Back in 2009, amid recession-mandated budget cuts, the City of Los Angeles eliminated its funding for speed humps, the bumps on low-volume neighborhood streets that can help to control traffic speeds. Â This year, however, the City has once again funded a speed hump program, along with the staff to administer it, and neighbors can once again begin applying to have speed humps installed on their streets.
Starting on February 28, there will be a speed hump application link on the Department of Transportation’s website.  According to the site, there will be a 45-day application window (during which all materials, including signature petitions, must be submitted), and only 30 applications will be accepted per city council district.
For more information, the website also includes an FAQ page, which clarifies the instructions for applying for speed humps (e.g. the applicant must live on the block for which speed humps are being requested), timelines and general evaluation factors.  The website also includes the city’s official list of more specific evaluation guidelines for speed humps, so you can get a good idea – before applying – whether your street may or may not qualify, based on traffic volume, speeds and other factors.  Finally, there is also a link to some general information about speed humps, including what they are, how they work, and the advantages and disadvantages of this particular traffic control technique.
With traffic volumes increasing, especially in neighborhoods affected by new cut-through traffic from our many local construction projects and detours, this would be a good time to start looking at the city guidelines, to see if speed humps might be a useful addition to your block.
They (speed Humps) almost work. Would work if they were a little bit higher. As it is, they provide a thrill for the thrill seekers and regular commuters just learn by experience how to ignore them. Dr. Bob Newport, Del Valle Drive.