Traffic committee rejects speed humps on South Cherrywood Street, orders sign and pavement repairs

The West Covina Traffic Committee voted to deny installation of speed humps on South Cherrywood Street between East Garvey Avenue South and James Avenue and recommended replacing several deteriorated signs and refreshing pavement markings instead.

Committee staff told members the segment’s recorded speeds and road classification do not meet the city’s adopted speed-hump criteria and related state guidance. Robert, CIP Project Manager, said the 80th-percentile speed along the section was measured at 29 mph, the posted speed limit is 30 mph, and the average daily traffic was about 2,439 vehicles. “It was determined that the segment of South Cherrywood Street between East Garvey Avenue South and James Avenue does not qualify for the installation of speed humps,” Robert said.

The nut of the decision was the city’s speed-hump criteria, which require a maximum posted or prima facie speed of 25 mph and that the street be classified as a local/residential street. Staff also reviewed collision history from the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) and recorded three collisions on the segment from January 2022 through December 2024; staff concluded the recorded speeds did not indicate a significant speeding problem under the warrant criteria.

Committee staff recommended maintenance actions intended to improve device visibility rather than new traffic-calming devices. Recommendations approved to forward to maintenance included: remove and replace a deteriorated W1-1 turn warning sign and 15-mph advisory signs at three locations near the curve; replace a faded W3-1 “Stop Ahead” sign; replace an R1-1 stop sign at the southwest corner of Cherrywood and James Avenue; replace vandalized object markers (OM1-3) and a W8-1 chevron sign; and refresh/repaint the stop legend, stop bar and north–south pavement markings at the intersection of Cherrywood and James Avenue.

A resident request prompted the review; committee members asked whether the 30-mph posting was present on Cherrywood itself or only on the approach. Staff said an advisory sign remains along the curve and that the straightaways post 30 mph on the approaches, but Cherrywood’s curve area lacks a regulatory 30-mph plaque in one location. After discussion the committee approved the staff recommendations by voice vote. Adam Sorey moved to adopt the staff recommendation; a second was given and members voted “all ayes.” The committee recorded the motion as passed and instructed staff to forward the maintenance items for replacement and repainting.

Next steps: maintenance will schedule the sign replacements and pavement marking refresh; no new speed-hump installation will occur unless future data or policy changes meet the city’s criteria.