SIMI VALLEY : Speed Humps OKd to Slow Traffic

Responding to concerns over speeding traffic, the Simi Valley City Council has agreed to install speed humps, a stop sign and increase enforcement on a busy street.

Twenty-nine residents of a half-mile stretch of Kadota Street signed a petition asking for speed humps.

A study conducted by the city showed that the speed and volume of traffic on Kadota between Alamo Street and Austin Avenue meet the requirements for the traffic-slowing devices. The stop sign will be installed at the intersection with Austin.

Nearly all traffic on Kadota exceeded the 25 m.p.h. speed limit, with most traffic going at least 35 m.p.h, the study showed.

The stretch of road includes many homes and a Boys & Girls Club.

“This is a residential area,” said resident Sue Coffey. “Speed humps would be less expensive than the loss of a life or a limb.”

But several residents from nearby Galveston Avenue protested the humps, saying they would hinder ambulances and police cars trying to respond to emergencies.

“I would hate to have my house on fire and lose precious moments while the firetrucks stopped for speed humps,” said Joseph Beautz.

At least 21 Simi Valley streets have been outfitted with speed humps since the devices were first allowed in the city in 1987, and responding to emergencies on those streets has not been a problem, according to a report prepared by the city.

Speed humps are wider and do not jolt vehicles as harshly as the speed bumps in many parking lots.