The City of Richland’s Neighborhood Traffic Safety (NTS) program aims to improve neighborhood safety by reducing traffic speeds, reducing cut-through traffic, and mitigate transportation safety issues in existing residential neighborhoods. The NTS program accomplishes this goal by installing traffic calming devices and other safety countermeasures at selected locations based on a quantitative evaluation and available project funding. The NTS program is intended to serve existing residential local and collector streets. Guidelines and standard drawings will be created and maintained by the Public Works Department to aid in the selection and development of appropriate neighborhood traffic safety projects. 

The NTS program follows this process:

Step 1: Submit petition for installation of traffic calming devices
Staff will contact applicant for follow up and potential project area clarification.  

Step 2: Education & Enforcement 
Staff will provide awareness of issues to neighborhood via HOA, mail or traffic speed feedback digital sign.

Step 3: Accepting Requests into the NTS Program
Requests will be accepted throughout the year, but only those received by the end of February are considered for the current calendar year.  

Step 4: Data Collection
Staff will collect traffic statistics and speed data to identify the most appropriate locations.

Step 5: Scoring & Project Advancement
Five criteria will be considered when prioritizing locations. Speed, volume, pedestrian crossing points, lack of sidewalks and collision history. 

Step 6: Development of Recommended Treatments for Selected Projects
Staff will evaluate alternative treatments and project locations before meeting with neighbors.

Step 7: Neighborhood Consultation
Staff will meet to educate residents about the various neighborhood traffic safety treatments and discuss recommended treatments by staff.

Step 8: Conduct Balloting
Staff will conduct an independent ballot to determine neighborhood support for the final project proposal.  

Step 9: Project Development, Budgeting & Project Selection
Staff will develop cost estimates, and rank them by severity score and cumulative budget. Then staff will proceed to design and construction of the selected project(s).

An option for privately funded treatments will also be offered. 

Program Documents:

• Neighborhood Traffic Safety Program
• Petition for Installation of Traffic Calming Devices
• Petition for Removal of Traffic Calming Devices

For more information call Richland Public Works Department, 509-942-7500.