Nashville’s Road Safety Initiatives Including Speed Cushions Show Reduction in Speeding, Indicating Early Success of Traffic Calming Program

Nashville’s Traffic Calming Program Shows Promising Results

Nashville, Tennessee is taking serious steps to improve road safety and reduce speeding in residential neighborhoods. The city’s Neighborhood Street Traffic Calming Program has been actively installing speed cushions and other measures to slow down traffic, and recent data indicates that these efforts are making a difference.

The Need for Change

With increasing numbers of vehicles on the road, many Nashville residents have expressed concerns about speeding in their neighborhoods. The city has responded with the implementation of speed cushions, which are raised sections of pavement designed to slow down vehicles. According to Nashville’s Department of Transportation (NDOT), there are currently over 50 projects underway as part of this initiative.

Effectiveness of Speed Cushions

To assess the effectiveness of these speed-calming measures, NDOT provided data on 13 completed projects. The results show a significant decrease in speeding:

• Speed decreased by an average of 31 percent in areas with speed cushions installed.
• In areas where speed radar signs were placed, speeds dropped by an average of 19 percent.

Residents are noticing the changes. Cooper Owens, who lives on Annex Avenue—another street that just had speed cushions installed—finds it frustrating but acknowledges the need for safety. “It is a hassle,” he said. “Now, I actually have to go the speed limit!”

Community Engagement

Community involvement is a critical component of this traffic calming effort. Before a project can move forward, neighbors must apply for the program. With over 400 applications currently in the pipeline, NDOT collects data such as speed measurements and traffic patterns to prioritize which streets will get attention.

For projects that do get approved, NDOT holds community meetings to gather input from residents. If 66 percent of property owners vote in favor, the speed calming measures will be implemented. Recently, on Annex Avenue, a community meeting was held, and a vote showed that 76 percent of voters supported the speed cushions.

Safety First

One of the main goals of the program is road safety. NDOT traffic engineer Derek Hagerty emphasized that they are open to removing speed calming measures if they are proven to make a road less safe. So far, they have not seen an increase in accidents at the locations where speed cushions have been installed.

“If we are seeing an increase in crashes, that is the time we would take action,” said Hagerty. “That is not something we have seen yet with any installation.”

The Bigger Picture

Overall, NDOT has completed more than 100 projects in the past five years, showing a serious commitment to reducing speeds and improving safety. They are attentive to ongoing feedback and are ready to work with local law enforcement to tackle issues if any arise. Between community meetings, upfront notifications, and open voting processes, NDOT is keen on ensuring neighborhoods are aware of the initiatives that affect them.

Future Changes

Despite the successes seen so far, some residents are questioning whether more could be done to ensure that all affected residents are informed about the projects. NDOT maintains that they follow consistent protocols for informing residents, including sending out flyers and hosting meetings.

Looking Ahead

As Nashville continues to grow, the city plans to announce its next round of project selections soon, and residents will have the opportunity to apply for new traffic calming measures. The next application period will open on September 3 and close on September 16.

While the speed cushions are a visible sign of Nashville’s commitment to improving road safety, it’s the informed community engagement that sets this program apart. Residents like Michael Kent believe the changes are beneficial, stating, “It makes it easier for people that are having to get out of their driveways. The traffic is not going nearly as fast.”

With Nashville’s Traffic Calming Program showing promising results early on, it seems the city’s effort to create a safer, more considerate driving environment is indeed moving in the right direction.