What are speed humps and speed lumps?
Speed humps/lumps are raised "bumps" placed across residential streets. They are designed to calm traffic in residential areas and near parks and schools. The City of Sacramento began constructing raised devices in 1980 in response to neighborhood speeding problems. Speed humps are twelve feet wide, 3 1/4" to 3 3/4" high and extend across the width of the road. Speed Lumps are similar to speed humps with the exception that they have at least one cut-out five feet six inch wide designed to accommodate the wheelbase of fire trucks and buses. The City has found that speed lumps are just as effective as speed humps. Currently speed lumps are primarily used. See pictures of this devices.
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Which streets should have them?
Unless chronic speeding problems exist on your street, speed lumps are not warranted. Traffic control, such as police enforcement, is usually a better alternative. Speed lumps are used for streets where traditional methods of slowing traffic have not been effective. A residential street will qualify for the city's speed lump program based on the following criteria:
- The two-lane street must be mainly residential or
else have a park or school on the street.
- The residential street (or the part being considered)
must be at least 750 feet long with no four-way intersections.
- There can be no other traffic control devices
on the street segment such as four-way stop signs,
traffic signals, etc.
- The speed limit must be 30 miles per hour or less.
- Speeding of 5 mph or higher over the speed limit occurs on the street.
- Street must be approved by Regional Transit and
the Fire Department.
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What are the drawbacks of speed lumps?
Aside from the inconvenience of construction, some people prefer not to have speed lumps placed near their driveways. Some are opposed to metal bollards placed adjacent to the lumps which keep motorists from driving on sidewalks to avoid the lumps. Others fear that those speeding over the lumps will be noisy or the lumps will devalue their homes. Due to engineering studies that must be completed for each street, speed lumps are expensive and generally installed once each year. Although this system saves money, some streets which qualify for speed lumps can wait a few years.
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How do I get them on my street?
To initiate a study, a petition requesting speed lumps must be signed by at least 10 residents from separate households and submitted to the Department of Transportation. Traffic engineers will then collect the necessary information to determine if your street qualifies. If your street qualifies, it will be ranked and placed on a speed lump priority list.
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How are streets selected?
To ensure that every neighborhood gets fair and consistent consideration, three speed lump priority lists are maintained for residential streets, bypass streets and streets with parks or schools. Traffic engineers rank the streets on each list according to the following criteria:
- Average number of vehicles that use the street per day.
- Speed at which vehicles travel on the street.
- Number of residences, parks or schools facing the street.
Although a street may be near the top of one of these priority lists, installation of speed lumps is not guaranteed. In order to be considered, there must be enough funding in the program budget to build speed lumps and affected residents must demonstrate overwhelming support. Typically, the program budget allows for speed lumps construction on 10 to 16 streets each year. A voting ballot is mailed to all residents living on the street under consideration. One vote is allocated per household and two-thirds of the ballots returned to the city must be in favor of the speed lumps to authorize construction.
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What if I want to pay for speed lumps myself?
If your street qualifies for speed lumps, but has not been funded by the City, you may pay for installation yourself. The cost will include design, construction and inspection of the City, speed lumps. Your street must meet all qualifications including two-thirds majority approval through the ballot process. Your neighborhood must have the funding and obtain approval from the Department of Transportation before speed lumps may be installed. The cost of a speed lump and associated signage is approximately $3,000.
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What are the guidelines for Speed Lumps?
Take a look at this document (you
need to have Acrobat Reader to view this file).
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Forms & Publications
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