Neighborhood Traffic Mitigation Program#
Traffic in neighborhoods can effect the quality of life for residents, bicycles, pedestrians, as well as drivers. Throughout Fort Collins, citizens are asking the City to reduce speeding traffic in their neighborhoods. For this reason, the Neighborhood Traffic Mitigation Program (NTMP) was created. Through education, engineering, and enforcement the goal of calmer, safer streets is achievable.
Goals:
- Improve compliance to posted speed limits, stop signs, and other traffic control devices.
- Improve neighborhood livability and promote safe and pleasant conditions for residents, motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians by mitigating the impact of vehicular traffic on local and collector streets. Educate citizens about traffic safety problems occurring in neighborhoods.
- Implement traffic calming techniques that will improve neighborhood livability without jeopardizing emergency response needs, creating hazards, or reducing mobility. Modify travel behavior through planning, design, respectful communication, and participation to accurately reflect the City's overall transportation policies and values.
- Make efficient use of City resources by prioritizing NTMP projects.
Education Tools | Enforcement Tools | Engineering Tools | NTMP Guidelines | Contact
Free Education Tools#
These educational tools are designed to help residents reduce speeding on neighborhood streets. The tools remind motorists of the posted speed limit and make them aware of the speed they are traveling. Check out what we have to offer:
"Slow Down in Our Neighborhood" Yard Signs#
Call to reserve your sign today! Yard signs can be picked up from Traffic Operations at 626 Linden Street in Fort Collins.
Speed Limit Trash Can Decals#
These decals are for trash cans only. If the speed limit on your street is not 25 MPH, please do not use these decals. The local trash companies have approved use of these decals on their receptacles. Decals can be picked up from Traffic Operations at 626 Linden Street in Fort Collins.
Speed Display#
Request a speed display for your neighborhood for a week! Contact Traffic Operations at 970-221-6630 or TrafficOperations@fcgov.com.
Radio Ads#
"If you're driving in the country, if you're driving into town..." Caught yourself singing along to Traffic Operations' radio jingles? You're not alone. New this year, we developed two new radio jingles to remind drivers to obey the speed limit. The jingles play on various radio stations throughout Northern Colorado. Listen to some of the ads!
- Driving Safely
- Hockey Ad
- Slow Down for Us
Enforcement Tools#
Enforcement of speed limits is an alternative for dealing with neighborhood speeding. Traffic Operations works with Police Services to provide enforcement in problem areas.
Traffic Tamers#
Created to improve the safety and livability of neighborhood streets, Traffic Tamers is a neighborhood speed watch program which allows residents to play an active role in solving their neighborhood speeding problems. After brief training by Traffic Operations staff, volunteers use a radar gun to monitor speeding levels on residential streets. Information gathered by the volunteers is then processed by staff and a letter from the Neighborhood Traffic Safety Committee is sent to registered owners of the vehicle observed speeding, informing them that the vehicle was observed speeding on a neighborhood street, and asks the that all drivers of the vehicle obey the posted speed limit in residential areas. No fines or violations are cited on the registered owners driving record. Interested in participating? Review the attached documents and contact Traffic Operations at 970-221-6630 or TrafficOperations@fcgov.com.
Police Patrols#
Selective Police patrols are based on complaints from residents. In January 2006, a $35 surcharge was added to moving violations to fund additional police officers to patrol neighborhood streets. This allows the funding for this added patrol to be collected from people caught speeding, not the general public.
Engineering Tools#
Our engineering tools are established according to the federal guidelines set forth in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), mandated by the Federal Highway Administration.
Traffic Studies#
Various traffic studies are used to determine the severity of the traffic related problems and aid in the determination of the necessary actions needed to help resolve these problems. Typical studies include speed, volume, pedestrian, bike, and sight distance studies.
Signs & Pavement Markings#
Streets are regularly reviewed for adequate signing and pavement markings, Additional signs and pavement markings may be added to help motorists recognize and obey the posted speed limit.
Physical Mitigation#
Speed Bumps, Raised Crosswalks, Diverter Islands, and More
For more information on physical mitigation tools, contact Traffic Operations at 970-221-6630 or TrafficOperations@fcgov.com
NTMP Guidelines#
The following guidelines will provide a framework for the Neighborhood Traffic Mitigation Program (NTMP).
- Any two-lane, local, or collector street may be considered through this program; arterial roadways will not be considered.
- Emergency vehicle access will be preserved.
- Arterial streets are the most desirable facilities for through traffic. Opportunities for re-routing traffic from one street to an arterial street will be explored.
- Neighborhood livability should be given precedence over marginal motor vehicle efficiencies.
- Re-routing traffic from a higher classification street to lower classification because of a mitigation project is unacceptable. Any vehicle increase of more than 10% will require a reevaluation of the original project.
- Traffic may be re-routed from one street to another of equal classification as a result of a mitigation project, if it provides for a more equal distribution of the traffic burden.
- NTMP projects should be compatible with overall City transportation goals and objectives as set forth in the Master Transportation Street Plan. Projects should also complement the transportation related goals set forth in any completed neighborhood community plans.
- Implementation of the NTMP tools will be in accordance with the procedures in this document in keeping with sound engineering and safety practices within the limits of available resources.
- NTMP projects should encourage and enhance bicycle and pedestrian access to neighborhood destinations while maintaining reasonable automobile access.
- The NTMP is not designed to mitigate noise from major arterials, redesign the overall transportation/street classification system, or affect a modal shift.
Contact Information#
For any questions neighborhood traffic mitigation please call Traffic Operations at 970-221-6630 or email TrafficOperations@fcgov.com.