CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO
POLICY: SPEED HUMP POLICY -DRAFT
POLICY NO.: DATE:
* For the purposes of this policy, “public street” does not include alleys, whether public or private.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines and procedures for the evaluation, approval and installation of speed humps for potential recommendation to the Mayor and City Council. This policy outlines the conditions under which speed humps may be considered for use on public streets*. The objective of this procedure is to establish a consistent standardized process for evaluating and responding to requests for speed control measures on residential streets.
In general, upon meeting the criteria listed herein related to eligibility and warrants, speed humps are typically installed along straight, flat residential roadways with a maximum posted speed of 25 mph or less, with the majority support of the neighbors.
Speed humps are intended to:
• Reduce excessive vehicle speeds on residential streets • Improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists
• Reduce the likelihood of collisions
• Enhance neighborhood livability and traffic conditions • Potentially reduce cut-through traffic
While speed humps are implemented to reduce speeding and discourage cut-through traffic, they may have the following disadvantages:
• Possible diversion of traffic to adjacent streets
• Increased noise levels for homes located near speed humps • Potential delays in emergency response times
• Potential increase in vehicle damage claims
• Possible acceleration and speeding between humps
• Impacts to street maintenance and street sweeping operations Speed humps are not intended to address all traffic or speed-related concerns. Each request shall be carefully evaluated to ensure that existing roadway conditions, safety considerations, and community support justify their installation.
BACKGROUND
The use of speed humps is one of several traffic calming strategies available to the City. However, they are not appropriate in all situations. It is the policy of the City to carefully evaluate each request for speed hump installation to ensure that the proposed location and surrounding DRAFT
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conditions meet all criteria and requirements established herein. Consideration shall be given to roadway characteristics, traffic conditions, safety impacts, and overall neighborhood effects.
Speed humps are one of several traffic calming measures available to the City; however, they are not appropriate in all situations. Other traffic calming strategies—such as traffic diverters, curb extensions, chicanes, mini traffic circles, and striping or lane reconfiguration may be considered based on site-specific conditions. It is the City’s policy to carefully evaluate each request to determine the most appropriate solution and to ensure the proposed installation meets all established criteria and requirements. This evaluation will consider roadway characteristics, traffic conditions, safety impacts, and overall neighborhood effects.
DEFINITION
Speed Hump: A raised area of pavement (or manufactured material), typically 3 to 4 inches high, designed to gradually reduce vehicle speeds while maintaining reasonable ride comfort. Speed humps may only be installed on eligible, straight, low-speed roadway sections that meet the City’s requirements for roadway width, posted speed limit, sight distance, drainage, access, and spacing. Rubber or other manufactured speed humps are not permitted. Each installation must include appropriately designed wheel-track gaps to allow fire engines, including fully loaded apparatus, to pass without engaging the raised portion. Speed humps cannot be installed on every street and must comply with all location and design standards established in this policy.
POLICY
The City of San Bernardino regards speed humps as a supportive traffic calming measure, to be implemented only where engineering analysis confirms they are appropriate and effective.
A. Initiation of requests for the installation of Speed Humps on a public street shall be in accordance with the following policies:
1. All requests for speed humps on a public street shall originate from the residents of the street in question.
2. The City Engineer shall investigate the request to identify the approximate location of the requested speed humps and the area of potential affect for petition circulation.
3. All requests shall be in the form of a formal petition based upon forms supplied by the Public Works Engineering Division.
4. The sponsor of the petition shall circulate the petition to all affected residents as determined by the City Engineer.
5. A separate petition shall be required for each street segment.
6. Each petition for the installation of Speed Humps shall contain the signatures of residents representing the support of at least 67 percent of the residents previously identified by the City Engineer as reflected on the petition form supplied by the Public Works Engineering Division. All residents that sign the petition in favor of the installation of speed humps shall also indicate an acknowledgment that they support a speed hump installation abutting the front of their property. Any signature that fails to indicate such acknowledgment shall be considered as not in favor of the installation of speed humps.
7. Completed Petitions shall be returned to the City Engineer, City of San Bernardino, 300 North “D” Street, 3rd Floor, San Bernardino, CA 92418.
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B. The Police Department, Fire Department, and ambulance services shall be notified of all requests for the use of Speed Humps on public streets and the intent to evaluate the request, conduct a traffic engineering study, and solicit comments.
C. The minimum warrants and design requirements established by this policy must be met in order to install Speed Humps on a public street.
D. Upon completion of an engineering evaluation and study by the Public Works Engineering Division indicating that the requested location meets the minimum warrants and design requirements for the use of Speed Humps on public streets as established by this policy, a noticed public hearing shall be conducted by the Mayor and City Council considering the approval of the use of Speed Humps at the requested location. All affected residents on the street in question, as determined by the City Engineer, shall be notified in advance of the public hearing.
E. Upon approval by the Mayor and Council for the use of Speed Humps on a public street, the Public Works Engineering Division will prepare the necessary work order for installation in accordance with this policy and other applicable City standards.
F. Prior to the installation of Speed Humps, the City Engineer shall notify the Fire Department, Police Department, ambulance services, school district, transit services, public utilities and refuse service providers for each proposed installation.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
To protect public safety and prevent drivers from losing control of their vehicles, speed humps may only be installed where specific safety and design conditions are met. A street must meet ALL of the following conditions in order:
1. Street Classification
• The street shall be classified as a local residential street in the City of San Bernardino General Plan and Circulation Element and consistent with the California Vehicle Code.
2. Traffic and Operational Conditions
• The posted speed limit shall be 25 miles per hour or less. • The roadway shall consist of no more than one travel lane in each direction. • The street shall not serve as a primary route for emergency responses, as determined in coordination with fire and emergency service providers. • The street shall not be located on an established transit route.
3. Geometric, Speed and Physical Characteristics
• The curb-to-curb width shall be 40 feet or less.
• The longitudinal grade shall be 5 percent or less.
• The street segment shall have a minimum uninterrupted length of 800 feet (i.e., without traffic signals, STOP, or YIELD controls) to accommodate proper spacing of at least two speed humps.
• The street shall have full-height barrier curbs (minimum 6 inches) on both sides of the entire segment; rolled or mountable curbs are not permitted.
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• The street must have a minimum unobstructed sight distance of 250 feet in advance of proposed speed humps.
• The street must not have a posted speed limit greater than 25 miles per hour.
4. Safety and Visibility Requirements
• The street shall have adequate vertical and horizontal alignment, including:
o Good pavement condition
o Proper drainage
o Adequate street lighting
o No unusual features that could adversely affect safe operation of speed humps • The street shall provide adequate sight distance, meeting or exceeding the minimum stopping sight distance as defined in the latest Caltrans Highway Design Manual (Table 201.1).
5. Lighting Requirements
• Street lighting shall be present on all segments where speed humps are proposed. • Lighting shall provide a minimum illumination level of 1.0 horizontal foot-candle on the surface.
• Lighting shall conform to City Street Lighting Standards. • Speed humps should be located in close proximity to a streetlight luminaire where feasible.
6. Drainage and Stormwater Considerations
• The street shall not function as a major stormwater conveyance facility. • Speed humps shall not create adverse drainage conditions, including ponding or flow obstruction, as determined by the City Engineer
7. Design and Installation Standards
• Speed hump dimensions and profiles shall conform to the City of San Bernardino Standard Drawings.
• Speed humps shall be spaced as uniformly as practicable, with:
o Minimum spacing: 300 feet
o Maximum spacing: 600 feet
o Adjustments permitted based on-site constraints (e.g., driveways, hydrants, signage, property lines, and lighting).
• All required signing, striping, and pavement markings shall be installed in accordance with:
o This Speed Hump policy
o City standards
o The California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CA MUTCD) o Direction of the City Engineer
8. Capital Improvement Coordination
• The street shall not be scheduled for reconstruction or resurfacing within two (2) years of the installation request.
• Installation may occur after resurfacing is completed or may be incorporated into planned resurfacing work.
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PROCEDURES
A. Request Initiation: Upon receipt of a formal request initiated by residents, the Public Works Department will conduct an evaluation of the street(s) in question to determine if the conditions are such that the above requirements will allow the installation of speed humps.
Requests for speed humps shall originate from residents of the street segment under consideration.
• The City Engineer shall evaluate the request to identify:
o Potential speed hump locations; and
o The area of potential impact for petition circulation • All requests shall be submitted through a formal petition using forms provided by the Public Works Engineering Division.
• The petition sponsor shall be responsible for circulating the petition to all affected residents (property owners) within the defined area, as determined by the City Engineer.
• A separate petition shall be required for each street segment. • Each petition shall include:
o Signatures representing at least 67 percent of affected. The 67% criterion will be calculated based upon the percentage of supporting signatures out of the total number of eligible addresses; and o The petition will include each affected address, a signature line, and a check box for residents to indicate their acceptance of a Speed Hump potentially being located in front of their residence.
• Any signature lacking the required acknowledgment shall be considered invalid.
• Completed petitions shall be submitted to the City Engineer for verification and further evaluation
B. Agency Notification
• The Police Department, Fire Department, school districts, and ambulance service providers shall be notified of:
o The request for speed humps
o The City’s intent to conduct an engineering evaluation and traffic study o The opportunity to provide comments
C. Minimum Requirements and Warrants
All eligibility criteria must be satisfied. In addition, one or more of the following warrants shall be met:
1. Traffic Volume: Average daily traffic between 500 and 3,500 vehicles
2. Traffic Speed:
o More than two-thirds (67%) of surveyed vehicles exceed the posted speed limit; or
o The 85th percentile speed exceeds the speed limit by at least 10 mph DRAFT
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3. Community Support: At least 67% approval from affected residents
4. Collision History: Five or more speed-related collisions within a 12-month period along the roadway segment being considered for speed hump installation D. Approval Process
• If all criteria and warrants are met, a noticed public hearing shall be conducted by the Mayor and City Council.
• All affected residents, as determined by the City Engineer, shall be notified in advance of the public hearing.
E. Design and Installation
• Upon approval, the Public Works Engineering Division shall prepare the necessary work order for installation.
• Installation shall be completed in accordance with this policy and all applicable City standards.
F. Pre-Installation Notification
Prior to installation, the City Engineer shall notify:
• Fire Department
• Police Department
• Ambulance service providers
• School district(s)
• Transit agencies
• Public utilities
• Refuse service providers
G. Post-Installation Evaluation
• The City shall conduct a post-installation evaluation within 18 months to assess effectiveness and impact. The evaluation shall include:
o Traffic speed and volume data
o Collision history
o Emergency response considerations
o Resident feedback
• Installation shall not result in substantial traffic diversion, defined as 400 or more vehicles per day diverted to another local street, as determined by an approved traffic study.
INSTALLATION STANDARDS
Speed humps shall be installed in accordance with the following standards:
1. Speed humps shall be constructed in accordance with the adopted City standard drawings attached hereto.
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2. Speed humps shall be installed across the entire paved roadway surface to the lip of gutter and shall be tapered to a flush condition beginning one (1) foot from the gutter lip to accommodate gutter flow.
3. A standard 30-inch “SPEED HUMP” (W17-1) warning sign shall be installed in advance of each speed hump:
o Signs shall be placed a minimum of 50 feet in advance when the 85th percentile speed is less than 35 miles per hour.
o The first sign in a series shall include a standard 15 mph advisory speed plaque.
4. Thermoplastic pavement markings shall be applied:
o On each speed hump in accordance with Section 3B.25, and Figure 3B-29 (Option A) of the CA MUTCD; and
o In advance of each speed hump in accordance with Section 3B.26, and Figure 3B31 of the CA MUTCD.
5. All required signage and pavement markings shall be installed concurrently with speed hump construction.
6. Double yellow centerline markings, extending 25 feet in advance of each speed hump in both directions, may be installed as determined by the City Engineer.
7. Speed humps shall not be placed within 200 feet of:
o Signalized intersections
o STOP-controlled locations
o Horizontal curves
8. Speed humps shall not be placed over manholes and shall be located a minimum of 30 feet from fire hydrants.
9. Speed humps should be located downstream of drainage inlets, where feasible.
10. Speed humps should be located at abutting property parcel lines, where feasible.
11. Speed humps should be located as close as practicable to street lighting to enhance visibility.
12. Speed humps shall not be located within 10 feet of driveway approaches.
13. Minimum offset from crosswalks shall be 50 feet.
SPEED HUMP REMOVAL
The removal of speed humps may be necessary after City conducts follow up studies after installation, and modify or remove speed humps if:
• The speed humps are ineffective in achieving the intended reduction in vehicle speeds or improvement in safety;
• The speed humps are found to create or contribute to safety concerns, including but not limited to adverse traffic operations, emergency response impacts, or drainage issues; • The speed humps result in substantial traffic diversion to adjacent streets, as determined by a City-approved traffic study;
ATTACHMENTS:
Appendix A: Speed Hump Eligibility Checklist
Appendix B: Speed Hump Warrants Checklist
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Appendix C: Speed Hump Detail