Douglas Road Speed Humps

Forms response chart. Question title: Would you like the City to construct speed humps on Douglas Road between Hovey Street and Windward Street?. Number of responses: 21 responses. 

Douglas Road will be repaved with speed cushions or speed humps during the Summer 2025 paving season. Thank you for your feedback. 

The City of Lowell is seeking feedback for the potential construction of permanent speed humps on Douglas Road to enhance safety and reduce speeding. Please take a moment to complete the survey below, we need your feedback! The input of the residents of Douglas Road is crucial to this decision.

Survey is Closed! Thank you for your feedback!


Deadline: Please submit your responses by June 7, 2024.

Learn More:

Project Overview

The City of Lowell is considering the construction of permanent speed humps on Douglas Road to enhance safety and reduce speeding. This project would construct three (3) permanent speed humps on Douglas Road between Hovey Street and Windward Road. This portion of Douglas Road is being repaved this year, opening an opportunity to add speed humps as a traffic calming strategy. Speed humps work best when installed in a series, which is why three (3) of them are being considered for this stretch of Douglas Road.  

Speed Hump Locations

The locations of the potential speed humps were selected using engineering judgement to maintain desired operating speeds and maximize effectiveness. A map of the potential locations is found below.

Douglas Rd Potential Speed Humps

Timeline

Once the survey is closed, The City will review the responses from the abutting homeowners and decide if these speed humps will be installed. The decision will be posted on this page. If The City decides to install the speed humps, they will be constructed during the repaving of Douglas Road.

FAQ

Why Douglas Road? Vehicle speed data was collected when the decision to repave this section of Douglas Road was made to determine whether a speeding issue is present. The data indicates that the 85th percentile speed (the speed at which drivers are traveling at or below) is 34 miles per hour.  The speed limit on Douglas Road is 25 miles per hour.  Therefore, Douglas Road is eligible for a traffic calming installation. Speed humps typically reduce vehicle speeds by 5-7 miles per hour.

What are they made from? What do they look like? The speed humps will be permanently installed, so they will be constructed from asphalt during the time of paving. They are 3 inches high and 12 feet long in the direction of vehicle travel. A plan detail can be found here.  

Will they impact drainage? No. The speed humps are constructed to allow for regular drainage during storms. They do not add impervious surface area.

Can I park on them? Yes. 

Are there any negative impacts? The City has installed temporary speed humps in two locations this summer. Few complaints with regard to noise have been received. Positive feedback has been received that vehicle speeds are lower generally and pedestrians feel safer.  Speed humps have been used throughout Massachusetts with great results!

Will speed humps impact snow removal? No. Our snow plowing teams will be notified of locations with speed humps so drivers can know to expect them. Signs will be installed on streets to notify drivers of the location of speed humps.

Will speed humps impact school buses or fire trucks? No. The shape of the speed hump makes them easy for school buses and fire trucks to traverse.  They do not impact the overall response time of emergency vehicles. 

Additional questions? Contact City Transportation Engineer, Elizabeth Oltman, PE, at 978-674-1405 or eoltman@lowellma.gov