Ballston Spa slows cars with signs that have “technology packed inside”
The Client
Ballston Spa, a charming village nestled in the heart of upstate New York, is known for its scenic landscapes, tight-knit community, and rich history. Located near Saratoga Springs, the village serves as a peaceful residential area with a mix of local businesses and recreational spaces. Ballston Spa prides itself on being a community-oriented village, with local government prioritizing safety and quality of life for its residents. With a population of around 5,000 people, the village is small enough to foster a close connection between residents, yet it faces challenges typical of small towns, such as efficiently managing traffic and maintaining safety on its streets.
The Challenge
One of the major concerns in Ballston Spa is speeding, particularly in areas near schools and busy pedestrian zones. Certain roads, like a wide boulevard feeding into a school zone, were plagued by drivers routinely exceeding speed limits—sometimes by as much as 15 miles per hour. Another area, with senior housing and a fairgrounds area, was often plagued by speeders despite the vulnerable populations in the area.
The village needed a solution that was both effective and non-invasive, avoiding drastic measures that could disrupt the flow of traffic. With a limited police force, they wanted a solution that had proven effective in slowing speeders. But they also wanted detailed traffic data so they could chart improvements and pinpoint when and where enforcement was still needed.
The Solution
In response to the growing concern, Ballston Spa decided to install radar speed signs to address the speeding issues. While they’ve tried other signs in the past, they particularly liked the Traffic Logix signs because of all the “technology packed inside.” While initially, they used signs from another company, Mayor Rossi sought an upgrade to a system that could provide more than just flashing speed readings. The village turned to Traffic Logix solar powered radar signs because they offered advanced features like cloud connectivity and data collection, allowing the village to gather valuable insights about traffic patterns.
The installation included four Traffic Logix radar speed signs, deployed at various locations including Saratoga Avenue and Fairground Avenue. The cloud feature was particularly appealing to the village, as it allowed them to track data in real-time and adjust the settings as needed. This was especially useful in identifying problem areas, such as the hill on Fairground Avenue, where drivers often failed to slow down, despite the presence of the sign.
Additionally, the signs’ flexibility in setting thresholds for speed limits and their messaging capabilities gave the village an extra tool to engage with the community. Through social media platforms like Facebook, Mayor Rossi is able to communicate directly with residents, urging them to slow down and reinforcing the idea that speeding would lead to increased enforcement.
The Benefits
The impact of the radar signs has been overwhelmingly positive for Ballston Spa. The village has seen a significant decrease in speeding, particularly in areas where residents had raised concerns. For example, in the neighborhood with senior housing and children near Fairground Avenue, the signs made a marked difference, raising awareness among drivers. The signs’ ability to capture real-time data provided valuable insights into driver behavior, such as the 50% compliance rate on the hill—an issue that would have otherwise gone unnoticed without the data provided by the radar signs.
Moreover, the cloud-based system enabled Ballston Spa to collect traffic data that may help reduce engineering costs for future traffic studies.
Mayor Rossi noted that the data could be crucial in making informed decisions about road safety and speed limits, including the possibility of lowering the village-wide speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph, as authorized by New York state. The data collected by the radar signs will help the village engineers assess the need for such a change.
The village plans to expand the use of the radar signs to improve safety with the goal of installing more than 12 by next year.
“The data really helps guide us,” noted Mayor Frank Rossi, “But the biggest thing is compliance. Drivers often don’t notice that they’re speeding. But they see their speeds flash, notice a slow down message, and really lower their speeds. It’s having a positive effect on folks and they’re getting the message.”
Ultimately, the radar speed signs have given Ballston Spa a combination of technology, data, and community engagement that is helping them achieve their goal of safer streets. By integrating these signs into the fabric of their traffic safety strategy, the village has not only improved driver behavior but has also built a foundation for informed decision-making and greater community involvement.