|
CENTER
ISLAND NARROWING
Often
used with a marked crosswalk
Raised islands
are installed along the center of the street to effectively narrow
the travel lanes in each direction. They can be landscaped to
improve the aesthetics of the location and can have a built in
pedestrian refuge when placed in conjunction with a mid-block
crosswalk.
Parking may need to be removed along the affected roadway section.
Bicycle users may feel more vulnerable on narrower lanes
They may also be called mid-block medians, median slow points,
or median chokers.
|
Temporary
Installation
San Marino, CA
|
Permanent
Installation
Baldwin Park. CA |
PROS
1.
Results in reduction in speeds
2. Enhances pedestrian environment.
3. Helps safety when used on curved roads by reducing
speed.
4. Can be evaluated on temporary basis first.
5. Can be landscaped.
6. Can be a "Gateway" feature.
|
CONS
1.
May result in loss of on-street parking.
2. Moderately expensive measure if landscaped.
3. Center islands may be hit at night unless well marked.
4. Reduced lane widths not favored by bicycle users.
|
Summary
of Effectiveness
|
Volume
Reduction
|
No
|
|
Speed
Reduction
|
Yes
(Slight)
|
|
Safety
Improvement
|
Unknown
|
|
-
|
-
|
|
Streets
to Use On – Collector, Local
|
Local/Collector
|
|
Use
on Bus Route
|
Yes
|
|
Use
with Curbs and Gutters
|
Yes
|
|
Spot
or Area-wide Use
|
Spot
|
|
-
|
-
|
|
Emergency
Service Access Issues
|
No
|
|
Impacts
on Arterials
|
No
|
|
Change
in % Trucks
|
Unknown
|
|
Environmental
Changes
|
No
|
|
-
|
-
|
|
Dependence
on Enforcement
|
No
|
|
Level
of Violation
|
N/A
|
|
-
|
-
|
|
Aesthetics
and Landscaping
|
Limited
|
|
