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Addressing Citizen Concerns <br />Creating an open dialogue with citizens is an important step in understanding perceived and actual safety <br />issues of the public. The "Addressing Citizen Requests for Traffic Safety Concerns" Local Road Research Board <br />Report 2017RIC05 from 2017 identified steps for addressing citizen concerns for safety. <br />1. Problem Identification — Record their concern and ask questions regarding pertinent details to <br />best understand their issue. <br />2. Evaluation —Arrange for a site inspection and collect necessary data. Identify if there is an issue <br />and what steps can be made to mitigate. If there is no issue, communicate the appropriate <br />reasoning. <br />3. Response / Follow-up — If the evaluation takes more than a month, periodically update the citizen. <br />If the decision is to make a change, document this change and understand your agencies <br />processes. <br />This report also examines things to make the public aware of surrounding speed and safety. <br />• Speed complaints are often the residents "perceived" safety concern rather than an "actual" <br />safety concern. Collect data using a radar gun to determine if this is a perception or a reality. <br />• Speed humps/tables are larger issues involving more time and money to evaluate. They often do <br />not affect speed between humps. <br />• A change in speed is not likely to affect the safety concern. If speed is the key issue, install a <br />speed trailer to inform drivers of their speeds. <br />• Speed limits in neighborhoods are already likely at the state minimum based on law. <br />• Speed limit signs often advertise a given speed is acceptable even though it is desired that drivers <br />drive slower. <br />• Roadway narrowing to reduce speeds can be effective, but expensive. On -street parking can be a <br />lower -cost solution. <br />• Often the speed offenders are people that live in the neighborhood. Encourage citizens to talk to <br />their neighbors to have the discussion. <br />• Other measures to help reduce speed include posting yard signs or figures mentioning to slow <br />down, and also increasing compliance patrols with the police department. <br />m <br />Page 150 of 185 <br />