On January 1, 2025, the City of Hamilton will implement a policy for speed cushions/humps/bumps (pick your favourite term) to bring consistency to the installation of traffic-calming features.
The primary objective of the new policy is to ensure the installation of traffic calming measures on one street does not cause unintended diversion of unsafe traffic behaviours to other nearby streets.
But first, council members are rushing to pass new installations completed before the policy arrives. Voters love it when their councillor installs traffic calming measures on their street.
On Tuesday, Council’s Public Works Committee approved the installation of up to 55 new speed “cushions” using ward councillor discretionary funds.
The total budget approval is $267,000.
All these speed cushions are approved for installation this fall.
Councillors approved up to 55 speed cushions (sorted by Ward):
- Napier Street between Locke Street North and Queen Street North [up to three] (Ward 1)
- Melbourne Street between Dundurn Street South and Locke Street South [up to two] (Ward 1)
- Hill Street between Dundurn Street North and Poulette Street [up to three] (Ward 1)
- Newton Street between Barclay Street and King Street West [up to three] (Ward 1)
- Haddon Avenue South between Westwood Avenue South and Stroud Road [up to four] (Ward 1)
- Lower Horning Road between Whitney Avenue and the bend [up to four] (Ward 1)
- Bay Street North between Harbour Front Drive / Strachan Street West and Picton Street West [up to three] (Ward 2)
- Picton Street East between James Street North and Hughson Street North [one] (Ward 2)
- Meadowvale Avenue [one] (Ward 5)
- Dulgaren Street between Dysan Avenue and Eleanor Avenue. [up to two] (Ward 6)
- Fletcher Road between Showcase Drive and Bellagio Avenue, in proximity to Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Elementary School. [up to two] (Ward 9)
- Watercrest Drive between Seabreeze Crescent and Glover Road [up to two] (Ward 10)
- Grassyplain Drive between Glancaster Road and Archer Way [up to three] (Ward 11)
- Orchard Drive between Wilson Street West and the Spring Valley Arena [up to two] (Ward 12)
- Algonquin Avenue between Mohawk Road and Oneida Boulevard [up to four] (Ward 12)
- Tuscarora Drive between McNiven Road and Tomahawk Crescent [one] (Ward 12)
- Hiawatha Boulevard between Cayuga Avenue and Algonquin Avenue [up to two] (Ward 12)
- Seneca Drive between Oneida Boulevard and Algonquin Avenue [up to two] (Ward 12)
- Cayuga Avenue between Mohawk Road and Iroquois Avenue [up to two] (Ward 12)
- Oneida Boulevard between Algonquin Avenue and Tomahawk Crescent [up to five] (Ward 12)
- Helen Street between #51 Helen Street and the top of the crest that leads into the Dundas Driving Park [one] (Ward 13)
- Gemini Drive between Upper Paradise Road and Cranbrook Drive [up to four] (Ward 14)
Production Details v. 1.0.0 Published: September 4, 2024 Last updated: September 4, 2024 Author: Joey Coleman Update Record v. 1.0.0 original version
These are quite honestly the worst. They slow down traffic too much! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve nearly rear ended someone who is going over them at 5km/h.
They should put a dozen along each of the councillors commute to work (if any of them even own a car)
Hi Matt,
Thank you for the comment. It is interesting to note there is strong public support for traffic calming measures – this is why politicians are implementing speed bumps on residential side streets.
To the best of my knowledge, all but two councillors drive to City Hall on a regular basis. [Some of the councillors who drive also choose to use the HSR to get to City Hall]
We need speed humps on Athena drive Stoney Creek. Trying to get Brad Clark of Ward 9 to help me out. But he doesn’t seem to interested in my problem.
Hello,
You can begin a resident petition to request new speed cushions.
“The threshold for a successful petition is when 50% + 1 of the total homes on the roadway segment are in favour of the installation of speed cushions.”
The vast majority of speed cushions are “unwarranted” according to traffic engineering guidelines. The City is trying to balance the desire for speed cushions against the complaints it receives when installing new speed cushions. This is why the City is requesting petitions.
Unfortunately I have disability and can’t walk from door to door to get to 50 + 1.
I have emailed the city now for 4? years asking for something to be done on my street, but they say it doesn’t meet the traffic volume requirements. Blind corners, Street parking and TONS of kids playing on the street. I’ve seen so many close calls. “Vision zero” only applies when road is above 500 cars a day, apparently.
Unfortunately I have disability and can’t walk from door to door to get to 50 + 1.
They don’t work. People just drive slowly over them, but don’t stop.. I have seen too many cars drive thru the stop sign at Florence and Inchbury! If you say anything to them, they beep their horn, or start yelling at you.. these were a waste of time and money.
I’ve asked Danko for 5 years for this on Springvalley Crescent with public support. Still nothing as usual from him. Nvm the drive by shooting last month!!!! Even after numerous altercations with aggressive drivers and speeding!!! Nothing has been done!! I guess he’s waiting for someone’s child to die first before he understands something needs to be done! Pathetic. Only hear from him around election time.
Having driven the streets of the Hamilton area for close to sixty years my response to the “speed bump” installation is ONE OF THE STUPIDEST IDEAS EVER!!!
I drive the speed limits posted but if I don’t reduce my speed by upwards of 75% my head and neck are jerked about in an often violent and painful experience.
What is the process to sue the city for my painful experiences?
Speed humps are needed for Sydenham Road and Street in Dundas
Speed bumps do nothing but waste people’s time. I either move to the next street over or accelerate quickly back up to the SPEED LIMIT after going over them. I shouldn’t have to be slowing down to 20km/h to not destroy my car multiple times on my way to work. Keep it to the parking lots…