Slow Streets - Neighborhood Traffic Calming

Slow Street Sign on Hampton Street

In 2018, Degree® Deodorant and Blue Zones® announced the five cities that were awarded $100,000 each to implement innovative and transformative community projects to help people get moving naturally for generations to come. The Hartford project would host the state’s first bike boulevard on Hampton Street, which became a specially-marked, low-traffic, low-speed street designated for riders of all ages and abilities.

Evaluation and outreach on the program continued in 2022. Based on traffic data and resident surveys, the Hampton Street pilot was found to be an effective traffic calming installation, and the City is working to transition the pilot to a permanent design. In addition, since that time, the City has evolved the Slow Streets program to support safer streets across neighborhoods. Frog Hollow's Babcock/Affleck Streets, West End's Beacon/N Beacon Streets, Lyme/Palm/Granby/Cornwall Streets in Blue Hills, and Garden/Greenfield/Mahl/FD Oates/Pavilion Streets are the current focus areas of the 2023 program. 

As part of the design process, the City is hosting workshops to support community-informed street design. Presentations from those meetings are available below:

Blue Hills Traffic Calming Pilot

NOTICE: The final comment period for the Blue Hills traffic calming pilot is open until January 13, 2023. Want to share your thoughts? Take the survey at: http://tinyurl.com/HartfordTrafficSurvey-BH or reach out to safestreets@hartford.gov. Note, the most recent concept designs are shared below as part of "#3 - Open House" materials.


This past year, the City of Hartford has been working to design slower, safer streets in Blue Hills. After several community conversations and workshops, the team is looking to install a temporary safety improvement pilot project in the neighborhood. 

Past presentations and materials are below. Note, the most recent Blue Hills concept designs are shared below as part of "#3 - Open House" materials.

Want to share your thoughts? Take the survey at:http://tinyurl.com/HartfordTrafficSurvey-BH.

 

West End Traffic Calming Pilot

The City of Hartford is exploring options for Slow Streets on Beacon / N Beacon, Oxford, Whitney / S Whitney, Fern, and Sherman Streets in the West End neighborhood. The concept of Slow Streets is rooted in innovative community-based designs that reduce speeds and make our neighborhood streets safer for users of all types.

In August 2023, the Safe Streets team hosted a public design workshop at the Hartford International University for Religion and Peace. Workshop presentation materials are available at: https://www.hartfordct.gov/files/assets/public/development-services/planning-zoning/pz-documents/cs-projects/slow-streets/westendkickoffmeeting20230808.pdf.

Hillside Traffic Calming

In Southwest / Behind the Rocks, the Safe Streets team is looking to improve traffic safety at Hillside Ave, which has Moylan and Mcdonough schools along the corridor.  

Traffic calming options can vary, from reduced lane widths to street reconfiguration, crosswalk striping, mini islands, new signage, bumpouts, and more. Please see find sample locations and treatment types at: Hillside Concepts - SWBTR Presentation(PDF, 2MB) 

If you have any questions on transportation planning, please contact safestreets@hartford.gov.