SPRINGFIELD SPEEDS TRAFFIC MOVEMENT

Increased automobile registration for each succeeding year since World War II has imposed severe strain on the street system of most municipalities. This problem is not, however, confined to larger cities alone. Smaller cities throughout the country, strangled with traffic congestion, and suffering huge economic losses due to traffic accidents, have also found it necessary to derive greater efficiency from their existing street and highway network.

The relatively new science of Traffic Engineering has been applied with significant success in relieving the traffic problem of many communities, both large and small.

In 1955 the City of Springfield established a Traffic Engineering Department and secured the services of a full time executive to administer traffic matters. Traffic functions which had previously been spread out among a multitude of city agencies were consolidated and placed under the sole responsibility of the Traffic Engineering Department.

An example of traffic engineering in action is shown in the aerial photograph (at left) of South Grand Avenue in Springfield. This street carries approximately 20,000 cars per day, many of which are out-of-town drivers following Routes 36, 54, and 66 through the City. Accidents in the 5 block stretch shown at left totalled 81 during an 18 'month period. Many of the acci-

SKYVIEW, SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS

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Illinios Municipal Review 177 August, 1958

SPRINGFIELD SPEEDS TRAFFIC MOVEMENT

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dents resulted from inadequate street width and lack of provisions for making left turns. Average speed of traffic flow during the morning and evening rush hour was only 8 miles per hour.

Comprehensive traffic studies indicated that the accident and congestion problem could best be resolved by establishing a center left turn lane and prohibiting all curb parking on the 48 ft. street.

The result was an immediate improvement in traffic flow. Average speeds during the rush hours increased to 21 miles per hour. The more orderly flow of traffic resulting from the new left turning provisions are certain to decrease the accident rate, according to the Springfield Traffic Engineering Department.

John E. Hartley, Springfield Traffic Engineer, in commenting on the improvement says, "The South Grand traffic improvement project is a typical example of how urban traffic congestion and accident problems can be minimized through the application of engineering techniques designed specifically to derive more efficiency from existing street systems."

Illinios Municipal Review 180 August, 1958