Did You Know? How Speed Cushion Requests Work in Hamilton

One of the most common questions our office receives is:

"Can we get speed bumps installed on our street?"

The answer is a little more complicated than many people expect.

First... they're usually not speed bumps.

Although many people use the term "speed bump," the City of Hamilton generally installs speed cushions on public roads.

Unlike traditional speed bumps, speed cushions include wheel cut-outs that allow emergency vehicles, transit buses and cyclists to travel more efficiently while still encouraging drivers to slow down. They also improve roadway drainage and are considered the City's preferred traffic calming measure.

Every request begins with an engineering review.

When residents contact our office about speeding concerns, we work with Transportation staff to request an investigation.

Staff don't simply decide based on the number of complaints received. They complete a traffic calming assessment that considers factors including:

• Vehicle speeds

• Traffic volumes

• Collision history

• Cut-through traffic

• Nearby schools, parks and community facilities

• Roadway characteristics

This assessment typically takes 4 to 6 weeks, depending on seasonal conditions and staff workload.

What happens next?

If the assessment determines traffic calming is warranted, the location is added to the City's work plan and funded through the Vision Zero program.

If staff determine speed cushions are not technically warranted, Council can still consider installing them through a Council motion with an identified funding source. In these cases, the City now generally requires a successful neighbourhood petition demonstrating support from

more than half of the homes on the affected roadway segment before moving forward.

Not every road is suitable.

Speed cushions are generally intended for local residential streets.

They are not typically installed on major collector or arterial roads, where other traffic calming measures - such as signal timing adjustments, bump-outs or automated speed enforcement—may be more appropriate.

We welcome your concerns.

Road safety remains one of the most common issues brought to Councillor Tadeson's office.

If you have concerns about speeding, cut-through traffic or pedestrian safety in your neighbourhood, please contact our office. We are happy to work with City staff to request an assessment and help explain the process.