What are speed humps?
Speed humps are asphalt mounds placed on roadways for the purpose of slowing traffic. Speed humps are different than speed bumps, which are commonly seen in parking lots or on private streets. The City of Phoenix only installs speed humps on public streets.
Why are speed humps desirable?
Speed humps can help control speeding on local neighborhood streets: They could reduce average speeds up to 6 mph or more. Unlike traditional police enforcement, speed humps provide continuous service. They may also help discourage cut-through traffic by diverting it elsewhere.
Are there any drawbacks to speed humps?
Yes. Some of the disadvantages include:
Residents living near speed humps must tolerate increased noise levels as vehicles traverse speed humps day and night.
Vehicles may drive on sidewalks or through front yards to avoid speed humps.
Traffic may be diverted to previously quiet parallel streets in the neighborhood.
Emergency service response time suffers.
Motorized street sweeping equipment cannot be used at speed hump locations.
Speed humps interfere with street repaving, decreasing the effectiveness of both the speed hump and the new pavement surface.
Speed humps block the flow of drainage water on some streets and can cause flooding problems.
Speed humps require signing and striping, which some residents consider unattractive.
Is petitioning required?
Yes. Petitions help show whether strong resident support for speed humps exists. The City will designate an "affected area," usually consisting of homes along the street where speed humps are proposed. Residents must obtain support from at least 70 percent of residents in the affected area, and must obtain support from every resident whose home is within 100 feet of a proposed speed hump.
Where can speed humps be installed?
Speed humps are permitted on local streets where the speed limit is 25 mph.
Speed humps are not permitted:
On collector streets (See Speed Cushion Program)
On streets where drainage water flows down the center of the street
Within 200 feet of a STOP or YIELD sign
On streets dustproofed with Bituminous Surface Treatment (BST) or on alleys
On or near steep grades or sharp curves
Closer than 500 feet apart
Who pays for speed humps, and how much do they cost?
Each speed hump, together with required signing and striping, costs approximately $3,500 to install. Residents pay a portion of the cost, depending on a street's average speed after a traffic study. The costs are shown below. Residents can collect and pay their portion of the cost of speed humps any way they like.
25 mph or less | $1,200 |
26 to 29 mph | $250 |
30 mph or over | $100 |
*Speed thresholds can be reduced by 2 mph for speed humps within 250 feet of a park or school.
How can our neighborhood begin the process of installing speed humps?
The first step in the process is residents talking with their neighbors to engage neighborhood support for possible installation of speed humps. The second step would be a traffic study, which will show the average speed of vehicles using a street. To request a study, residents should print out, complete, and return the attached "Speed Hump Study Request" form(PDF) and obtain signatures representing ten households on the street. A separate form should be completed for each street where humps are to be considered. Signing this form does not commit residents to support speed humps, nor does it commit them to provide funding in the future.
Speed Hump Process
- Residents should speak with their neighbors to gage neighborhood support for a possible traffic calming installation.
- Residents complete and return a Speed Hump Study Request form(PDF) with signatures representing ten households on the street where humps are proposed. (Each additional street requires an additional form.)
- City staff conducts a preliminary inspection of the street to determine if speed humps are appropriate. If not, staff notifies residents in writing that their street is not eligible for speed humps.
- If the street is eligible for speed humps, staff conducts a traffic study to document the speed of traffic.
- Residents are notified about the results of the study and the corresponding speed hump fee.
- If residents wish to pursue speed humps, they notify city staff. Residents and staff work together to determine appropriate locations for speed humps, and staff prepares a verbal map showing the proposed locations. Staff may perform a drainage review as needed to assess the potential for flooding.
- Residents speak with their neighbors to gain support for possible placement of speed hump.
- City staff will prepare a petition and provide it to the residents to circulate. Residents must document at least 70 percent support from the affected area and 100 percent support from residences within 100 feet of any proposed speed hump.
- Residents submit signed petitions back to the city along with the appropriate speed hump fee.
- City staff verifies the petitions.
- If consensus building is adequate, staff notifies its contractor to install the humps as shown on the petitions. After installation, staff will sign and stripe the humps according to city standards.
To Change Speed Hump Location
- If, during petitioning, residents wish to change the location of one or more speed humps, or add speed humps to the proposal, they must notify city staff. Staff will prepare new petitions showing the new proposal, and residents must discard all previous petitions, signed or unsigned.
- Residents may circulate petitions and obtain signatures for up to 6 months from the distribution of the petitions. Any petitions older than 6 months that are submitted to the city will be rejected.
To Remove An Installed Speed Hump
- If, at a future time, residents want to remove one or more installed speed humps, they must submit a petition with at least 51% approval of the original affected area. If approved, residents must pay to remove the humps.
Spanish - Esta información también se dispone en español.
For questions or comments about the Speed Hump Program, please call the Street Transportation Department Traffic Services Division at 602-495-5463.
