Residents press for speed bumps and three-way stops; county staff say studies did not meet criteria

Residents of the Forest Creek and Oak Chase neighborhoods told the commission May 7 they want more speed-calming measures—speed humps and additional three-way stops—because of cut-through traffic and frequent speeding.

John Arnold, who said he has lived in his subdivision 34 years, asked the commission to install three-way stops and additional speed bumps. "We're asking for three-way stops to be installed...we would also like to have more speed bumps," Arnold said.

County traffic staff (identified in the transcript as "Matt") explained the process and eligibility criteria for speed humps and stop signs. Staff said a 2023 speed-hump study recorded an 85th percentile speed of 32 mph (threshold is 35 mph) and 795 vehicles; a subsequent study using corrected tube placement showed 993 vehicles and an 85th percentile speed of 26 mph—below the speed-hump threshold—and that only 26 vehicles exceeded 30 mph in that follow-up. Based on those results, staff said speed humps did not qualify. Staff recommended performing another study when school is in session and reviewing accident and delay metrics to evaluate three-way-stop eligibility.

Staff also advised that if residents want a new speed-hump study they should petition (51% of property owners must agree) and the county will conduct the study. The commission instructed staff to perform another study comparing school-out and school-in periods and to investigate accident/delay data for three-way-stop criteria.

The transcript records staff describing national/manual criteria (Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices) that restrict using stop signs solely to control speed. Residents noted they may try another petition for a study and staff offered to assist with the process.