Traffic study: speeds down on Cummings and Shepherd; consultant recommends targeted measures, not new humps

The council heard a traffic study comparing March 2026 measurements with prior counts from 2011 and was told speeds and cut‑through volumes on Cummings Lane and Shepherd Street are generally lower now.

Traffic consultant Paul reviewed three counting locations on each street and said 85th‑percentile speeds ranged mostly between 18 and 24 mph depending on location, lower than the earlier study. "The speeds are down now versus 2011, and the cut‑through amount of traffic is down as well," Paul said.

Paul told the council the earlier 2011 data showed speeds 6–7 mph above the limit in the same corridors; after the installation of speed humps the March counts show a 5–6 mph reduction where humps exist. He said that based on the March seven‑day counts and trip‑generation assumptions, the study did not support adding more speed humps in the surveyed locations, but recommended studying an entry‑side bump‑out or curb extension and increased police presence to address stop‑sign running.

Residents challenged the methodology for identifying cut‑through traffic. Paul said his team uses trip‑generation (ITE) rates and, in some studies, license‑plate tracking to estimate through trips; for this study the counts over seven days were consistent with expected trip generation for the number of homes on the streets and did not indicate a sustained cut‑through problem.

Council members asked about flashing stop signs and police monitoring; Paul said flashing signs and targeted enforcement have worked in nearby municipalities and can be effective, while curb bump‑outs at entry points could be considered if speeds are higher where there is no on‑street parking.

Next steps: staff and the council will consider localized design alternatives and possible police monitoring at flagged intersections. The consultant offered to provide more detailed location‑by‑location plans if the council wants to pursue a bump‑out pilot.