Urban Shares Safety Improvement Award

The Pennsylvania Highway Information Association has named the Diamond Park Island Traffic Calming project in Meadville a 2010 winner in the Road and Bridge Safety Improvement Awards Program.  The project was a combined effort of the City of Meadville and Urban Engineers of Erie, who worked closely with City and regional planners, as well as PennDOT.

The project was designed to alleviate safety and congestion issues in the City.  Originally tasked with designing islands and traffic signal improvements at the Diamond Park intersection, Urban encouraged the City to consider traffic signal removal when studies determined the traffic signals to not be warranted. The traffic signals were removed and replaced with stop signs, and pedestrian refuge islands were constructed.  The islands were designed to channel vehicular traffic, while at the same time increasing the accessibility and safety of pedestrians through the intersection.  The new configuration met and exceeded ADA regulations.

The new intersection configuration reduced the roadway width, which in turn made pedestrian crossings safer while also encouraging lower traffic speeds.  Pedestrian safety was also improved by new sidewalk alignments.  The signal removal actually helped reduce congestion and increase mobility while also providing cost savings to the City in reduced installation, operation, and maintenance costs.

This project incorporated many of the guiding themes of Pennsylvania’s Smart Transportation initiative.  The design resulted in a context-sensitive solution that has already proved successful for the City.