sylvan hills: intersections
Sylvan Hills community approves the final design on January 2020
In 2019, a group of residents of the Sylvan Hills neighborhood applied for a grant through the Department of City Planning to enhance safety in the neighborhood. Using affordable materials, such as white striping and flexible curbing, this intervention reconfigures two problematic intersections along Sylvan Road at Perkerson Road and Langston Avenue, greatly improving safety for pedestrians and motorists.
community survey and field assessments
A survey conducted prior to installation showed that residents largely do not feel safe on Sylvan Road and that they desire slower car traffic and better pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure. Another survey and field assessments taken post-installation indicated the following changes:
Illegal U-turns decreased from 7 every two hours to 1 every two hours.
30% of survey respondents feel safer crossing Sylvan Road.
7 mph
in reduced vehicular speeds
7,828 sqft
of increased space for pedestrians and cyclists
55 ft
of reduced crossing distances at Perkerson St
Residents requested more pedestrian and cyclist improvements in a survey after the installation. Respondents expressed the desire for permanent infrastructure to further the interventions made for traffic calming and better roadway design. Additional requests included protected bike lanes, signage, and connected sidewalks.
WHAT WE LEARNed
Flexibility and in-field adjustments: During installation, a few residents expressed concerns about reduced visibility along Langston Avenue. In response to this safety consideration, City staff were able to remove a small number of flex posts and space out the barriers to increase visibility while retaining the integrity of the project design. Although many design considerations and formal approvals go into realizing a project, it is important to build in flexibility for unforeseen circumstances. This ensures the project fulfills the community’s goals.
Sylvan Road at Perkerson Road
Sylvan Road at Langston Avenue