BATH — A new study shows that efforts to slow traffic on and around Richardson Street and Western Avenue have been effective, reducing average speeds in the residential area, as well as a reduction in overall traffic.
On Thursday, the city released a study conducted by Gorrill Palmer that showed the traffic calming efforts had reduced traffic volume and speed in the area. On Richardson Street, the adjusted daily traffic counts showed a reduction of more than 300 vehicles per day — from 2,617 per day to 2,309 per day. Western Avenue saw a reduction from 1,713 to 1,629, while Cottage Street saw a reduction from 464 to 434.
Bucking that trend, Elsinore Avenue actually saw traffic increase from 98 to 122. The authors of the study suggest that the traffic calming measures on the other streets may have made Elsinore Avenue a more attractive route.
Average speeds decreased across the board, with an average decrease of 4-5 mph.
Residents of the neighborhood have repeatedly come to city council meetings over the past several months to complain about speeding drivers using their residential streets as shortcuts from Route 1 to High Street, bypassing the busier High Street off ramp.
In August, city officials announced plans to install temporary traffic-calming measures along four roads in the neighborhood: Richardson and Cottage streets and Western and Elsinore avenues. The city installed speed tables, gateway chokers, median islands and signs to help slow down traffic and discourage motorists from using the roads as shortcuts. The city intended to use this as a litmus test, and later gauge residents’ opinions before installing more expensive, permanent traffic calming devices.
“We’ve seen other communities do this — spend a lot of money and then spend money to take it out because the public hated it,” said City Manager Peter Owen at the time. “This is our effort to … try it.”
Assistant City Manager Marc Meyers said that the city spent around $15,000 buying and installing the equipment, and about $20,000 on engineering for the project.
Meyers said the traffic calming measures will be removed around mid-November. The temporary installations were not designed to withstand a Maine winter. However, if feedback is positive, the city could bring back the temporary installations in the spring, or go all in and install permanent traffic calming measures.
The city will be holding a public meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 8 at city hall to solicit feedback.
“We’re looking to get as much feedback as possible from residents and motorists who use that area and any stakeholders in the area to help better guide a decision moving forward,” said Meyers.
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