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Parents press Dearborn leaders for faster traffic calming near schools; mayor cites speed-hump rollout
Summary
A parent described a near-miss at a school drop-off and urged speed humps, no-U-turn signs and cones; the mayor said 300 speed humps and radar signs are being deployed and that public works will prioritize schools and parks.
A Dearborn parent told the City Council on April 8 that a near-collision at a school drop-off highlighted a dangerous local traffic pattern and urged immediate action. "He didn't think about their safety," the parent, Crystal Palson, said of the driver who performed a U-turn and stopped on the sidewalk at a school with many students with autism.
Palson asked the council and district to work together on no-U-turn signage, speed humps, cones for drop-off zones and more regular enforcement. She emphasized the vulnerability of autistic students who may elope and the need for immediate steps to prevent another injury.
Mayor Mustafa Hamoud responded that the administration had prioritized schools and parks for traffic-calming measures: "We have a shipment of 300 speed humps that has arrived and that are starting to get rolled out," he said, adding radar signs and light-up stop signs are being installed and that a full rollout should be "fully installed by the summer." The mayor said public-works crews would use overtime and focus on parks and schools first.
Officials provided cost context: the mayor said each speed hump costs about $1,200 and that high-risk concrete crosswalks cost $35,000–$50,000; he said grant funding of approximately $1.5 million supported those purchases. Councilmembers and staff urged the parent to provide location details so crews can follow up; council asked the administration to consider one-way street options and to coordinate with school officials.
Why it matters: Council members said the safety of schoolchildren is a high priority and described both short-term enforcement and longer-term engineering solutions. Councilwoman Herrick said the city would explore all options raised and asked administration staff to follow up directly with the parent.
Ending: The mayor and public-works staff said they would continue to deploy the announced traffic-calming measures and take resident requests for specific locations for prioritization.
