Low traffic neighbourhood LTN

A low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) is a scheme where motor vehicle traffic in residential streets is greatly reduced. Other terms describing similar approaches to highway and neighbourhood planning include: homezones or home zone residential areas, traffic management schemes, people friendly streets, modal filters, play streets, school street schemes, pedestrian priority schemes, pedestrian priority streets and so on.

The definition of a low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) used in the Statutory guidance - Implementing low traffic neighbourhoods published by the UK government reads "An area-wide traffic management scheme aimed at reducing or removing through traffic from residential areas, put in place using traffic signed restrictions or physical measures such as planters or bollards."

Sustrans defines the way low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) are created as being "by minimising the amount of traffic that comes from vehicles using the streets to get to another destination. This is often referred to as ‘through-traffic’ or ‘rat-running’. Private motorised vehicles still have easy access to all homes and businesses without driving directly through the neighbourhood. This opens up networks of streets so people can safely travel through the area on foot, bicycle, by wheeling or by bus. Emergency vehicles can also be prioritised to reach their destinations quicker.

"Traffic is reduced by using temporary or permanent barriers called “modal filters”. These can include putting up bollards or planters. Or they can be camera operated. Residents and businesses still have access to the neighbourhood by motor vehicle using different routes, but through-traffic is greatly reduced." Low Traffic Neighbourhoods; Research report. March 2024

In 2023 the Department for Transport commissioned a review of low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs)

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