Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan
The Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan explains how the City of Salem addresses concerns about traffic speeds and volumes in residential areas. The plan provides a process to evaluate and prioritize traffic calming projects across the city.
The NTMP also includes the Neighborhood Stop Sign Plan, which helps the City decide where stop signs are needed on local streets.
Community Input and Approval
The updated NTMP was created with input from the Citizen's Advisory Traffic Commission and Neighborhood Associations. It was approved by the Salem City Council on June 26, 2023.
Submitting Neighborhood Traffic Safety Concerns
Residents can submit traffic safety concerns at any time. These requests are reviewed using safety data collected by City staff. Submitting multiple requests for the same location will not increase the chances of it being selected for funding.
How Concerns Are Evaluated
Each year, starting in August, staff review requests where safety data has been collected. A prioritization system is used to rank locations based on the following criteria:
- Speed: Are vehicles traveling faster than the posted speed limit?
- Volume: How many vehicles travel through the area?
- Nearby Pedestrian Generators: Are there schools, parks, or other places that attract pedestrians nearby?
- Family-Friendly Bikeways: Is the area part of a bike route designed for families?
- Presence of Sidewalks: Are sidewalks available for pedestrians?
- Equity: Does the location serve historically underserved communities?
For top-ranking locations, staff will contact the people who submitted requests, Neighborhood Associations, and nearby residents to get final approval.
Examples of Neighborhood Traffic Safety Measures
The NTMP uses a variety of tools to improve traffic safety in neighborhoods. Examples include:
- Speed Feedback Signs: Electronic signs that display a driver’s speed to encourage slower driving
- Speed Bumps: Raised sections of the road that slow down vehicles
- Neighborhood Stop Sign Plan: Stop signs installed at key intersections to improve safety
The Safer Pedestrian Crossings Program is a community-driven process that allows Salem residents to request new or improved bicycle and pedestrian crossings. This program was recommended in the Pedestrian Safety Study and was created to make safety improvement projects more efficient and transparent.
Through an online platform, the program:
- Tracks all requests for new crossings or safety upgrades.
- Prioritizes projects using the same criteria.
- Updates the status of each project for public review.
How it works
Residents can submit a request through the Pedestrian Crossing Safety Concern link. This takes you to an online form and interactive city map. To submit a request:
- Type your safety concern and the street location
- Your request will be added to the map and assigned a project status
- If the request meets basic eligibility criteria, it will be prioritized using a scoring system
Types of Crossing Improvements
The program focuses on improving safety at existing pedestrian crossings or adding new mid-block crossings. Below are examples of potential improvements:
Flashing Beacons
Pedestrian-activated flashing lights warn drivers of people crossing the street. These are especially helpful on multi-lane roads where stopped cars can block a pedestrian from view.
Improved Lighting
Adding streetlights at crosswalks can make pedestrians more visible to drivers, improving safety.
Curb Extensions
Expanding the sidewalk or curb into the parking lane shortens the crossing distance and makes pedestrians more noticeable to drivers.
Signage and Markings
Warning signs and pavement markings highlight crosswalk locations. However, the City does not mark unsignalized crosswalks unless additional safety measures are included.
Median Islands
Median islands allow pedestrians to cross one direction of traffic at a time. They provide a safe resting point and help slower pedestrians wait for a gap in traffic. Median islands also make crosswalks more visible to drivers.
Request Eligibility
To qualify, a request must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- The location must be within Salem city limits.
- The location must be at least 300 feet from an existing improved crossing (such as a signalized crosswalk). Requests to upgrade existing signalized crossings will be reviewed separately but are not scored under this program.
- The road must not have curves or hills that create unsafe conditions due to limited visibility.
Prioritizing Requests
Once a request is deemed eligible, it is scored based on the following criteria:
- Street Classification: Major arterials, minor arterials, collectors, or local streets.
- Proximity to Schools, Transit and Parks: Locations near these areas receive higher priority.
- Distance to Nearest Improved Crossing: Locations farther from existing crossings are prioritized.
- Equity: Based on census data, areas serving underserved communities are given higher priority.
- Pedestrian Crashes: Locations with a history of pedestrian crashes in the last five years are prioritized.
The Safer Pedestrian Crossings Program is a valuable tool to improve safety and accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists in Salem. By involving the community in identifying problem areas, the City can focus resources on the most critical locations.
