Today's Courier features a story (see here) on the new speed humps on Kensington Avenue, promoted by Councilors Cory Storch and Rashid Burney and noted previously on their blogs (see here and here).
Speed humps (see more here) are 'traffic-calming' devices designed to slow down speeding traffic. They are placed at intervals along stretches of city streets that have no stop signs or traffic lights for considerable distances, a condition that some argue encourages speeding.
For years, there have been complaints from various neighborhoods about speeding along various city streets.
Councilors Storch and Burney hope that Kensington Avenue is only the opening salvo in a war against speeding.
Some cities, such as Phoenix, Arizona, have speed hump programs that formalize a process in which citizens may petition to have the traffic-calming devices installed in their neighborhoods. The city's website also explains the positives and negatives of speed humps in helping citizens decide if they want to petition for them.
What do you think about speed humps, and having a speed hump program for Plainfield?
What are your suggestions of streets that might be considered?
Remember, they need to be --
- Entirely within the city of Plainfield
- Long stretches of road unimpeded by stop signs or traffic signals
- Places you know that motorists speed
- Courier: "Speed humps installed on Kensington Avenue; some displeased"
- Cory Storch: "Life just got safer on Kensington Avenue"
- Rashid Burney: "And then...there were speed humps"
- Wikipedia: "Speed humps"
- City of Phoenix (AZ): "Speed hump program"
Posts
23 comments:
We desperately need traffic calming measures along Watching Ave anywhere east of City Hall/7th St, and especially east of Woodland Ave. The speed limit is 25 mph, but with long stretches of road with no stop signs and few posted speed limit signs, we constantly see people speeding up and down this street, passing other drivers unsafely, etc. And there are very rarely any police cars to be seen. While we're at it, let's put in sidewalks so that people have a place to walk without risking getting hit by one of these speeding cars!
I suggest that the speed humps be placed sparingly and thoughtfully. Too many times they are seen as a cure-all for fast traffic, but they cause more problems than they solve.
Make them so you can go over them at near the speed limit and not have to slow down to 5 mph every 100 feet. Remember that a 15 mph speed hump makes you slow down to 5 mph to safely go over it and not damage your car.
Just like the pedestrian crossings on South Avenue, speed humps sound great, but can be a disaster. South Avenue traffic does not flow smoothly, because a driver cannot go around someone who is making a left turn, so traffic gets backed up and people speed.
Watchung Ave, between Woodland and Kensington. Approaching my house at 25 mph to turn into my driveway, I've been passed on the left, and right by cars doing at least 40 mph.
Watchung Avenue. I have been asking to have these installed for years. Why did it take them so long to get it started?
I just read Martin Hellwig's response to speed bumps being an annoyance.
To respond to Martin:
While police show up when called, they are not there 24/7 - which means that speeding is never controlled, just delayed
I would need a better reason for not putting in speed bumps that that they are an annoyance to the DPW. I think saving lives is worth a bit of an annoying effort.
Dan, the speed bumps are great, and long ovedue. It's good to see the city addressing traffic issues.
A speed bump should be installed on the section of Belvidere between Woodland and Watchung. While it's a short stretch of road, it's a cutoff during rush hour. Drivers try to avoid the light at Woodland and Watchung and really take off around the curve coming up Belvidere. Also, there have been a lot of accidents when Belvidere traffic crosses Watchung.
Watchung to Leland is another speedway. I have often been passed on this stretch, and I'm pushing the limit at 30.....
Myrtle Avenue from Green Brook Park to the Dunellen border is also a raceway.
Belvidere between Watchung and East 7th. It's curvy, there are deer. There are people walking dogs or walking to the train station. People speed through that as a by pass for Woodland all the time. It's very dangerous. I even see a school bus barrelling through there often in the mornings.
There is a reason why cities across the country are RIPPING OUT speed bumps and replacing them with less antiquated/obtrusive traffic calming methods. There are several government traffic calming studies that show radar speedchecks signs - those speed displays that tell passing motorists their actual speed - are much more effective at slowing traffic in school zones, on neighborhood streets and other pedestrian-sensitive areas. And unlike speedbumps, speedcheck signs don't impede emergency vehicles, wreck suspensions, increase traffic noise or simply divert traffic to other quiet streets. You can find links to over a dozen studies at www.informationdisplay.com. Also, there's a nice review of various traffic calming options at www.stopspeeders.org. We need to do the research before implementing "solutions" we come to regret.
I agree about Belvidere. It's used as a speedway to Seventh and the Netherwood train station. And I like the pedestrian crossings on South. We need more civilized spaces like that in Plainfield.
belvidere ave from 7th to watchung
Doesn't ANYBODY live north of South or west of Park?
Thanks to JSteen for an opposition view.
Speed Humps might help slow people down on Belvidere Ave between E 7th and Watchung Ave. You would think the curves would slow cars, but they don't. They may also help on Leland Ave between E 7th and Wathcung Ave; Pemberton Ave from Cedar Brook Park to Plainfield Ave; Columbia Ave from Leland Ave to Terrill Rd
belvidere ave. the amalfi drive of plainfield
Part of the issue with Belvidere (and I am one that takes Belvidere to the train station to bypass the Woodland light) is that the light at the intersection of Woodland/Watchung is reversed. You get around 18 seconds of green on Woodland even when there are easily 20-25 cars backed up, some turning left onto watchung. Meanwhile the light holds green on Watchung for at least 30 seconds when there are never more than 10 cars that go through the light during any cycle. If we start by extending that green it would cause a lot fewer people to use Belvidere.
Yes, there are other streets. I got passed on a double yellow line near Barlow School, so let's add East Front Street, and there is Plainfield Avenue from 7th street to South Plainfield.
From what I see in all these comments... Why not just do all the streets in Plainfield... <--- sarcasm, in case translation is missed...
East Ninth Street from Watchung to Park is a veritable speedway, in spite of the bend at Third Place. Instead of slowing down, cars have, for many years, been losing control on the curve, and plowing into my fence and trees. Adding to the danger, is the fact that Third Place traffic can't see what's coming, and near accidents occur with great regularity. Cars come around the bend, and seeing the light ahead at Park Ave. green, put the pedal down and are flying by the time they hit the crown of Park Ave., launching the car off its springs. I have lived here 35 years, and have never seen enforcement of the speed limit on this street. Never.
Sleepy Hollow lane. And Watchung from Woodland to Leland.
Speedhumps all over town are a great idea! That should sufficiently slow emergency vehicles responding to your neighborhood or deter them from patrolling the area at all. Or imagine having a back or neck injury and being bounced all over the inside of the ambulance as your being "rushed" to Hub Stine Field to meet the patiently waiting Medevac helicopter. Bravo for another great idea by Plainfield politicians!
Wow--so many comments. This makes a good case for redesigning the entire city as a pedestrian town. Bikes, not cars! Of course, that would entail a great deal of planning and design. Wishful thinking, I guess.
Rebecca
I hate speed bumps, but some sort in-ground warning such as we see at toll booths should be installed on 8th St., on either side of Central, on Stelle on either side of Central, and on Central on either side of Randolph. I have seen numerous instances of people running the stop signs on 8th, and once each, at the other intersections, I've phoned 911 to report serious accidents.
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