cost and funding to support implementation.
- Implement projects. Reference: https://nacto.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/DE-Traffic-Calming-Manual_2012.pdf
Speed Related Countermeasures
- Speed-related countermeasures table. https://highways.dot.gov/safety/speed-management/speed-management-eprimer-rural-transition-zones-and-town-centers/5
- Traffic Calming primer. https://highways.dot.gov/safety/speed-management/traffic-calming-eprimer
References:
From Jericho Seletboard chair Catherine McCains, June 15, 2023. "At the last SB meeting, using ARPA funds we ordered a striping machine, stencils and trailer so that we are able to do some of our own road striping rather than contract out which would take much more time. Should pay back within 2years considering contract costs. Should come in with the next few weeks. We will then be able to mark crosswalk and other items in the Center needing repainting weather permitting. There are also other areas advocating for immediate action." End of quote.
From Ian Degutis, PE, PTOE | State Traffic Engineer Vermont Agency of Transportation. While there are some Statewide standards and national standards that would likely apply to this road, since it is under the jurisdiction of the Town of Jericho they may have other local standards that also need to be met.
In Vermont, traffic control features such as line striping, are governed by the Federal Highways Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)- the MUTCD provides some guidance (‘should’) and requirements (‘shall’) about when to use edge lines. Many of the roads in Jericho are likely below the thresholds in these warrants.
More References
SPEED MANAGEMENT PLANNING (* SEE 2.8 RESOURCES SECTION IN PARTICULAR) https://highways.dot.gov/safety/speed-management/speed-management-eprimer-rural-transition-zones-and-town-centers/2-speed
http://www.fallschurchva.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/302?fileID=8444
https://www.nyc.gov/assets/dcas/downloads/pdf/fleet/DOT25_Speed_limit_FAQs.pdf
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