This project provides for the planning, design, and construction of physical traffic control features in residential neighborhoods. Traffic calming features such as traffic circles and islands, curb extensions, speed humps, physical and painted lane narrowing devices, etc., are used to maintain and improve the safety and livability of residential neighborhoods by addressing issues of aggressive driving and excessive speeds and volumes.

Montgomery County has developed justification criteria, implementation procedures, and construction standards for administering traffic calming improvements along neighborhood streets that are consistent with those recommended and/or adopted by the Federal Highway Administration, the Institute of Transportation Engineers, and the Maryland Traffic Engineers Council. Neighborhood traffic control has received significantly increasing emphasis, and the speeding and unsafe driving practices by motorists on residential streets in our neighborhoods continue to generate numerous requests for traffic calming measures by residents. The neighborhood traffic calming project enables the Department of Transportation to evaluate requests for traffic calming actions, develop and design appropriate traffic calming measures, and fund the implementation of a variety of physical as well as control type traffic calming tools to encourage safer driving behavior in neighborhoods. These measures include the installation of speed humps, traffic circles, etc. Engineering investigations and the analysis of community support are conducted on a per-request basis to determine if the installation of traffic calming features on a street is warranted and appropriate.

Projects originate with requests from citizens' associations, other neighborhood organizations, and/or public officials. Projects are constructed primarily by the Traffic Engineering and Operations Division, using contractors and/or in-house crews. Approximately 500 streets or neighborhoods are under study/review for future traffic calming projects each year. This project contributes to the County's Vision Zero goals to reduce deaths and serious injuries on County roadways to zero by 2030.

Expenditures will continue indefinitely.

Citizens' Associations, Fire and Rescue Service, Intersection and Spot Improvements Project, Montgomery County Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission