A COMMUNITY DRIVEN APPROACH TO TRAFFIC CALMING

The City of Concord (California) did things wrong. One of its numerous neighborhoods was complaining of high volumes of cut-through traffic and fast travel speeds. The City developed a plan to solve the problem. The plan was elaborate. It included improvements outside of the neighborhood like traffic signal revisions and new signage, as well as various improvements inside the neighborhood such as semi-diverters, curb extensions, and re-striping. City staff proudly presented the comprehensive plan to the neighborhood. The neighborhood immediately rejected the plan. What was wrong with the City's plan? Exactly that - it was the "City's" plan. This paper reviews the steps that the city undertook to then involve the neighborhood citizens, and thus ensure a better, community-driven traffic calming plan that was accepted by all.