Detroit To Spend $11M On Speed Bumps To Slow Drivers In Neighborhoods

Two killed in rollover crash in Detroit
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(WWJ) What's that bump? The city of Detroit is expanding a program to cut down on speeding on neighborhood streets. 

The city's Public Works Director Ron Brundidge, says the city will be installing 1,200 speed bumps this year and 4,500 next year -- at a cost of $11 million.

The streets will be chosen using three criteria including the amount of traffic, how many kids are living on a street and number of police reports for excessive speeding.

Areas where people use neighborhood streets as cut-throughs to avoid major traffic areas will also be considered. The speed hump program first launched as a pilot in 2018, consisted of installing speed humps along a small number of residential side streets among each of the seven City Council Districts with the intention of soliciting resident feedback. Response has been so favorable, the city has responded by increasing the size of the program each year.  

  • 2018 – 32
  • 2019 – 543
  • 2020 – 1,200
  • 2021 – 4,500 (planned)

For the 2021 program, the City has allocated $11.5 million that will come from state transportation funds, as well planned capital projects that have been reprioritized.

“Probably the single biggest neighborhood concern we have been hearing from residents this year is speeding and reckless driving along residential side streets, so it’s not surprising that the speed hump program has become so wildly popular,” said Mayor Duggan. “We know this is a priority for residents, so we are making the expansion of this effort one of our highest priorities for the next year.”

The speed humps are one part of the city’s traffic calming efforts to increase overall neighborhood safety and slow down motorists in those areas with high pedestrian traffic. In 2020, streets adjacent to city parks and schools were given priority. In 2021, the city will continue to prioritize streets that have the greatest impact on making our residential neighborhoods safer.

Some of the determining factors for a street to receive a speed hump will include:

The 4,500 locations for speed humps will be on streets with a 25 mph speed limit. Installation will start next spring on sites determined by the road engineering department based on 3 criteria:

  • Traffic counts on street
  • Number of children living on the street
  • DPD or other reports of excessive speeding on the street

Specific emphasis will be placed on streets often used as a cut-through, or shortcut to bypass major road traffic.

“Each location will be evaluated and selected based on these criteria, so each neighborhood is treated equally,” said DPW Director Ron Brundidge. “Our hope is that the additional 4,500 speed humps will help to create safer neighborhoods across the city for pedestrians, motorists, cyclists and anyone else traveling on our residential streets.”

The new speed humps will be installed by a combination of city workers and contractors. The city is looking to work with smaller, Detroit based, minority-owned asphalt companies to complete this work. Interested parties should contact DPW this season at 313-224-3901, to develop an understanding of the required work, and what they will need to do to put themselves in a position to bid on the work next year. Work is expected to begin in Spring of 2021.

For a complete list of installed speed humps visit https://detroitmi.gov/speedhumps.