This project will focus on implementing traffic-calming measures to reduce vehicle speeds, raise road safety awareness, and create a safer walking and cycling environment. Funding will be used to install speed bumps and solar-powered radar speed signs. Traffic data will be collected from the radar signs and the findings will be shared with the community.
The Village of Ashcroft urgently needs this project to address critical road safety concerns for vulnerable road users on Ranch Road, a primary thoroughfare leading to the community school. This route experiences a high volume of mixed traffic, including private vehicles, school buses, cyclists, and pedestrians of all ages, especially children. The lack of traffic-calming infrastructure has resulted in unsafe driving speeds, which pose an increased risk of accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists.
Road Safety Issues Addressed
- Excessive Vehicle Speeds: Observations and feedback from the working group’s assessment, as well as community survey results, indicate that speeding is a consistent issue on Ranch Road. This increases the likelihood of collisions and severely limits the reaction time for drivers, placing pedestrians and cyclists in danger, particularly near the school.
- Vulnerability of Pedestrians and Cyclists: Ranch Road is used daily by schoolchildren and residents walking or cycling to the school and other community facilities. Without dedicated safety measures, these users are at a high risk of injury due to the close proximity of high-speed traffic.
- Inadequate Road Safety Awareness: The lack of visible traffic-calming features reduces drivers’ awareness of the need to slow down. Solar-powered radar speed signs will serve as a constant visual reminder for drivers to monitor their speed, reinforcing road safety behaviors.
Additional Community Evidence
- Community Survey Support: A recent survey initiated by Village Council revealed overwhelming support for traffic-calming solutions among residents. The survey highlighted significant concerns about speeding and its impact on pedestrian and cyclist safety, with the majority of respondents favoring speed bumps and radar speed signs as effective solutions.
- School District Collaboration: Recognizing the dangers posed to students and school staff commuting via Ranch Road, the School District has provided its full support for this project.
By implementing speed bumps and radar speed signs, this project directly addresses these critical safety issues. It creates a safer, more controlled road environment on Ranch Road, aligning with Vision Zero’s goals of reducing injuries and fatalities among vulnerable road users. The project will also provide essential data for future safety improvements, reinforcing our commitment to long-term community safety.
