Tacoma Traffic Calming Simulation Study of NE 56th Corridor
Project Description
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The City of Tacoma plans to implement traffic calming measures on some streets
as part of the Six-Year Comprehensive Transportation Program. Mirai
completed a traffic calming simulation project using macro simulation (Synchro)
and micro simulation (SimTraffic) models to perform an analysis for S 56th
Street, the City’s chosen pilot project. South 56th Street is a principal arterial in
South Tacoma connecting I-5 to the University Place area. We estimated and
visualized the effects of converting S 56th Street Corridor from five lanes to three
lanes between Puget Sound Avenue and Oakes Street.
The effects of the lane reduction were studied using macro simulation and micro
simulation traffic models. The simulation models were used to show the traffic
operations on the corridor and neighboring streets before and after the
conversion to three lanes. Our analysis showed that the road diet measures
would not necessarily work in future years when the traffic volumes would
overgrow the reduced capacity on the arterial. The results were presented to the
City Council who found that both technically and visually, the simulations very
effectively conveyed the potential impacts of Traffic Calming measures.
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