The City of South Bend’s Department of Public Works has begun installing 13 new speed humps in residential areas.
The following information about the speed humps was sent to 95.3 MNC from the city:
Speed humps are one of several traffic calming measures used to reduce vehicle speeds and create safer streets. Although most neighborhoods have a posted speed limit of 30 mph or lower, many drivers frequently speed through these residential streets.
“We reached out to residents to better understand their concerns and where the speed humps were needed,” says Kara Boyles, city engineer. “It is a physical and appropriate solution to reduce speeding, encourage responsible driving and enhance safety on residential streets.”
The following locations were chosen based on neighborhood input and factors such as traffic volume and speed studies:
- Foster Street from Peashway Street to St. Vincent Street
- Lathrop Place between Riverside Drive and Inglewood Place
- Lawrence Street from Peashway Street to St. Vincent Street
- Napoleon Street from Lawrence Street to St. Louis Boulevard
- Pokagon Street from Leeper Avenue to Lawrence Street
- South Street from Michigan Street to Lincolnway East
During construction, the streets listed above will close for approximately two weeks while the speed humps are installed. The project is expected to be completed by the end of October, weather permitting.
Speeding on residential streets is one of the most common concerns that the City receives from residents on a regular basis. Since 2015, the City has installed a variety of traffic calming measures and demonstrations such as speed humps, chicanes and traffic circles in residential neighborhoods.
The City is already looking at other areas where traffic concerns have been documented in order to implement the next round of traffic calming measures. Traffic volumes, speed studies, site visits, surrounding area characteristics and a signed petition showing neighborhood support are some of the factors used to determine if a traffic calming measure is needed. Residents can submit traffic concerns in their neighborhoods by filling out a Traffic Concern Form at southbendin.gov/engineering.
