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Pedestrian Safety | Signal Warrant Studies | Multi-way Stop Studies
Street Closure Permits | 2010 Traffic Count Update
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Spanish Town Parking District
Regulations Baton Rouge Residential
Traffic Calming Initiative Manual
Mission Statement
The Traffic Engineering Division will
provide safe and efficient movement of traffic in the Parish through
the optimal use and maintenance of the most appropriate traffic
control devices or equipment. This will be accomplished in a
professional manner using the most efficient procedures possible by a
qualified and trained staff that are sensitive to the public needs. It
is the goal of the division to maximize use of the resources while
streamlining the procedures providing for the safe and efficient
movement of traffic. We want to respond quickly and eliminate
complaints allowing the division to productively process customer
needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Additional Frequently Asked Questions
May I have a "children at play" sign on my street?
National standards, Louisiana State policy and the City of Baton
Rouge policy do not recognize the "Children at play" signs for these
reasons: warning signs are designed and intended to advise motorists
of an unusual or unexpected physical roadway condition ahead. Signs
such as this give the wrong message to both children and parents,
fostering a false sense of security. There is no evidence to show that
these signs help reduce the number of pedestrian accidents or lower
travel speeds.
Federal standards do not support these signs because the signs are
suggesting that it is acceptable behavior for children to play in the
streets.
May I have a speed limit sign on my street?
In accordance with Louisiana State law,
the speed limit in a residential or business district is 30 MPH with
or without the presence of a speed limit sign. Although not required,
30 MPH speed limit signs may be posted at entrances to residential or
business areas. Multiple postings of 30 MPH speed limit signs on
residential streets not only detracts from a neighborhood's curb
appeal, but it often fails to achieve the desired result of reducing
the speed of motorists.
Louisiana State Law allows local
authorities to determine and/or change the maximum speed limit for all
streets within their respective jurisdiction to a reasonable and safe
speed based on engineering and traffic investigations.
The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control
Devices (MUTCD) published by the United States Department of
Transportation and the Federal Administration Highway is the national
set of standards for traffic engineering. The MUTCD recommends that
the following six factors be evaluated to establish safe and
reasonable speed zones.
Roadway characteristics such as
shoulder condition, grade, alignment, and sight distances.
Speed characteristics such as the 85th
percentile speed.
Roadside development and friction.
Roadway curves and hazardous locations on and along the roadway.
Parking and pedestrian activity.
How does a traffic signal know if a car is present?
There is a wire in the pavement behind the crosswalk called a loop
detector. The wire creates an electric field in the air above the
pavement. When a large object interrupts the electric field, the
signal knows that a vehicle is present and will provide a green light
at the proper time in the established traffic signal cycle. During
peak travel times, the wait will be a maximum of two minutes. During
non-peak travel times, the wait is a maximum of 90 seconds.
Some people think that if they back up and drive forward again,
they will make the signal change quicker. This does not work. The
mechanism does not count the number of vehicles waiting.
At some locations, motorcycles or "high-rider" vehicles will not be
able to interrupt the electrical field. If this occurs, please note
the street, the intersection, the lane, and the time of day and report
this to the Traffic Engineering Division. Some people feel that if
they get out of their car and push the pedestrian button, they will
get the green light quicker. They will not. The pedestrian push-button
does not make the green light come on sooner. It does make the green
light longer. It takes longer for a person to walk across a street
than it takes for a car to drive across a street.
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