Traffic Calming - Curb Extensions - Portland Transportation

Traffic Calming
Curb Extensions

DESCRIPTION:

Curb extensions narrow the street by widening the sidewalk or the landscaped parking strip.

PURPOSE:

These devices are employed to make pedestrian crossings easier and to narrow the roadway.

EFFECTIVENESS:

Curb extensions effectively improve pedestrian safety by reducing the street crossing distance and improving sight distance. They may also slightly influence driver behavior by changing the appearance of the street. They can be installed either at intersections or midblock.

Advantages

Disadvantages

Reduce pedestrian crossing distance and time

Make pedestrian crossing points more visible to drivers

Prevent vehicles from passing other vehicles that are turning

May visually enhance the street through landscaping

Do not slow fire vehicles

Require some parking removal

May make it difficult to accommodate full bicycle lanes

COST:

Curb extensions costs $7,000-10,000.

PARKING IMPACTS:

Curb extensions may occupy street area otherwise available for curbside parking.

TRANSIT SERVICE IMPACTS:

Curb extensions do not adversely affect transit service. Curb extensions at transit stops enhance service by moving the curb so riders step directly between the sidewalk and bus door.

EMERGENCY SERVICES IMPACTS:

None.

NOISE IMPACTS:

None.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:

Where the crowns of the street are steep, curb extensions may actually go "uphill" because the new curb is higher than the original curb. If poorly designed, this can result in puddles on the sidewalk.

EXAMPLES IN PORTLAND:

SE Harold, between 52nd and Foster Rd.
SE 11th and 12th, between Division and Hawthorne Blvd.
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