Q: Cars drive too fast in my neighborhood, is there anything I can do?

If speedy traffic is a nuisance in your neighborhood, you can do something about it. We’re talking about speed humps. Any Chattanoogan can submit a request for speed humps through 3-1-1 (search for “Traffic Calming” on the online portal) or reach out to Ben Harmon, head of CDOT’s Neighborhood Traffic Management Program.

From there, CDOT will conduct an analysis to determine if the street is eligible for speed calming. A road may not qualify if it already has speed-reducing features (such as sharp curves), is especially steep, or hosts more than 2,500 cars per day. Keep in mind, some roads are state-operated, which may complicate the application process and installation timeline.

But even if you’re not sure your street is eligible, Harmon said Chattanoogans should still submit requests for dangerous roads.

If a street is a good candidate for speed humps, CDOT will send the applicant a petition to share with all residents in the affected area. The area includes “anyone who would have to get over them to get to their house,” Harmon said.

If the petition gets signatures from two-thirds of affected households, the project goes into the CDOT pipeline. Installation time varies but may take between six months to a year depending on the availability of materials and the traffic management program budget. 

While Harmon said speed humps are “the No. 1 thing people like,” there are other traffic calming options. Re-striping a center line, narrowing lanes, and adding flexible bollards — the yellow or orange poles in the center of a street — can also lower car speeds. 

About 10 streets received traffic calming devices this year, Harmon said, with a few more on CDOT’s list. 

You can contact Harmon at bharmon@chattanooga.gov or call him at 423-643-5952. Go here to see all traffic calming devices installed by CDOT as of last year.

Have more questions? Send them to william@chattamatters.com.