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Consultants present street-calming and walkability plan for East Aurora
Summary
Visiting consultants laid out a plan for lowering target speeds to about 20 mph, installing mini-circles, raised crossings and separated bike lanes on priority streets; residents asked about school-peak traffic, parking and working with state DOT on state-owned roads.
Consultants leading a multi-day walkability study presented specific traffic-calming and design proposals to East Aurora residents on the town’s options to slow traffic, improve crossings and expand safe biking and walking.
At the public meeting, a consultant summarized the team’s central recommendation: choose a community “target speed” and design streets to meet it. “The most important thing is getting those speeds down to that 20 mile per hour preferred speed,” Consultant Connor said, describing plans for Main Street, Oakwood and Girard. The presenters described a menu of tools — neighborhood mini-circles, curb extensions, raised crosswalks and narrowed lanes — intended to reduce speeds without stopping traffic.
Presenters pointed to case studies where lane reductions and pedestrian-friendly redesigns produced safety and economic benefits. One consultant said a four-to-two lane conversion in a Minnesota town, coupled with added parking, helped crashes fall by roughly 73 percent. The team also cited examples where municipal health-care costs fell after improved active-transportation opportunities.
The consultants emphasized quick-build pilot projects that can be tried with temporary materials before permanent construction. “You can put it in for a year with temporary materials and then, if the neighborhood wants it, turn it into a permanent park,” the presenter said, describing the pavement-to-parks approach and weekend pop-up trials.
On the technical side, presenters urged narrowing travel lanes (recommended 10 feet for urban areas), use of “edge lane” treatments on lower-speed streets, park-assist lanes and gateway roundabouts at village entries to change driver expectations. They also recommended raised crossings or two-stage crossings at long driveways and intersections where pedestrians now cross large expanses of pavement.
The consultants closed by inviting residents to mark maps with suggested priority streets and said a final digital report will reflect that input and additional technical recommendations.
The presentation concluded without formal votes; consultants said next steps include more walking audits, prioritized pilot projects and a final report to be delivered to the village.
