Speed Humps

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The Purpose of Speed Humps

Process for Requesting New Speed Humps

Process for Requesting Speed Hump Removal

Speed Hump Reinstallation

The Purpose of Speed Humps

Speed humps are a physical design tool used to discourage motorists from speeding and, thereby, improve safety for all roadway users. The Speed Bump Policy guides the implementation of speed humps where vehicular volumes and speeds are unusually high.

Jefferson County considers residential Streets* that carry greater than typical traffic, 1000-plus vehicles per day, and have 12 or more residential driveways per 1/4 mile. Speeding is considered unusually high when 30% or more of drivers exceed the speed limit by at least five miles per hour (mph). Due to the unique characteristics of Roads** (typically in the mountainous areas), including low population density, low traffic volumes, and steep grades, speed humps on Roads** do not have the same benefit as those installed on Streets* that meet the criteria.

*Streets are typically found in the plains area, below 6400 feet in elevation, and have curb, gutter and sidewalks.

**Roads are typically found in the mountainous area, above 6400 feet in elevation, and have shoulders only.

Process for Requesting New Speed Humps

Due to federal floodplain restrictions, speed humps will not be installed within Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regulated floodplains. For more information about floodplains management, go to the Floodplains Management webpage.

To determine if your street request is located within a FEMA floodplain, please search for your address or location using the Jefferson County Interactive Mapping Application. In the upper right corner, click on the layers icon to open the Layers list. Scroll down the list to the "Floodplains" layer and turn on that layer by clicking in the box. Next, type in your address in the search bar in the upper left corner of the map.

1. The resident submits a request to Jefferson County to initiate the process.
   
   
2. County staff determines if the following Preliminary Criteria are met:
   • There are 12 or more fronting driveways per 1/4 mile
   • The roadway is defined as a Street Template in the Major Thoroughfare Plan
   • The posted Speed Limit is 30 mph or less
   • The pavement width is 44 feet or less
   • The street grade is 6.0% or less
3. County staff determines the evaluation area and provides petition information to the resident. The evaluation area typically includes all properties adjacent to the affected street.
   
   
4. The resident completes the petition and submits it to Jefferson County. For installation to be considered:
   • The petition must be signed by 90% of the residents within the evaluation area.
   • 75% of the petitioned residents must sign in support of the proposed speed hump(s). There must be an option to sign in opposition.
   • Only one signature per household will be considered.
5. County staff conducts a speed study. There must be at least 1000 vehicle trips per day with 30% or more of those drivers exceeding the posted speed limit by five miles per hour (mph) or more.
   
   
6. The county will mail an individual petition to each household in the evaluation area.
   • The petition form will have three options: 1) Opposed, 2) In Favor, 3) In Favor and Willing to Contribute Funds. There will also be an opportunity for comments on the form.
   • The petition form will include preliminary placement of the proposed speed hump(s) and an established cost for the speed hump installation.
   • The petition must be signed by 90% of the residents within the evaluation area.
   • 75% of the petitioned residents must sign in favor of the proposed speed hump(s).
   • Only one signature per household will be considered.
7. Speed humps will be financed on a 50-50 cost-sharing basis between residents and Jefferson County. A citizen representative must collect and deliver to the county the necessary funds.
   
   
8. The county will schedule speed hump installation between the months of April and September.

Process for Requesting Speed Hump Removal

1. The resident submits a request to Jefferson County to initiate the process.
   
   
2. County staff determines the evaluation area and provides petition information to the resident. The evaluation area typically includes all properties adjacent to the affected street.
   
   
3. The resident completes the petition and submits it to Jefferson County. For removal to be considered:
   • At least 75% of the residents within the evaluation area must agree that removal of a speed hump will not significantly affect the safety and welfare of residents. Residents must also acknowledge that once a speed hump is removed by request, future requests are considered “new installations”.
   • Only one signature per household will be considered.
4. Speed hump removal will occur during the next scheduled repaving of that street. Residents requesting earlier removal of the hump(s) must pay Jefferson County the full cost of removal.

Speed Hump Reinstallation

1. If scheduled repaving will impact existing speed humps, Jefferson County will evaluate Preliminary Criteria. (see above Preliminary Criteria)
   
   
2. If the Preliminary Criteria are met, the county will conduct a survey of the residents within the evaluation area.
   
   
3. If at least 25% of residents within the evaluation area oppose the reinstallation, the county will not reinstall the speed hump(s). Only one signature per household will be considered.
   
   
4. If fewer than 25% of the residents oppose the reinstallation of the speed hump(s), the county will reinstall the speed humps at the previous location(s) at no cost to the residents.