Traffic Calming is a term used to describe any measures taken to discourage speeding and cut-through traffic on residential streets.  Cut-through traffic can be defined as vehicles that cut through a neighborhood in order to reduce the time it takes to reach a given destination.  Traffic calming measures are limited to local residential streets and residential collectors.

In order for a given residential street to be eligible for a Traffic Calming Study, all the following conditions must be met:

• The street must be publicly maintained and within the city limits of Hoover.
• The posted speed limit must be 35 mph or less (25 mph or less for in-roadway structures). 
• The street or roadway must not be designated as an arterial or State Highway (or a collector street for in-roadway structures).
• There must not be more than one lane of traffic moving in each direction. 
• No in-roadway structures will be installed that would impede the main public safety routes.

When a neighborhood representative contacts the City to discuss neighborhood traffic problems or concerns, the representative will be asked to complete a Traffic Calming Request Form and submit it to the Traffic Engineer’s office.  This Traffic Calming Request Form can be obtained by contacting the Traffic Engineer’s office. Note that this form is part of the City’s Neighborhood Traffic Calming Policy Package, and includes general instructions on completing the request form, the procedures involved in conducting the Traffic Calming Study and the minimum volume and speed survey requirements that must be met to warrant/justify the installation of traffic calming devices.