Safe Streets, Strong Neighborhoods
A neighborhood with less speeding is a more kid-friendly, bike-friendly, disability-friendly, and pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.
Data to consider:
- In 2019, Toledo was designated the 64th most dangerous metro for pedestrians in the US. [source]
- From 2016 to 2019 our PDI (Pedestrian Danger Index) went up 1.6 [source]
- 13 of the top 20 Severe Crash Hotspots as categorized by TMACOG fall under the City of Toledo Authority. (Page 67) [source]
- From crash data obtained from Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Government (TMACOG), there were 919 reported crashes involving a pedestrian or bicyclist within the Washington Local Safe Routes to School study area from 2013-2017. Overall, 533 crashes involved pedestrians and 375 involved bicyclists. These crashes resulted in 65 fatalities.
Short Term (6-12 Months)
City Wide Analysis of Speed Limits.
One way to slow traffic? Lower speed limits. Almost every speed limit decreases as the street leaves Toledo city limits. Every neighborhood in the city of Toledo deserves the dignity of careful drivers.
Improve Signage
By opening up a “sign-request” option in Engage Toledo. Stop signs, yield signs, and so on, we will be able to give Toledoans more influence over the process by which signs are posted throughout their community.
Double Fines for Speeding on Residential Streets
When you go over the speed limit in a construction zone, you know you are going to pay more if you get caught. Why? Because people are close by, and you could kill them. That is obviously true in our neighborhoods, and motorists need to apply the same level of care to our neighborhoods as they would when they see orange cones on the highway. Passed August 11, 2020.
Long Term (2-10 Years)
Cut Down on Cut-Throughs.
Examine cut-through streets, looking for opportunities to close streets where beneficial.
Prioritize Pedestrians.
We must do whatever we can to increase the overall volume of crosswalks, and more pedestrian-friendly infrastructure to let pedestrian travelers know they are safe and welcome in Toledo.
Build Safety In.
We need to develop a strategy for building diversion and speed reduction into street redesign/reconstruction, using common traffic calming methods.
Double Fines FAQ
What does this program cost?
The only perceived costs at this point are related to the slow implementation of additional signage under current speed limit signs. Additional signage is not mandatory to implement the program, but necessary for increased transparency and public trust.
Estimates are:
- Cost per sign: $30 produced and installed
- Speed limit signs on residential streets: Roughly $2,000
- Total cost of signage: $60,000
What is considered a residential street?
Residential streets simply refer to neighborhood streets where the speed limit is 25 MPH and “through streets” where the speed limit is 35 MPH. Per TMC 333.03:
“Twenty-five miles per hour in all other portions of the Municipality, except on State routes outside business districts, through streets and through highways outside business districts, and alleys” and “Thirty-five miles per hour on all through streets within the Municipality outside business districts.”
How will new revenue be spent?
One of the highlights of this program is how the newly generated revenue will be used. Additional revenue generated by the doubling of fines will be deposited into a special, designated fund with limited uses. This fund will allow the money to be reinvested in your neighborhood, through approved expenditures limited to:
- Signs of all kinds (Speed limit, stop, yield, “Your Speed”, etc.)
- Speed reducing infrastructure
- Park improvements
How does this ordinance interact with speed cameras?
This new law is not reliant on speed cameras of any kind.