Traffic Calming Procedures

The Baltimore City Department of Transportation (BCDOT) is committed to making our city’s streets safer for everyone while minimizing impacts to traffic operations. Using a combination of traffic control devices and traffic calming measures, we can can increase safety for all users of the roadway. BCDOT's Traffic Calming Procedures provides information that will help to guide your request for traffic calming options in your neighborhood. Our process helps us identify intersections and corridors of concern, analyze existing conditions, and provide a plan for safety mitigation.

Residents wishing to request traffic calming measures on their street can submit a request through 311 on the website or by calling 3-1-1, within City of Baltimore or 443-263-2220 (Outside City). Residents are encouraged to submit as much information as possible (i.e., contact information, location, street boundaries, etc.). Once we receive the request, BCDOT will begin a Traffic Safety Assessment at the location of the request. BCDOT will begin an investigation to determine if traffic calming is feasible. Arterial roads, along with designated truck and bus routes may require different treatments than smaller residential streets.

Upon availability, BCDOT’s Traffic Division will deploy a Speed Sentry Test camera to capture activity at the requested location for 7 days. If the data collected from the Speed Sentry Test camera indicates enough volume and speed to warrant traffic calming devices, a request will be submitted for design. If the data does not indicate sufficient volume and speed, the request will be denied. In either case, the requestor will be emailed and/or mailed a letter of the determination.

If BCDOT’s Traffic Division decides to incorporate traffic calming measures along a particular roadway, the completed design will be sent to the Baltimore City Fire Department for review. Upon approval of the design, the affected community members and appropriate City Council representative will be contacted. Residents will be given 2 weeks to provide feedback to BCDOT on the recommended treatment. A variety of methods will be available for residents to share their opinions. Traffic calming measures can only be installed with a majority consensus from the affected residents and with funding availability. Traffic calming devices are then installed as soon as the weather and work schedules permit.