ACHD Proposed Changes in Neighborhood “Speed Calming” Policy
This is a recap of a proposed change in ACHD policy for those requesting speed calming. In the past applicants would need to collect data to prove excessive traffic speed, traffic volume, and cut-through. A cut-through is when traffic passes through a residential neighborhood that did not originate, nor arrive at a destination in that neighborhood. Additionally, a petition for speed mitigation needed signatures from 75% of affected residents. At that point, ACHD would consider if it would pay for the speed mitigation structures, or if the requesting party were responsible.
Under the proposed policy, calming applicants will have to prove either excessive speed or traffic volume in the area — not both — and get the required signatures on their petition. This eliminates the cut-through requirement. ACHD will pay for the cost of the structure installations.
Traffic speed and volume are typically determined by placing tube counters across the road at an agreed-upon location. According to the policy, a street must be over 750 feet in length and have more than 400 cars per day to be considered eligible for traffic calming evaluation. If a street has more than 4,000 vehicles per day, it surpasses the upper limit for traffic calming and is not eligible. Only residential streets and collector roads that have a speed limit of 30 MPH or less are eligible for traffic calming.
The default speed limit in Boise is 20 mph, so the majority of our side streets qualify.
We’re not sure how ADHD would define “affected residents” when requiring signatures. And, while now a moot point, we also don’t know how ACHD would define the boundaries of the “neighborhood” for cut-through.
We are expecting to hear more about where these proposed changes stand over the coming weeks. We’ll keep you posted!
Neighborhood Contact Officer – Presentation – May 16, 2023
Here is the Power Point presentation that was made to your Neighborhood Watch leaders at the West Boise Police Station, Mark Stall Place. There was good attendance and many questions addressed by BPD officers and staff. Many thanks to our BPD community for taking their time to keep our neighborhoods informed and protected!
National Night Out
National Night Out is Tuesday August 1. Registration for Nation Night Out 2023 opens today and runs through July 25, 2023.
Please do not wait until the last minute to register. While we encourage all to enjoy a great time with their neighbors and community, we can only guarantee City representatives (police/fire, etc.) for the first 50 parties to register.
REGISTER HERE: https://www.cityofboise.org/departments/police/national-night-out/register-your-national-night-out-event/
Boise Neighborhood Watch Information and Documents
- When To Contact Police
- When To Call 911
- How To Text 911
- Who Do I Call at City Hall?
- Solicitation
- Reporting Suspicious Behavior
- “Report Hate Crimes” Flyer
- Protecting Your Home
- Neighborhood Watch Brochure
- Neighborhood Contact Officers
- NCO Map – Updated May 2023
- Snow Removal
- Medications Drop-off Locations
- Scam or Fraud? What’s the Difference?
We will be adding updates and new information for Neighborhood Watch and BPD as we receive them.
