Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Dozens of speed humps will be installed throughout Cambridge this fall as part of a participatory budget program.
Residents voted to allocate $250,000 to reduce neighborhood speeding, and part of that funding will go toward 48 new speed humps.
The pilot program will mostly be focused on residential areas, along with streets near schools and hospitals. To choose the locations, the city also said it considered traffic data, crash history, street width and whether or not the street is a primary or secondary emergency response route.
Speed humps are longer and lower raised areas of pavement that encourage cars to slow down, while speed bumps are shorter and higher, causing cars to almost come to a full stop.
The city said the first nine speed humps will be installed in October, including on Field Street. Some people who lived and worked nearby seemed to have mixed opinions on the project.
“[It’ll] definitely be important, I see a lot of kids and schools around here, one being built down the street,” said Tommy, who works nearby Field Street. “Making sure people are driving safely is important.”
One resident was iffy on the new speed humps, saying that cars tend to go fast over other speed humps she’s seen and that the height of them is “extreme.”
The pilot program is also part of the city’s years-long Vision Zero initiative to prevent traffic deaths and make areas more walkable.
Other streets where speed humps will be installed in October include Dover Street, Lakeview Avenue, Garden Street, Reservoir Street and Walden Street, according to the city.
“Sometimes they can be annoying but they’re worth it when they save lives and keep people safe,” Tommy said.
WBZ’s James Rojas (@JamesRojas.bsky.social) reports.