The main goal of Tactical Urbanism is to objectively improve the safety of dangerous roadways and intersections. To prove or disprove the efficacy of any project, we must gather data and compare it against an established baseline. To view pre-installation results for 2026, view our article here.
Just as we did earlier this summer, we conducted four speed studies and two yield studies.
Washington & Madison
Speeds through Washington And Madison fell by 2 MPH in both directions of travel, compared to the pre-installation study for 2026. This is a smaller reduction than the 4 MPH drop in speeds after installation at this intersection in 2025.
This smaller reduction may be due to design changes. The 2025 installation included yellow centerline delineators, which the 2026 installation did not. The delineators were removed from the 2026 design due to reports from abutters that large vehicles such as trash trucks and buses would strike them when making turns onto or from Washington Avenue. Without these delineators, drive lanes would feel less narrow, preventing a more substantial speed reduction.
Vehicles yield rates greatly improved after installation. In both pre-install and post install studies, 40 staged crossing were conducted. Before installation, 17 crossings (42.5%) had at least one driver fail to yield to a pedestrian set to cross. After installation, only 7 crossings (17.5%) did. The installation made drivers more aware and more attentive to pedestrians.
Congress & Avon
Speeds through Congress & Avon fell by 2 MPH in both directions of travel, compared to the pre-installation study. We do not have 2025 data to compare against, as this is the first year we have installed anything at this location. Prior traffic calming installations at this intersection were conducted by other organizations.
Hanover & Lancaster
Results for this intersection are inconclusive due to the the very low amount of traffic that traveled through this intersection during our study periods. During the one hour post-installation period, only 29 vehicles moved through the intersection. With a lack of datapoints, we cannot draw a conclusion one way or the other.
Anecdotally, we did notice that some vehicles were moving so slowly that the radar gun utilized was unable to measure their speed.
Park & Weymouth
Eastbound speeds fell by 4 MPH, but westbound speeds experienced no change. We aren’t certain why only eastbound speeds fell when westbound speeds did not. We also do not have 2025 data to compare against, as this is the first year we have installed anything at this location. As far as we know, this is also the first time any organization has installed traffic calming here.
Vehicle yield rates greatly improved after installation. 41 staged crossings were conducted. Before installation, 31 crossings (75.6%) had at least one driver fail to yield to a pedestrian set to cross. After installation, 17 crossings (41.4%) had a driver fail to yield. The installation made drivers more aware and more attentive to pedestrians.
