Sacramento to approve traffic safety project, bringing new speed lumps to neighborhoods

The Sacramento City Council is set to approve a new traffic safety project that is expected to bring dozens of new speed lumps into residential neighborhoods.

Council members will vote on the 2021 Speed Lump Project at Tuesday evening’s City Council meeting, bringing 51 new lumps onto Sacramento roads.

Speed lumps are a distinct kind of speed bump with offset cutaways that allow fire trucks and buses to pass through, but which require most other vehicles with narrower axles to slow down. Sacramento began implementing various speed bumps in 1980 due to speeding in neighborhoods and has passed speed lump construction projects annually for several years.

This year’s project is aimed at reducing speed in residential neighborhoods and along roads near schools and parks. Nearby residents have already approved construction of the speed lumps, according to a City Council report. Ballots were sent out to residents to approve the project and at least two-thirds of voters agreed to the construction of the new speed lumps.

Construction of all 51 lumps, plus signage and paint striping, is estimated to cost $208,057. The project will be paid for using funding allocated to the city’s Vision Zero Safety Program.

“One of the biggest factors in traffic related fatalities and serious injuries is speeding,” city staff wrote in their report. “Speed lumps are one of the most cost-effective methods available to decrease vehicle speeds.”

Construction of the speed lumps is expected to be completed quickly. City crews plan to start construction this month and should be finished by November, according to the City Council report.

Where are new speed lumps planned?

District 1

• Four speed lumps are planned on Kankakee Drive between Club Center Drive and North Park Drive.
• Six more are planned on Club Center Drive between Banfield Drive and Northborough Drive.

District 2

• Four speed lumps are planned on Sully Street between Claire Avenue and Santa Ana Avenue.

District 3

• Six speed lumps are planned on Azevedo Drive between Pebblewood Drive and Bannon Creek Drive.

District 4

• Four speed lumps are planned on 13th Avenue between Land Park Drive and 18th Street.
• Four more are planned on West River Drive between Orchard Lane and Two Rivers Drive.

District 5

• Three speed lumps are planned on 2nd Avenue between Franklin Boulevard and Broadway.

District 6

• Five speed lumps are planned on 21st Avenue between 58th Street and 62nd Street.
• Seven more are planned on Lemon Hill Avenue between 65th Street Expressway and Lemon Park Way.

District 7

• Three speed lumps are planned on Arroyo Vista Drive between Center Parkway and Snowy Birch Way.

District 8

• Two speed lumps are planned on Ellwood Avenue between Wainscott Way and 29th Street.
• Three more are planned on Jacinto Avenue between Center Parkway and Dartford Drive.

This story was originally published October 16, 2021 at 12:47 PM.