Overview and Plan
Traffic calming involves the creation of physical and visual cues to reduce speeding and make streets safer for all users. Since 2015, the City has piloted traffic calming measures using temporary materials and also implemented a select number of permanent solutions in neighborhoods, such as speed humps, radar speed signs and speed limit signs.
In 2023, the City is taking a comprehensive approach to neighborhood traffic calming by addressing a backlog of concerns across several neighborhoods due to the availability of additional funding. This year, the City will install 94 speedhumps on 49 streets in 24 neighborhoods.
Construction on the speedhumps began in May 2023 and is expected to be completed by November 2023.
Due to the number of traffic calming requests, a scoring and ranking system is used to prioritize projects. The scoring process is based on a number of criteria including traffic volume and crash data. The highest scoring projects in each council district will be accommodated first depending on the availability of funding.
View the dashboard below to see if traffic calming measures are planned for your neighborhood.
Our Strategy + Toolkit
Funding for traffic calming is prioritized towards projects in neighborhoods and corridors with the greatest need guided by the following principles:
Guiding Principles
There are three guiding principles shaping the City’s approach to traffic calming:
1. Aim for Vision Zero. Model a Vision Zero global strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all. No loss of life on streets in South Bend is acceptable. Vision Zero recognizes that people make mistakes, and that these mistakes should not be fatal.
2. Be data driven. Understand street context such as lane widths, presence of sidewalks and bike lanes, traffic control devices or proximity to schools. Review data on crashes and speeding to prioritize investment.
3. Be transparent. Aim to be transparent with residents, sharing plans for traffic calming proactively. This includes the methodology behind decisions to prioritize certain streets and the crash summary dashboard for residents to monitor the City’s data on reducing preventable traffic fatalities and severe injuries over time.