Albert, Merrill, Parker, Warick & Trafford Neighborhood Study

History

In 2018 the city engineering division began working with residents of Parker Avenue regarding the volume of traffic, speeding and non-residential parking on their street. In the course of reviewing traffic data collected for Parker Avenue, it was determined that cut through traffic was occurring in addition to business parking in the residential area.

In an effort to get a better understanding of traffic in this neighborhood, traffic was remeasured on all five streets simultaneously in the fall of 2018. The data is summarized on the adjacent map.


The map illustrates the areas that were studied in yellow as well as the total vehicles per day (VPD) and vehicle average speeds in each direction. Additionally, the number of estimated daily trips based on the number of homes and apartments is also shown for each street. This number forms a base line to determine how excessive cut through traffic might be.

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AMPWT Exhibit

Study Analysis, Fall 2018

There are significantly more vehicles traveling these streets than would be expected to be generated by the residents alone based on the collected data. The city has been requested to evaluate options that could reduce or eliminated cut through traffic and speeding. Some available options include:

  • Prohibiting turns onto these streets during specific hours
  • Installing traffic diverters to prohibit some through traffic
  • Installing barriers between the residential and commercial areas along Woodward
  • Closing off or re-configuring crossovers on Coolidge

Any traffic restrictions made on one of these five streets could affect traffic on adjacent streets. Every option could have consequences for the residents of the street. Any option selected would require a consensus of the residents of the street in the form of a petition officially requesting the desired change. It should be noted that signage options by themselves would not be a cost for the neighborhood however the cost of barriers could be assessed to the properties along the road.

Neighborhood Workshop, Spring 2019

The city’s citizens traffic committee recommended conducting a workshop with the neighborhood to discuss their concerns and proposed solutions to curb speeding and unwanted traffic in this neighborhood. The traffic committee set aside March 26, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall in Room 315 to hear residents’ concerns and go over specific traffic calming options that may be available. The city wanted to address all streets similarly so that a final option and eventual enforcement can be consistently applied.

Discussion at the workshop found most of the attending residents in favor of a partial road closure, which would separate the businesses on Woodward Ave from the residential neighborhoods as shown in the sketch below. Staff proposed setting up a temporary barrier to test this option after the Dream Cruise and when school had resumed.

Albert Ave example: The blue shaded area represents where barricades will be placed to restrict westbound traffic from entering the residential neighborhood. Appropriate signage will also be installed to notify motorists of the change. All five streets will have similar barriers installed.

Albert partial closure example

Testing A Partial Road Closure, Fall 2019

Barricades and signage were installed for a duration of several weeks in October through November 2019. The city measured traffic speeds and volumes to evaluate the effect of the partial road closure, and then the barricades were removed for the winter.

The city invited neighborhood residents to provide feedback about the closures. They could contact the city by writing a letter, sending an e-mail or in person at the January 28, 2020 Citizens Traffic Committee Meeting.

Review of Results, Winter 2020

The citizen’s traffic committee met with residents at 6:00 p.m. on January 28, 2020 prior to the regular traffic committee meeting to discuss the results of the temporary partial road closures. The traffic data was presented and then residents were allowed time to give their feedback to the engineering division staff and traffic committee members. At the meeting, no formal decision was made to install any type of permanent closure or signage. You can view the complete AMPWT Review and minutes below.

Surveying the Neighborhood, Winter-Spring 2021

Residents west of Woodward Avenue on Albert, Merrill, Parker, Warick & Trafford were mailed letters requesting their participation in a survey of various traffic calming options the city has prepared to deal with the excessive traffic and speeding issues in the neighborhood. Results of the survey were be presented at the March 23, 2021 Traffic Committee meeting. The traffic committee made two recommendations based on the survey results. The first, was to install traffic calming on Trafford Road and the second was to install removable speed humps Merrill Avenue. These recommendation were approved by the city commission at their April 12, 2021 meeting.

Roadwork and Installations, Fall 2021

As part of the city's 2021 Concrete Pavement Repair Program, the contractor will install two traffic calming islands on Trafford Road between Woodward Avenue and Coolidge Highway. One will be near the east end of the block, between the businesses on Woodward and the residential homes and one the west end of the block near Coolidge Highway. The city's Department Public Services will install two speed humps on Merrill Avenue between Woodward Avenue and Coolidge Highway. Diagrams of the installations are shown below.

Trafford Road - island installations

Trafford Road traffic calming island diagram

Merrill Avenue - speed humps installation

Merrill Ave speed hump diagram

Study Documents

  1. City Commission resolution 04/12/21
  2. AMPWT Neighborhood Survey Results - Excerpt from 03/23/21 TC Agenda
  3. AMPWT Review Packet 01/28/20
  4. Traffic Committee meeting minutes 03/26/19
  5. AMPWT Half-closure exhibits
  6. AMPWT - Traffic Calming Options with Staff TC notes

Resident Correspondences

  1. Notice of Speed Hump Installation: Merrill Avenue 08/19/21
  2. Notice of Construction: Trafford Median Islands 06/14/21
  3. AMPWT Survey Results Letter 03/10/21
  4. AMPWT Survey Request Letter 01/05/21
  5. Review of Temp Road Closure Letter 01/03/20
  6. Temporary Road Closure Letter 09/11/19
  7. Traffic Calming Workshop letter 03/11/19