Salem, MA: Traffic Calming and Shared Streets in Witch City

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in late Summer 2020 the City of Salem partnered with Neighborways Design to implement a shared streets pilot. Adopting local and national best practice design principles, the Salem Shared Streets initiative created additional open space for residents by opening low-volume and residential side-streets - streets who typically have under 2,000 vehicles per day - to pedestrians, cyclists, and other users while maintaining access to resident, delivery, public works and emergency vehicles. 

Taking inspiration from the City’s existing Neighborhood Traffic Calming program, the staff of the Salem Traffic Department selected five streets throughout the City which had received requests for calming and helped to connect residents, particularly those living in vulnerable communities, to essential services. 

For traffic calming, temporary speed humps, planters and painted curb extensions served the needs of a quick-build approach while limiting the amount of materials which could be altered during day-to-day movement in the public right-of-way. Additional signage and temporary barriers were added at the entrance of the selected streets in order to assist with the diversion of traffic.

Community engagement efforts were supported by public discussions about the pilot during three Traffic Commission meetings and four community walk audits. Online surveying to solicit user feedback yielded over 800 responses which helped to drive qualitative data collection for the pilot.

Quantitatively, the pilot resulted in overall a 56% reduction in daily traffic volume on the selected streets. Speeding was also significantly reduced, resulting in 86%, 90% and 26% reductions, respectively, in % over 25 mph, % over 30 mph and max speeds (MPH).

Qualitatively, public support for speed reduction efforts was well documented, while support for diversion and an extension of the pilot remained split among abutting and non-abutting residents. 

With over 90 volunteers signed-up to support future traffic calming efforts, the pilot reveals a desire by members of the Salem community to join the planning and design process during future implementation. With an engaged community and a robust set of lessons learned, the Salem Shared Streets Pilot offers a prime example for the use of tactical, quick-build methodology as the foundation for future improvements and a safer, more active Salem.

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Neighborways Design is a planning and design firm specializing in transportation, art, and community engagement. Our vision is to build networks of slow, welcoming streets inviting everyone; places that prioritize people – children to older adults - walking and biking. Learn more about our work at neighborways.com and by find us on social media. LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram.