photo by: contributed photo

A median diverter at 8th and Alabama streets in Old West Lawrence is pictured on Nov. 23, 2021.

The pilot program of a new traffic control method in the Old West Lawrence neighborhood is entering its next phase, which will include a review of traffic data and potential revisions to the temporary traffic diverters currently in place.

The Old West Lawrence Neighborhood Association applied to be part of the Neighborhood Traffic Management Pilot Program, and the temporary diverters were installed in November and will be in place until the spring. The diverters, which prohibit motorists from making certain turns or entering streets at certain intersections, are meant to reduce cut-through traffic and have been met with mixed reactions from residents, as the Journal-World reported.

Since the installation, the city and the neighborhood association have “received a wealth of valuable feedback, both positive and negative” about the traffic diverters, according to a city news release. The city is working with JEO Consulting Group on the pilot program, and city staff and consultants are now compiling traffic data from the last month and will begin comparing it to data collected prior to the installation. Following the evaluation, city staff may decide to adjust some of the devices and collect further data before entering the next phase of public feedback for the program.

photo by: City of Lawrence

A map shows the locations of nine temporary traffic calming devices installed as part of a pilot program in Old West Lawrence.

In the next phase, the city will hold an open house where the project team will share the traffic count data and collect input from community members. The open house will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 25, in the auditorium of the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont St. Residents can drop in throughout the event to review the data, discuss the project with the project team, and fill out a feedback form

The project team will use the feedback and data to put together a recommendation regarding a possible permanent installation that will be sent to the Multimodal Transportation Commission for review. The transportation commission’s recommendation will go to the City Commission, which will make the final decision about the project.

More information about the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program is available at Lawrenceks.org/mso/safer-speeds.