AKRON, Ohio — In an effort to reduce speeding and enhance safety, the city of Akron has announced its plan for a traffic calming program for 2023.
Starting in June, the city will install 21 speed tables in 11 locations to help curb speeding in Akron neighborhoods. The tables are being placed in locations based on "resident requests, appropriateness of streets, and in coordination with City Council, City Departments and other stakeholders such as METRO RTA and Akron Public Schools."
The tables will be removed before winter.
Here are where the speed tables will be installed:
- Ward 1 - Crosby Street and Maple Street (3 total tables)
- Ward 2 - Evans Avenue (2 tables)
- Ward 3 - South Rhodes Avenue (2 tables)
- Ward 4 - Storer Avenue (2 tables)
- Ward 5 - Baird Street (2 tables)
- Ward 6 - Benton Street (2 tables)
- Ward 7 - Glenmont Avenue (2 tables)
- Ward 8 - Ridgewood Road (2 tables)
- Ward 9 - Clearview Avenue (2 tables)
- Ward 10 - Caddo Avenue (2 tables)
The city says signage will be posted to alert drivers to the speed tables. Residents who live on a street where the tables will be installed will be notified in advance of the exact location.
The installation of the speed tables follows Akron's 2022 pilot program. The city says the data collected from that study revealed that on average speeds were 6 mph lower while speed tables were installed. The tables were most effective when more than one table was placed on the same street.
“Speeding in residential areas is one of the most common concerns we hear from Akron residents,” said Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan in a statement. “Last year’s traffic calming program proved itself to be an effective tool to curb speeding and help make our neighborhoods safer for pedestrians and motorists alike. This year’s program will also be bolstered by additional traffic calming devices in the form of solar speed limit signs which will be installed later this summer.”
Solar speed limit signs will detect speed of passing vehicles and flash the speed at the traveling motorist. The signs will also record that speed for data collection purposes. Locations are still being determined.
Editor's Note: Similar traffic calming programs have been conducted in Cleveland. You can see our previous reporting below.