Traffic Calming

Traffic calming refers to any modification made to a street or its boulevard to encourage motorists to decrease their speed. The Neighborhood Traffic Calming Policy was developed to provide the City with a procedure to ensure a consistent, objective response to requests for traffic calming. Under this policy, the Engineering Department and Traffic Control Committee works with residents to evaluate traffic issues in their neighborhoods and seek the appropriate course of action.

Methods of traffic calming responses fall into three categories:

1. Education: Working with the residents of the neighborhood to correct driver behavior using information and neighborhood awareness. Speed message signs are and educational tool to bring awareness to driver speeds.
2. Enforcement: Increased level of police presence and speed monitoring to change driver behavior.
3. Engineering: Structural changes in the right-of-way to change the driving experience so drivers no longer feel comfortable traveling at higher speeds. Examples include raised crosswalk, raised intersection, curvilinear streets, street narrowing, medians, traffic circles, and roundabouts. Due to the negative impacts of speed humps (acceleration between humps, negative driver perception, snow removal difficulties, etc.), speed humps are not considered a viable method for traffic calming in Woodbury.

The most common traffic control request received by the City is for the installation of stop signs. Studies have shown the installation of unwarranted stop signs may actually decrease the safety of pedestrians and motorists at intersections due to the extremely low stopping compliance. Drivers also tend to increase their speed between stop signs to make up lost time. All stop sign requests are reviewed using the current stop sign policy.

If you would like to submit a Neighborhood Traffic Petition, please review the documents on this page. The completed application (PDF) and petition (PDF) can be emailed to the Engineering Department.