Speed Cushioning Humps

Background

A speed cushioning hump, colloquially coined "speed humps", is a traffic-calming device used to reduce vehicular speeds on streets where low speeds are desired and suitable for the surrounding traffic environment. 

A speed hump is an elongated mound in the roadway pavement surface extending across the travel way at a right angle to the traffic flow. A speed hump is typically 3 inches in height and 12 feet in length along the vehicle travel path. A full detail of the speed hump and its physical measurements can be found in the Speed Hump Standard below.  

At typical travel speeds along a street with lower traffic volumes and/or lower speed limits, a speed hump produces sufficient discomfort to a motorist driving above the speed hump design speed to discourage speeding. It encourages the motorist to travel at a slow speed both upstream and downstream of as well as over the speed hump. 

Speed Hump Requests

Residents concerned about vehicles traveling at excessively high speeds through a particular street corridor may petition for the installation of a speed hump to the City of East Palo Alto Public Works Department. 

In order for a street to be considered for the installation of a speed hump, it must first meet a set of criteria. Details regarding the full process as well as the pre-requisite criteria for consideration are outlined in the Speed Hump Installation Criteria and Review Process attachment below.