Purpose & Context
As part of the SOFTacademy neighbourhood renovation pilot in Mustamäe, a temporary traffic change was implemented to assess the impact of closing the courtyard access points on the TalTech side and routing cars via the internal service street. The goal was to inform a decision on making the closures permanent as part of the comprehensive courtyard redesign.
- Test period: 19 May – 8 June 2025
- Area: Buildings at Akadeemia tee 4, 6, 14 and 22 and the adjacent internal street network
Methods
- Street interviews: 14 semi-structured interviews (pilot residents, nearby residents, passers-by, two delivery drivers).
- Online survey: 158 responses via Maptionnaire (available in Estonian, English, Russian).
- Respondents included residents of the pilot buildings (83), Akadeemia tee 2 (45), and other nearby buildings.
- Field observations & traffic counts: Multiple on-site observations during and after the test period. Peak-hour manual counts measured ~60 vehicles/hour (~1 vehicle/minute) across the internal screenline.
Key Findings
- Courtyard fronts became calmer and safer. Residents—especially in the pilot buildings, older residents, families with children and dog-walkers—reported noticeably less through-traffic, less noise, and improved perceived safety in front of Akadeemia tee 4, 6, 14 and 22.
- Service street saw some additional traffic, but observed volumes were modest. The measured peak of ~1 vehicle/minute is not operationally problematic and did not overload the street.
- Perceptions varied by building.
- Pilot buildings (Akadeemia tee 4/6/14/22): largely positive or neutral.
- Akadeemia tee 2: predominantly negative, citing longer car routes and pressure at nearby junctions; this group was also over-represented in survey responses.
- Other nearby buildings: mostly neutral/mixed.
- Bottlenecks are external to the immediate pilot. Recurrent concerns focused on Ehitajate tee × Keskuse tn and Akadeemia tee × Raja tn junctions during peaks—issues already present before the temporary change.
- Parking impacts varied by location. Some residents reported better availability (fewer non-resident parkers); others reported tighter parking near their buildings.
- Safety perceptions split by street. Courtyard fronts felt safer; some respondents felt the service street required better speed management typical of a shared-space “õueala”.
Position of the Tallinn Transport Department
The Department supports the proposed access closures and routing, noting that the temporary implementation:
- Improves traffic safety,
- Reduces through-traffic, and
- Creates a calmer residential environment, and aligns with Tallinn 2035 objectives.
Support is conditional on: (1) ensured access for emergency and service vehicles, (2) design per applicable standards (incl. EVS 843), and (3) readiness to fine-tune solutions with residents if issues arise.
Resident recommendations (most frequent)
- Traffic calming & safety: speed management on the service street (e.g., physical calming), clear pedestrian routes/markings; some suggested one-way operation if needed.
- Parking management: protect resident parking (marking, permits), prevent verge parking; consider structured parking in the long term.
- Targeted junction measures: mitigate peaks at Ehitajate tee × Keskuse tn and Akadeemia tee × Raja tn (e.g., signal timing during rush hours).
- Infrastructure quality: renew carriageways/footways, improve lighting and signage.
- Engagement: continue communication, especially with Akadeemia tee 2 residents.
Conclusions
- The temporary closure of courtyard access points met its primary objectives: calmer, safer courtyard fronts and limited, manageable traffic shifts to the service street.
- Observed volumes (~1 veh/min at peak) indicate no undue loading of the internal street; remaining issues relate mainly to area-level junctions rather than the pilot configuration itself.
- Proceeding with the closure concept is justified, paired with local calming on the service street and area-wide junction improvements.
Next Steps (study team suggestions)
- Coordinate with the city on signal timing/operations at the two key junctions during peak periods.
- Clarify and, if beneficial, streamline access from Ehitajate tee; consider one-way on the service street if warranted by design.
- Work with the district/city on broader network upgrades (beyond the pilot block) to modernise streets and enhance safety.
- In detailed design, assess shared-space safety measures (physical calming) and parking management to support resident needs.
Study authors: Mattias Malk (MTÜ Elav Tänav) and Priit Ingver (MAB Verte).