Speed Bumps Returning To Berkeley Place, But Some Residents Don’t Want Them

Some no parking signs popped up yesterday along Berkeley Place, between 7th and 8th Avenues, announcing road repair work that would be going on today. Turns out the Department of Transportation will be replacing two speed bumps that were removed earlier this year when there were sewer repairs and the road was repaved.

But some neighbors on that block aren’t too happy to see the return of the speed bumps, which were initially installed several years ago. Neighbor John Casson sent out a release yesterday noting that “the majority of people who live on the block are adamantly opposed to having them back and thought that they might not be reinstalled.”

Residents, who say they were not notified that the speed bumps would be reinstalled, are concerned about cars and trucks hitting the speed bumps at fast speeds, worried that the vibrations will adversely affect the stability of brownstone foundations. Additionally, they’re not happy with the noise, saying it “adversely affects their well being and sleep.” Plus, they don’t think the speed bumps did much when they were there.

“Traffic volume and vehicular speed haven’t increased since the bumps were removed,” says the release, “and few expect that either will decrease when the bumps are put back.”

Neighbors say they wonder why the speed bumps were put on the block in the first place, pointing to another block of Berkeley, between 5th and 6th Avenues, as having more of a need for them because PS 282 and Park Slope Playground are on that stretch. However, the DOT must have seen a need on this block, as they do a speed study before they even plan for installation.

Community Board 6 is one of many representatives that Berkeley Place residents contacted about the speed bumps, and District Manager Craig Hammerman tells us that he asked the DOT if they would consider conducting a new speed study to see if the speed humps were still warranted.

“They responded and told me that, like a traffic signal or some other safety device, they will automatically reinstall or repair it if it become dysfunctional,” he said.

He adds that noise, vibrations, etc. can sometimes be remedied with a fresh installation, which he’s hopeful that this will help ameliorate.