High traffic speeds along Acacia Way in the Verrado community has sparked the latest in a series of “traffic-calming” efforts by Buckeye planners.
John Willett, Buckeye’s senior traffic engineer, said the city has been working on traffic speeds for several years on Acacia Way between Indian School Road and West Nelson Place.
Stop signs were first installed at two locations, then speed limit signs were installed at five locations; those two efforts dropped average speeds down to close to 25-mph speed limits, Willett said.
“That’s where we get to the project’s that’s before you,” Willett said when asked about the project by members of the Buckeye City Council on Tuesday.
Next? Bring on the chicanes, or physical barriers that force drivers to carefully drive around obstacles in the road.
Willet said the city plans to construct the barriers in several locations along Acacia Way.
“They’re more like footballs or long footballs; some look like a hot dog to narrow the roadway down a little bit so it gives the concept of ‘you need to slow down.’”
“It’s been a multi-step project process to make Acacia a safer thoroughfare,” said Vice Mayor Clay Goodman.
Willett said the project is part of a plan to continue Acacia Way through to McDowell Road, making even more of a thoroughfare.
Planning for placement of the chicanes included consideration for existing driveways so they don’t prevent residents from getting in and out of the properties.
“Putting in these traffic calmings doesn’t negate personal responsibilities,” Goodman said. “If it says 25, people should be driving 25.
“It’s one of the things that my constituents talk to me about on a regular basis,” Goodman said. “I just want to thank the city for taking those efforts and trying to make that roadway a little safer.”
The cost to the city for the project is estimated at $372,515. A timeline for the project has not yet been announced.
8 Responses
The residents who live along Acacia Way will walk in safety. Reducing the speeders is critical. The Litchfield Elementary School students are at risk crossing the street to enter the school bus stops. The Verrado Students who walk to school are at risk because of the high speeders. There have been serious accident’s. Please slow down and stay the speed limit at 25 MPH Thank You The new motorcycle Buckeye Police team should be on this location with their new motorcycles. I hope the training that they receive will translate to slower drivers.
Thank you, the other day I was turning left from western onto Acacia. I saw a car driving south on Acacia at a high rate of speed. I waited because I didn’t think the car was going to stop at the stop sign on Acacia and western. I was right had I proceeded out to my left turn. I would’ve been T-bone by this car , running a stop sign and going about 45 miles an hour. I hope this helps slow down traffic.
I sure it’s too late for my two cents but these chicanes will do nothing to detour drivers from using Acacia Way as a shortcut. I live on Acacia near lost creek and I have followed cars turning on Thomas from Verrado way to Acacia then drive well above the speed limit on their way to Indian school. The installed stop signs help until they get to lost creek then it’s padel to the medal to Indian school. The proposed plan will not show down or detour people from using Acacia Way as a shortcut ! Then there is the issue of the new mall opening. Its going to be a super highway from Indian School to the mall. The only thing that will detour drivers away from Acacia Way is big speed bumps. Chicanes will not work !
I sure it’s too late for my two cents but these chicanes will do nothing to detour drivers from using Acacia Way as a shortcut. I live on Acacia near lost creek and I have followed cars turning on Thomas from Verrado way to Acacia then drive well above the speed limit on their way to Indian school. The installed stop signs help until they get to lost creek then it’s padel to the medal to Indian school. The proposed plan will not detour people from using Acacia Way as a shortcut ! Then there is the issue of the new mall opening. Its going to be a super highway from Indian School to the mall. The only thing that will detour drivers away from Acacia Way is big speed bumps. Chicanes will not work !
BTW your comment on making Acacia way a thoroughfare to McDowell is absolutely ridiculous ! You obviously don’t live on Acacia. It’s a neighborhood street !!!!
This is about the craziest thing I’ve heard.
I live off of Acacia and they could get the better results by putting a few more all way stops along the way. It would also make it easier for some of us getting across an Acacia during those morning going to school times. In the best part, it would be a fraction of the cost.
We should also be looking at Sunrise. The speed limit is 30 miles an hour and there are 3 motorcycles that fly down Sunrise from Montebello. One or two turn off on Tiger Mountain and pay no attention to the speed or the people. This has also become an issue with the drivers going down Sunrise as well. Would be great to see something between Montebello and Tiger Mountain as well as several from Tiger Mountain to Indian School.
We should also be looking at Sunrise. The speed limit is 30 miles an hour and there are 3 motorcycles that fly down Sunrise from Montebello. One or two turn off on Tiger Mountain and pay no attention to the speed or the people. This has also become an issue with the drivers going down Sunrise as well. Would be great to see something between Montebello and Tiger Mountain as well as several from Tiger Mountain to Indian School.