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Residents criticize city’s temporary chicanes and speed tables as council weighs adjustments
Summary
Multiple residents told the council the newly installed traffic‑calming chicanes and speed tables have been misplaced, create noise and risk snow‑plow damage, and are not slowing drivers; the mayor said the measures are temporary and engineers will re‑evaluate placement.
Residents packed the second public comment period to press the council and mayor about traffic‑calming work in neighborhoods where temporary chicanes and speed tables were installed this summer.
Several commenters described device placement problems and operational concerns. Richard Row (9683 Idaho Drive) said a speed table had been placed directly in front of his house and that he had not been consulted; he criticized the timing and said commercial delivery trucks and snow‑plows driving over the features create noise and potential damage. James E. Mitchell (6500 Ira Avenue) said the chicanes are not slowing younger drivers and worried the designs could create hazards when cars and parked vehicles meet near the devices.
Mayor responded that the chicanes and speed tables are temporary trial installations and that city engineer Mike Henry and the contractor are addressing placement and signage issues; data collectors deployed earlier will be used to measure speed, vehicle counts and times of day so officials can decide whether to make measures permanent or pivot to other traffic‑calming options. Several council members urged caution and said they want designs that allow safe passage for service and emergency vehicles and snow plows.
Why it matters: the neighborhood trial responds to long‑standing resident complaints about speeding, but several residents said the current design increases noise, interferes with snow removal and was not sufficiently communicated.
Next steps: the mayor said staff and the contractor would adjust placement and signage as needed and that the data collectors will be re‑deployed to assess effectiveness; council members signaled they want measurements and plow‑clearance checks before decisions on permanency are made.
Representative quotes: "That speed bump was not supposed to be located in front of my house," said Richard Row, describing his effort to raise the issue with engineers before the installation. "I didn't have a chance to say I didn't want it there." "They ain't slowing nobody down," James Mitchell said of the chicanes, adding that targeted enforcement might be necessary.
The council did not take a formal vote on traffic design changes; officials said they will review data and return with recommendations.
