Speed humps (not bumps) set to return to Worcester trouble spots

WORCESTER — Speed humps will be returning to city streets, Public Works and Parks Commissioner Jay Fink told city councilors Tuesday, in an expansion of last year’s pilot program.

Speed humps — which differ from speed bumps in that they can be used on local residential streets and reduce vehicle speeds to 15 to 20 mph rather than 0 to 5 mph — were installed in 10 places — two in each council district — throughout the city last summer as part of a pilot program.

“I think this is a great program,” District 2 Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson said.

She added that she looked forward to expanding the program to additional streets in her district.

“I look forward to the six additional ones, because that’s six streets I won’t get calls on.”

The wide, rubber devices were removed in November so they would not interfere with snow plows.

Residents at a public hearing in February praised the pilot in most locations — with the exception of Whitla Drive and Coolidge Road.

As a result, Whitla Drive will not have a speed hump this year, and the speed hump on Coolidge Road will be revised, Fink wrote in a report to the City Council.

Humps headed here

But the speed humps will return to:

District 1: Beechmont Street and Squantum Street

District 2: Alexander Road and Uxbridge Street

District 3: Crowningshield Road

District 4: Murray Avenue and Woodland Street

District 5: Moreland Green Drive and Coolidge Road

In addition, the city plans to expand the program with up to six speed humps per district, with other locations to be determined. The program will also include vehicle speed recording equipment at each location.

“The details, such as street selection, criteria, and cost of this request are being developed,” Fink said in his report.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Speed humps (not bumps) set to return to Worcester troublespots, including Beechmont, Murray and Moreland