Ensuring neighborhood safety is a top priority in Greenville County. One of the persistent challenges many communities face is speeding in residential areas. To address this, Greenville County has implemented a traffic calming program that allows residents to request measures like speed humps for their streets. Understanding the qualifications and processes for these measures, as well as knowing where to find additional street information through resources like an Scdot Street Finder, is crucial for residents looking to enhance their neighborhood’s safety and navigability.
Speed Humps: Slowing Down Neighborhood Traffic
Speed humps are a key tool in Greenville County’s traffic calming program, designed to reduce speeding on residential streets. However, to ensure they are appropriately placed and effective, certain minimum qualifications must be met before installation can be considered. These qualifications, established by County Council policy in August 2008, are based on engineering studies and aim to balance safety improvements with practical considerations.
To qualify for speed humps, a street must meet the following criteria:
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Length: The road must be at least 1000 feet long, ensuring sufficient space for humps to be effective in speed reduction.
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Classification: The road must be classified as Residential, not a Collector road, focusing on neighborhood streets rather than major thoroughfares.
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Maintenance: Greenville County must entirely maintain the road to manage installation and upkeep.
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Study Timeline: No traffic study should have been conducted on the street within the past 2 years to ensure current data is used.
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Subdivision Completion: If applicable, the subdivision must be at least 80% complete to reflect the established traffic patterns of the neighborhood.
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Speed and Volume Requirements: The street must meet one of the following Average Daily Traffic (ADT) and 85th Percentile Speed requirements. The 85th percentile speed is a critical metric, representing the speed at or below which 85% of traffic travels. This helps determine if speeding is a significant issue.
- If the 85th percentile speed is 15 MPH over the posted speed limit (PSL), the volume must be greater than 600 vehicles per day (vpd).
- If the 85th percentile speed is 10 mph over the PSL, the volume must be greater than 675 vpd.
- If the 85th percentile speed is 9 mph over the PSL, the volume must be greater than 800 vpd.
Petition Process and Alternatives
If a street meets all of these qualifications, the installation of speed humps requires a petition demonstrating support from 75% of residents on the street and 25% of residents on adjacent streets. This ensures community buy-in and shared responsibility for traffic calming measures.
Alt text: Informative road sign illustrating various traffic regulations and safety guidelines.
However, if a street does not meet all qualifications, it can be re-evaluated after two years. In the interim, residents can request “Slow Down for Safety” signs and a speed radar unit at no cost, offering alternative ways to address speeding concerns. Even if the minimum traffic volume isn’t met, but all other criteria are, speed humps may still be possible if the neighborhood provides alternate funding. The petition process remains the same in these cases.
Traffic Signals, Stop Signs, and Speed Limits: Understanding Traffic Control
Beyond speed humps, Greenville County addresses traffic safety through various other measures, working in conjunction with the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) for certain infrastructure. Resources like an scdot street finder can be valuable for understanding which agency is responsible for specific roads and traffic infrastructure.
Traffic Signals: Within Greenville City limits, the City of Greenville owns and maintains traffic signals. However, for all other signals in Greenville County, the SCDOT is responsible. Knowing this jurisdictional division, potentially through an scdot street finder or similar tool, helps residents direct their inquiries to the correct agency.
Stop Signs: Stop signs, while common, are often misused. They are intended to assign right-of-way at intersections. Contrary to popular belief, unwarranted multi-way stops can lead to drivers ignoring the signs, increased accidents, and even more speeding. The Federal Highway Administration has established criteria for multi-way stops, including:
- Approximately equal traffic volume on intersecting roads.
- Main street vehicular volume of at least 300 vehicles per hour for 8 hours of a typical day.
- Combined vehicular and pedestrian volume of at least 200 units per hour for the same 8 hours.
- Sight distance problems.
- Substantial accident history.
Speed Limits: Speed limits are established based on the 85th percentile speed, reflecting the speed at which most drivers are comfortable. Greenville County generally sets 25 mph as the lowest speed limit, as research indicates this is the slowest speed drivers can maintain without constantly braking. Engineering studies are required to warrant changes in speed limits. Shorter roads or roads with curves may not require speed limit signs as their design naturally limits speed. Speed limit signs, often combined with ASTN (Area Speed Traffic Network) signs, are strategically placed at neighborhood entrances to cover road networks efficiently. Additional signs can be installed at the neighborhood’s expense if they meet federal guidelines.
Further Traffic Management Tools: Road Signs and Parking
Greenville County manages other aspects of street infrastructure and safety, while sometimes directing residents to SCDOT or other entities for specific concerns.
Road Name Signs: Greenville County provides standard green road name signs. Requests for overhead street name signs or highway directional signs should be directed to the SCDOT. An scdot street finder or SCDOT contact information could be useful for these inquiries.
Advisory Speed Limits: These yellow signs, placed below warning signs, suggest safe speeds for upcoming road conditions and are usually lower than posted speed limits. While enforcement varies, exceeding advisory speeds can lead to citations or liability in accidents.
Warning Signs: Warning signs are used for unexpected or non-obvious road condition changes. Drivers naturally adjust to visible conditions, so warning signs are installed judiciously at the discretion of the County Traffic Engineer.
“Children at Play” Signs: It’s important to note that “Children at Play” signs are no longer recommended by the Federal Highway Administration. They can create a false sense of security and are ineffective in reducing speeds. The presence of children should be assumed in any residential area, regardless of signs.
Street Lights and On-Street Parking: Greenville County does not manage street lighting, which is typically handled by power providers. On-street parking regulations are usually managed by Home Owners Associations. The county intervenes only if parking becomes a safety hazard, such as obstructing emergency access or stop signs.
Sign and Sight Distance Obstructions: The county addresses vegetation obstructing signs or sight lines on public property. For obstructions on private property, the county will contact the owner. However, vegetation obstructing driveway sight distances is generally a matter for residents to resolve with neighbors or their HOA.
Utilizing Resources for Street Information
For residents of Greenville County seeking to understand street maintenance, traffic regulations, or needing to find specific street-related information, leveraging resources like an scdot street finder or contacting the relevant agencies is essential. Whether it’s inquiring about traffic signals maintained by SCDOT or understanding the process for requesting speed humps from Greenville County, knowing where to turn ensures efficient and effective resolution of neighborhood traffic concerns. By working together and utilizing available resources, residents and local authorities can create safer and more navigable streets for everyone in Greenville County.
