CLEVELAND — The city of Cleveland is working to install 100 planned asphalt speed tables, which are aimed at reducing speeding and increasing pedestrian safety on the city's streets.
Last week, city crews installed speed tables on East 140th Street, south of Kinsman Road, with installation set to begin in Ward 15 and Ward 11 before moving on to other locations across the city throughout the summer.
“This project is critical because we know that lower speeds save lives,” said Mayor Justin M. Bibb. “There are studies that show a one mile-per-hour reduction in vehicle speeds on urban streets results in a six percent decrease in traffic fatalities. Physical traffic calming works and is an important component of our all-of-government approach to summer safety.”
The speed humps are intended to focus on local streets that see about 1,000 to 4,000 cars per day and have "documented speeding issues." The streets where tables will be installed see average speeds near or exceeding 25 mph, and 85% of vehicles travel 31 mph or faster under free-flowing conditions.
“I consistently hear from residents in my ward concerned about speeding and the safety concerns that reckless driving creates,” said Ward 2 Councilman Kevin L. Bishop, chair of Council’s Municipal Services and Properties Committee. “Council is pleased to support the speed table program and we want to hear from residents about how it’s working.”
Cleveland is not alone in looking to speed tables in an effort to mitigate speeding; Akron Mayor Shammas Malik announced a similar initiative in his city back in May.
Cleveland Senior Strategist for Transit and Mobility Calley Mersmann said the city will monitor traffic data and listen to requests from residents as the first 100 speed tables are installed. An interactive map of where each speed table is expected to be installed is available on the city's website.
“This represents just the start, and we will add locations to the list on an ongoing basis," Mersmann said. "Speed tables on local residential streets make it more comfortable to play in the yard, walk and bike on the street, and even back out of driveways—improving safety and quality of life in our neighborhoods.”
The speed tables are financed by the city's Back to Basics Capital Fund, a $30 million infrastructure fund sourced through the American Rescue Plan Act.