Taxpayer Watch: Petition starts the speed 'hump' process

Especially during the evening, drivers tend to rush along the residential street, which is just off East Irvington Road between South Park and South Campbell avenues, Flores said.

"That street is a little curvy and they go flying through there," he said. "And if you pull out of the driveway, you've got a real safety issue."

Those curves in the street make it tough to spot oncoming traffic, Flores said. He thinks the solution might be a speed bump or two and wondered how residents go about getting them installed in their neighborhoods.

Residents can get speed "humps" - which are wider than a typical speed bump - added to their street if they gather the required resident signatures, said Michael Graham, spokesman for the city's Transportation Department. Once the signatures are gathered, the city will conduct a study to determine if speeding is a public-safety issue and whether the addition of the humps will hinder emergency response vehicles.

Putting in the speed deterrents can delay emergency vehicles anywhere from two to 10 seconds per hump.

Even if residents want speed humps, the Transportation Department doesn't have the budget to pay for them, Graham said. The residents must pay for them themselves, either through their neighborhood association or direct contributions.

To get started, contact Tucson's Traffic Engineering Department at 791-4259. The Neighborhood Traffic Management Program will then mail information about speed humps and the petition forms for residents to sign.

Need help?

If you have concerns about speeding on your street, call the city's Traffic Engineering Division at 791-4259. For more information about the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program go to www.dot.tucsonaz.gov/ traffic3/ntmp/

Do you have a problem, but you're getting nowhere in getting government to respond and fix it? E-mail taxpayer@azstarnet.com with the problem, your name and a phone number. Or call 573-4142.