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Commission authorizes resident survey on proposed Gotham Street speed humps after speed study
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Summary
The Bell Gardens Traffic and Safety Commission authorized staff to distribute a resident survey for proposed speed humps on Gotham Street between Ira Avenue and Gifford Avenue; staff will advance the installation to the council only if at least 51% of affected addresses support it. A short speed study found several days with 80th‑percentile speeds above the policy threshold.
The Bell Gardens Traffic and Safety Commission authorized staff to distribute a resident survey to determine support for installing two speed humps on Gotham Street between Ira Avenue and Gifford Avenue.
Consultant traffic engineer Dennis Barnes told the commission that city policy requires several criteria to be met before installation: the street must be residential and under 40 feet wide, not a primary emergency response route, have suitable grades, and achieve at least 51% resident support among affected addresses. Barnes reported that speed and volume counts performed Feb. 24–26 showed the 80th‑percentile speed exceeded the posted 25 mph threshold on three days (including recorded 80th‑percentile readings of 33 and 34 mph on two days), which meets the speed criterion in the city’s policy.
Barnes described typical placement guidance (150–300 feet between humps for blocks of this length and avoiding driveways or drainage features) and showed proposed locations in the project diagram. He estimated a fiscal impact of approximately $3,800 for two humps, including signs and markings.
Commissioners agreed the request appeared straightforward and moved to authorize distribution of the resident survey. Staff will collect one ballot per legal address; if 51% or more of responding addresses support installation, staff will prepare materials for city‑council consideration; if not, the request will be closed out. The motion to distribute the survey passed on a roll‑call vote of the commissioners present.
Next steps: staff will mail or otherwise distribute the resident questionnaire to addresses fronting Gotham Street between Ira and Gifford, report back the survey results, and advance the project to council only if the 51% threshold is met.
