Item No. 3
Town of Atherton
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT – STUDY SESSION
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
GEORGE RODERICKS, CITY MANAGER
FROM: GABRIELA RUIZ, PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATE ENGINEER
VIA: ROBERT OVADIA, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
DATE: DECEMBER 3, 2025
SUBJECT: SPEED HUMP SURVEY RESULTS AND RECOMMENDATION
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Council provide feedback and direction for speed humps located throughout the Town.
BACKGROUND
The Town has installed speed humps throughout the Town as part of its Neighborhood Traffic Management Action Plan (NTMAP) approved by the City Council, and in response to neighborhood requests. As a reminder, the NTMAP was developed following significant public outreach and included a variety of recommendations including but not limited to: installation of speed feedback signs, increasing the size of speed limit and stop signs, striping modifications, and installation of speed humps in various locations.
Following installation of the speed humps, a survey was conducted from May 6th, 2025, to August 27th, 2025, to obtain feedback from the public. Speed humps were installed on the following streets:
Glenwood Avenue
Encinal Avenue (Middlefield Road – School Entry)
Encinal Avenue (School Entry – Felton Drive)
Barry Lane
Selby Lane (Austin Avenue – Serrano Avenue)
Selby Lane (Stockbridge Avenue – Almendral Avenue)
Selby Lane (Polhemus Avenue – Tuscaloosa Avenue)
Stockbridge Avenue (Austin Avenue – Serrano Avenue)
Speed Hump Survey and Recommendations
DECEMBER 3, 2025
Fairview Avenue
Linda Vista Avenue
Monte Vista Avenue
Watkins Avenue
Maple Avenue
The results and recommendation were presented to the Transportation, Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Committee on November 18, 2025.
ANALYSIS
A total of 189 responses were collected, including responses from 153 residents. The survey questions included questions regarding proximity, frequency of travel, effectiveness in reducing speeding and/or deterring cut-through traffic, general satisfaction regarding the humps, their size, and visibility. The survey also asked if the humps should be retained as-is, made permanent, or removed. A summary of the survey responses is provided in Attachment 1. The following is a brief description of results per street location.
Glenwood Avenue
A total of 98 responded to this speed hump, with over 75 percent stating that the speed humps were effective or somewhat effective in reducing vehicle speeds and cut-through traffic. Responses regarding satisfaction were split between those who felt very satisfied and those who felt very dissatisfied. Additionally, responses regarding size were also split between those who felt it was adequate and those who found it too big. Over 50 percent indicated that signage visibility was appropriate and over 55 percent indicated that pavement markings were appropriate.
Speed Hump Survey and Recommendations
DECEMBER 3, 2025
Among the nine residents who reported having a speed hump directly in front of their property or on their street, the majority suggested making the speed humps permanent, two suggested replacing with larger temporary humps and only one suggested removal.
In addition, there has been a request to add an additional set of speed humps to Glenwood Avenue and shifting the locations.
It has been noted that Glenwood Avenue is listed as a Menlo Fire Protection District (MFPD) Critical Response Route and MFPD requested coordination regarding speed humps along this route.
Recommendation: The Committee recommended the installation of an additional set of speed humps, and associated relocation of the existing humps, and that staff coordinate discussions with residents and the MFPD regarding the changes to the speed humps on Glenwood Avenue prior to affecting any changes on the street.
Speed Hump Survey and Recommendations
DECEMBER 3, 2025
Encinal Avenue (Middlefield Road – School Entry)
A total of 100 responded to this speed hump, with over 75 percent stating that the speed humps were effective or somewhat effective in reducing vehicle speeds and cut-through traffic. Responses regarding satisfaction were split between those who felt very satisfied and those who felt very dissatisfied. Additionally, responses regarding size were also split between those who felt it was adequate and those who found it too big. Over 50 percent indicated that signage visibility and pavement markings were appropriate.
Among the thirty-one residents who reported having a speed hump on their street and in their neighborhood and who frequent multiple times daily, daily and weekly, the majority suggested making the speed humps permanent. However, eleven felt the speed humps were too big or too tall.
Speed Hump Survey and Recommendations
DECEMBER 3, 2025
Recommendation: The Committee recommended retaining the temporary speed hump location with additional middle section to extend the length of the speed hump to lessen the impact of the humps.
Encinal Avenue (School Entry – Felton Drive)
A total of 99 responded to this speed hump, with 80 percent stating that the speed humps were effective or somewhat effective in reducing vehicle speeds and cut-through traffic. Responses regarding satisfaction were split between those who felt very satisfied and those who felt very dissatisfied. Additionally, responses regarding size were also split between those who felt it was adequate and those who found it too big. Over 50 percent indicated that signage visibility and pavement markings were appropriate.
Speed Hump Survey and Recommendations
DECEMBER 3, 2025
Among the twenty-four residents who reported having a speed hump on their street and in their neighborhood and who frequent multiple times daily, daily and weekly, the majority suggested making the speed humps permanent. However, eleven felt the speed humps were too big or too tall.
Recommendation: The Committee recommended retaining the temporary speed hump location with additional middle section to extend the length of the speed hump to lessen the impact of the humps.
Barry Lane
A total of 90 responded to this speed hump, with over 75 percent stating that the speed humps were effective or somewhat effective in reducing vehicle speeds and cut-through traffic. Responses regarding satisfaction were split between those who felt very satisfied, no opinion and very dissatisfied. Additionally, 55 percent felt the size was appropriate, over 55 percent felt the signage Speed Hump Survey and Recommendations
DECEMBER 3, 2025
visibility was adequate and 70 percent felt the pavement markings were adequate.
Among the sixteen residents who reported having a speed hump on their street and in their neighborhood and who frequent multiple times daily, daily and weekly, the majority suggested making the speed humps permanent.
Speed Hump Survey and Recommendations
DECEMBER 3, 2025
Recommendation: The Committee recommended retaining the existing temporary humps on the street.
Selby Lane (Austin Avenue – Serrano Avenue)
A total of 94 residents responded to this speed hump, with 50 percent stating that the speed humps were not effective in reducing vehicle speeds and cut-through traffic. Over half of the respondents indicated they were not satisfied with the current speed humps, and 60 percent expressed a desire for their removal.
Speed Hump Survey and Recommendations
DECEMBER 3, 2025
Among the eight residents who reported having a speed hump directly in front of their property or on their street, five were very dissatisfied and four supported removal.
Recommendation: The Committee recommended removing the existing speed humps along this segment of Selby Lane. In addition, the Committee considered adding two sets of temporary speed humps in front of Adelante-Selby Spanish Immersion School, similar to the Encinal Avenue configuration, and that staff coordinate discussions with residents, MFPD, and Adelante-Selby regarding the proposed speed humps in front of the school.
Selby Lane (Stockbridge Avenue – Almendral Avenue)
A total of 109 residents responded to this speed hump, with 60 percent stating that the speed humps were effective or somewhat effective in reducing vehicle speeds and cut-through traffic. Over half of the respondents indicated they were not satisfied with the current speed humps, and over 50 percent expressed a desire for their removal.
Speed Hump Survey and Recommendations
DECEMBER 3, 2025
Among the seven residents who reported having a speed hump directly in front of their property or on their street, four were very dissatisfied and four supported removal.
Speed Hump Survey and Recommendations
DECEMBER 3, 2025
Recommendation: The Committee recommended removal of the temporary speed humps along this segment of Selby Lane.
Selby Lane (Polhemus Avenue – Tuscaloosa Avenue)
A total of 106 responded to this speed hump, with 60 percent stating that the speed humps were effective or somewhat effective in reducing vehicle speeds and cut-through traffic. Over 45 percent of the respondents indicated they were not satisfied with the current speed humps, and over 45 percent expressed a desire for their removal.
Speed Hump Survey and Recommendations
DECEMBER 3, 2025
Among the thirty-two residents who reported having a speed hump on their street and in their neighborhood, responses were split between making the speed humps permanent and the removal of temporary speed humps.
Recommendation: The Committee recommended removal of the temporary speed humps along this segment of Selby Lane.
Stockbridge Avenue (Austin Avenue – Serrano Avenue)
A total of 87 responded to this speed hump. Over half of the respondents indicated they were ‘very dissatisfied or ‘somewhat dissatisfied’ with the current speed humps, and 60 percent expressed a desire for their removal.
Speed Hump Survey and Recommendations
DECEMBER 3, 2025
Among the eight residents who reported having a speed hump directly in front of their property or on their street, six were dissatisfied and five supported removal, with one suggesting the use of smaller speed humps instead. More than 50 percent of respondents also cited poor sign visibility as a concern.
Speed Hump Survey and Recommendations
DECEMBER 3, 2025
Recommendation: The Committee recommended removal of the temporary speed humps on this segment of Stockbridge Avenue.
Fairview Avenue
A total of 71 responded to this speed hump, with 70 percent stating that the speed humps were effective or somewhat effective in reducing vehicle speeds and cut-through traffic. Over 70 percent also indicated that signage visibility was appropriate.
Speed Hump Survey and Recommendations
DECEMBER 3, 2025
Among the five residents who reported having a speed hump directly in front of their property or on their street, opinions were split between making the speed humps permanent and keeping the temporary ones.
Recommendation: The Committee recommended retaining the existing temporary humps on the street.
Linda Vista Avenue
A total of 72 responded to this speed hump, with 41 percent stating that the speed humps were not effective in reducing vehicle speeds and cut-through traffic. Over 57 percent also indicated that signage visibility was appropriate.
Speed Hump Survey and Recommendations
DECEMBER 3, 2025
Among the four residents who reported having a speed hump directly in front of their property or on their street, opinions were split between making the speed humps permanent and keeping the temporary ones.
Speed Hump Survey and Recommendations
DECEMBER 3, 2025
Recommendation: The Committee recommended retaining the existing temporary humps on the street.
Monte Vista Avenue
A total of 73 responded to this speed hump. Of those, 46 percent of respondents indicated that they felt the speed humps were not effective in reducing speeding or cut-through traffic. While 47 percent of respondents felt the size of the speed humps was appropriate, over 55 percent reported that the signage was difficult to see, and 47 percent stated that pavement markings were hard to distinguish.
Speed Hump Survey and Recommendations
DECEMBER 3, 2025
All four respondents who indicated that the speed humps were located directly in front of their property or on their street stated that the humps were either too small or too short.
Speed Hump Survey and Recommendations
DECEMBER 3, 2025
Recommendation: The Committee recommended retaining the existing temporary humps on the street and to add pavement markings to increase driver awareness.
Maple Avenue
A total of 71 responded to this speed hump. Over 68 percent indicated that the speed humps were effective or somewhat effective in reducing speeding and cut-through traffic. Additionally, 61 percent of respondents felt that signage visibility was appropriate.
Speed Hump Survey and Recommendations
DECEMBER 3, 2025
Among the five respondents who stated the speed humps were located directly in front of their property or on their street, none requested removal. However, two suggested replacing the current humps with larger ones.
Recommendation: The Committee recommended retaining the existing temporary humps on the street.
Watkins Avenue
A total of 93 responded to this speed hump, with 70 percent of respondents indicated that the speed humps are effective or somewhat effective in reducing speeding and cut-through traffic. Responses regarding signage visibility were split between those who felt it was adequate and those who found it difficult to see. Opinions on permanence were also divided, with some supporting removal and others favoring making the humps permanent.
Speed Hump Survey and Recommendations
DECEMBER 3, 2025
Among the four respondents who reported having a speed hump on their street, all agreed the humps were effective, and none requested their removal.
Speed Hump Survey and Recommendations
DECEMBER 3, 2025
Additional comments were received recommending the shifting of the current hump location and the addition of a new hump such that one is located between McCormick Lane and the entrance to Holbrook Palmer Park and the other to be located between Holbrook Palmer Park exit and Burns Avenue.
Recommendation: The Committee recommended shifting the current temporary speed hump to a location between McCormick Lane and the Holbrook Palmer Park entrance and adding an additional set of temporary speed humps between the Holbrook Palmer Park exit and Burns Avenue with additional middle sections to extend the length of the speed humps to lessen the impact of the humps. The Committee also recommended that staff coordinate discussions with residents and the MFPD regarding the changes to the speed humps on Watkins Avenue prior to affecting any changes on the street.
Menlo Park Fire District Feedback
Staff met with Menlo Park Fire Protection District on November 13, 2025, to discuss the recommendations and obtain feedback on emergency services related concerns. The concerns included significant delays in emergency response times, risk of damage to emergency vehicles and potential injury to personnel. The District’s preference is to have no traffic calming measures on streets chosen as critical response routes. However, having the cutouts on the speed humps allows emergency vehicles to go through without significantly reducing speed. As noted above, Glenwood Avenue is designated as a critical emergency response route. Staff recommends that MFPD be invited to participate in the recommended meetings with residents regarding additional speed hump locations and speed hump relocations.
Additional Recommendations from the Police Department
Speed Hump Survey and Recommendations
DECEMBER 3, 2025
Following the meeting, the Police Department suggested the consideration of two sets of speed humps on Edge Road, in the vicinity of Laurel Elementary School. Additionally, they suggested the installation of reflectors in the vicinity of speed humps to improve visibility at night.
FISCAL IMPACT
Fiscal impact is limited to the costs associated with the removal of speed humps, purchasing of additional speed hump materials (such as middle sections) and reflectors, installation costs and staff time to coordinate meetings. Funds area vailable in the approved FY 2025-26 budget.
GOAL ALIGNMENT
This Report and its contents are in alignment with the following Council Policy Goals:
• Goal A - Preserve Small Town Character & Quality of Life • Goal E - Maintain and Improve Public Infrastructure
POLICY FOCUS
The Council’s focus should be limited to the discussion of the speed hump survey and associated recommendations.
PUBLIC NOTICE
Public notification was achieved by posting the agenda, with this agenda item being listed, at least 72 hours prior to the meeting in print and electronically. Information about the project is also disseminated via the Town’s electronic News Flash and Atherton Online. There are approximately 1,200 subscribers to the Town’s electronic News Flash publications. Subscribers include residents as well as stakeholders –to include, but be not limited to, media outlets, school districts, Menlo Park Fire Protection District, service provides (water, power, and sewer), and regional elected officials.
COMMISSION/COMMITTEE FEEDBACK/REFERRAL
Transportation Committee (meets every other month)
ATTACHMENTS
1. Speed Hump Survey Summary