Council debates spacing and placement of speed tables, asks staff to review manual and add locations where effective

Residents and council members returned to a recurring traffic calming topic on Third Street and Duaslin Road during the Sept. 16 meeting, reporting a recent crash and asking the city to adjust the placement of speed tables and consider additional locations across the municipality.

What council discussed: Several council members said the current spacing and siting of speed tables leaves long stretches of road where drivers accelerate between devices; one member recommended moving or adding a table so the traffic calming benefit reaches more residents. The uniform traffic safety manual was cited as the authority for minimum spacing and placement.

Key outcomes - Staff direction: Council asked the engineering/traffic staff to review the Uniform Traffic Safety Manual and return with a recommendation on whether the existing tables comply with spacing guidance, and whether more speed tables or rumble strips should be added to Third Street, Duaslin Road, Haddonfield and other complaint hotspots. - Rumble strips and signage: Council discussed rumble strips and flashing slowdown signage for Haddonfield, referencing prior agreement to allow rumble strips where speed tables cannot be used due to pitch/slope restrictions. - Implementation concerns: Members asked whether the devices are portable or permanent and whether plows would affect them; staff said many are permanent though some portable devices exist.

Ending: Staff will review spacing, gather crash data for the identified corridors, check winter maintenance impacts, and report back with recommended sites and cost estimates.