Crellin Road to get speed lumps Crellin Road to get speed lumps (May 21, 2004)

Program will test new traffic-calming device
by Dolores Fox Ciardelli

Bumps have morphed into lumps, and they're getting rave reviews.

The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to install six speed lumps on Crellin Road in a pilot program to test their effectiveness at slowing down drivers.

Some vehicles on Crellin Road reach speeds as high as 45-50 mph, residents reported, so they were supportive of installing speed lumps even though they said they don't like them in general.

"I moved there in 1999 and shortly after that knew there was a speeding problem," said Crellin Road resident Linda Wong, who called herself the concerned mother of a 6-year-old. "Much to the chagrin of my husband, I stood in front of my home with another neighbor and used the radar gun and tracked speeds."

Paul Miecznikowski, 61, of the 900 block of Crellin said he's lived there since he was 28. "We have had a dog hit and a cat killed," he said. "My child playing almost got hit. Everybody coming down that road goes like a bat out of hell. People have actually sworn at us because we're crossing the street, like we're supposed to get out of the way."

After complaints from residents, the city collected speed and volume data in late 2003 and early 2004, which showed that speeds on Crellin are high compared to other residential streets in town. Even when extra police patrols were added, the speeding continued, although drivers lowered their speed from 36 mph to 34 mph. This was still above the expected 32 mph.

"The biggest problem in the past (with speed bumps) has been with emergency vehicles," said city traffic engineer Jeff Knowles. He noted that at one time Fire Chief Stewart Gary said speed bumps would be installed in Pleasanton "over my dead body." But new technology has produced these speed lumps, which have grooves in them spaced 8 feet apart for the tires of fire trucks.

The lumps are 3 inches high, as are speed bumps in parking lots. The difference is that the rise in lumps takes place over 7 feet, which results in a smooth rolling motion if a vehicle drives over them at 20 to 25 mph. Staff expects speeds to drop from 36 mph to 27 mph between lumps and 23 mph on lumps.

"These have a long history of working," said Knowles. "I know from working in Thousand Oaks. Once they went in, we never received another speeding complaint." They have also been installed in Fremont where they were tested by the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department.

"The split lumps really work," said Fire Chief Stewart Gary. "I myself sat in the captain's seat.... We were very, very pleased with our vehicles. This is the first fire department-friendly traffic device I've seen in my career." He noted that everything in a fire truck is loose so a smooth ride is important.

Gary explained that although the grooves were not fitted for ambulances, that fire trucks have paramedics. "We get there first. We're doing advanced life support," he said.

The six speed lumps will be installed at 300-foot intervals, for a total cost of about $37,000, including shipping, taxes and installation. The money will come from the Traffic Calming Capital Improvement Program Funds.

The speed lumps, which are made out of recycled tires, are meant to be permanent but it is possible to remove and relocate them. If after a six-month trial period, the majority of the residents on Crellin ask for them to be removed, or if emergency personnel request their removal, the City Council will consider it. But the staff report noted that in most communities using the speed lumps the only problem was deciding where the need was greatest to install them.

Councilwoman Kay Ayala said that several residents have approached her about speeding on Black Avenue and she asked whether the speed lumps could work there.

"We wouldn't try them on Black unless we get a very good track record," said Knowles. He noted that Crellin Road is ideal for the pilot program because it has few homes. He also said that the traffic circles installed several years ago on Montevino, which have proved ineffective in slowing down traffic, could work if speed lumps were laid between them.

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