Town of Yarmouth Adopts Traffic Calming Toolbox

The Town of Yarmouth Department of Planning & Development is pleased to announce that the Complete Streets Advisory Committee (CSAC) recently adopted a Traffic Calming Toolbox. A Complete Street is one that safely accommodates the needs of all street users – pedestrians, bicyclists, public transit, motor vehicles, and those who rely on wheelchairs. The Toolbox is intended to provide examples of traffic calming measures that can be applied in a contextually sensitive manner in Yarmouth as well as outline a process through which traffic calming interventions are assessed. It is intended to be a “living document” that is updated with new tools, research, and policies from academic and advocacy organizations, and state and federal transportation authorities. The Toolbox can be found on the Complete Streets Advisory Committee's website.

In addition to sharing traffic calming measures that can be applied in a contextually sensitive manner in Yarmouth, the Toolbox outlines a process that will be utilized by Town Departments to address and assess traffic calming interventions that originate from either Town staff or the general public. The Toolbox standardizes the evaluation criteria for requests for traffic calming interventions as well as the evaluation procedures. Requests will be considered during a public meeting of the CSAC, with ultimately a recommendation made to the Department of Public Works. Funding and implementation are dependent on availability and capacity.

The Town has for nearly a decade considered Complete Streets designs and principles in the community’s transportation network. In 2015, pursuant to goals set out in the Town's 2010 Comprehensive Plan, Yarmouth adopted a Complete Streets Policy, intended to provide a transportation network that is safe, efficient, interconnected, and sustainable for all modes of travel. The Policy also created the CSAC charged with evaluating major developments, roadway projects, and capital improvement projects for compliance with the Policy, and identify regulatory issues and make recommendations for policies, constructed improvements, public services and programs, budgets, and other measures to advance complete streets goals and design principles.

For more information, please contact the Department of Planning & Development at 207-846-2401.