Mayor Walsh Announces Expansion of Speed Hump Program

Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh announced the addition of speed humps in five new city locations this summer. The Department of Public Works (DPW) is installing 14 new speed humps to expand the Speed Hump program, which was first launched in 2021 to deter speeding and increase pedestrian safety.

The new speed hump locations are:

Signs and pavement markings will notify drivers about the newly installed speed humps. These new locations represent Neighborhood Greenway streets, which are local streets that utilize traffic calming features over several blocks to produce safer and more comfortable biking and walking connections.

Under the program, speed cushions are installed on residential and park roads to reduce vehicle speeds and assess their impact on driver behavior. Speed data is gathered before and after installation at each location to analyze changes in traffic flow and average speeds. Additionally, speed data is collected on adjacent streets to monitor any effects on the local street network following the installation of speed cushions.

A DPW review of radar data issued earlier this year showed all installation current sites experienced speed reductions with some locations dropping between 11 and 19 miles per hour.  Reducing vehicle speeds by even a few miles per hour has been shown to greatly reduce serious and fatal injuries.

"Our data-based analysis shows speed humps are working in slowing down traffic. That makes our neighborhoods safer for pedestrians and drivers,” said Mayor Walsh. “We’re applying what we learn from our analysis and continuing to improve and expand the program.”

The pilot program won the Transportation Project of the Year award from the Upstate Chapter of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), acknowledging DPW's systematic, data-driven approach as a model for other communities.

More information on the Speed Hump Program can be found at Speed Hump Pilot Program.