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Traffic Control Devices One -Way Streets <br />Purpose <br />Conversion of two -way streets to one -way <br />operation for purposes of residential street <br />traffic control take three forms: <br />CASE #1 - Divergent and convergent one -way <br />residential streets to reduce direct through <br />routes impacting the neighborhood. <br />CASE #2 - Alternating one -way streets throughout a <br />portion of a grid system to gain safety <br />advantages of one -way operations. <br />CASE #3 - Creating a one -way couplet by paring a <br />residential street with a nearby thru street to <br />create a corridor for thru traffic <br />R6 -1 <br />ONE <br />WAY <br />4 <br />R6 -2 <br />Source: FHWA Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices <br />Effects <br />Volumes <br />Case #1 —reduces traffic volumes where thru traffic is a problem <br />Case #2 — no significant effect on traffic volumes <br />Case #3 — increases volumes on one street and reduces volumes on adjacent <br />streets <br />Speed <br />May increase speeds due to improved motorist comfort levels. <br />Traffic Noise and Air <br />Minimal effect except in Case #1 which creates longer, circuitous routes for local <br />traffic. <br />Traffic Safety <br />One -way streets result in fewer potential conflicting movements, improving <br />safety. <br />Advantages <br />• Possible increased parking <br />• Inexpensive to implement <br />• May reduce traffic volumes <br />• May increase roadway capacity <br />Disadvantages <br />• May be considered inconvenient for residents <br />• Possible increase in speeds <br />• May increase volumes on other streets <br />Problems Targeted <br />• High traffic volumes <br />• High crashes due to conflicting movements <br />Design <br />• One way streets can be used in combinations that force turns every few blocks <br />to minimize speeding or cut - through problems <br />APRIL 2005 15 <br />