photo by: City of Lawrence

A map shows the locations and types of 23 traffic-calming devices recommended for Old West Lawrence. The red rectangle represents a speed hump, the triangle a speed cushion, the circle a traffic circle, and the blue rectangle a "choker."

City leaders will soon consider approving the design of permanent traffic calming measures for Old West Lawrence after approximately 1.5 years of the neighborhood piloting different configurations of temporary measures.

As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will consider proceeding with a $306,250 design that includes 23 traffic calming devices — made up of a mix of four types of devices — to slow traffic and discourage cut-thru traffic.

JEO Consulting Group, the traffic engineering firm that has been working with the city and the neighborhood on the project, is recommending a concept that consists of eight speed humps, two speed cushions, six chicanes (a type of curb extension) and seven traffic circles. The chicanes extend into the street, forming what is called a choker, essentially a narrowing of the road at midblock intended to reduce vehicle speeds, according to presentation materials.

photo by: City of Lawrence

A city presentation slide shows a schematic of a choker, a type of traffic-calming device.

The OWL Neighborhood Association applied to be part of the Neighborhood Traffic Management Pilot Program in 2021, and the first configuration of temporary traffic diverters was installed in November 2021. The first installation was met with mixed reactions from OWL residents, with some expressing frustration at having to take longer routes to and from their homes. Two more configurations were subsequently piloted. JEO collected traffic volume data, traffic speed data and input from neighbors after each configuration, ultimately arriving at the final configuration and the recommendation for the permanent installation.

The city’s Multi-modal Transportation Commission reviewed the concept in March and is recommending it for approval. The project is part of the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program. City staff is recommending that the speed humps, speed cushions and chicanes be constructed in 2023 and the traffic circles be constructed in 2024. The memo states that completing the construction over two years will help spread the cost over two budget years of the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program.

The Lawrence City Commission will convene at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 6 E. Sixth St.