Arlington works toward Vision Zero with speed humps for safer schools
A pilot program in Arlington County tackles speeding issues near schools as part of Vision Zero, using speed humps to lower speeds and reduce crashes.
The Challenge
Arlington County, VA, is the smallest governing county in the United States, covering approximately 26 square miles and home to nearly 239,000 residents. Known for its proximity to the Pentagon and major companies like Amazon and Boeing, Arlington faces unique traffic challenges due to its high population density and significant commuter traffic.
In 2019, the county launched its Vision Zero Initiative, aiming to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and severe injuries. With speeding complaints, particularly around school zones, officials recognized the need for effective traffic calming measures. Beginning in 2022, the county has rolled out lower 20mph school zones to protect children. However, data showed that in some of these school zones, speeds did not decrease despite the lowered speed limits. They sought a new initiative to reduce speeds in targeted school zones that continued to experience speeding.
The Solution
A new pilot program was introduced, using recycled, removable speed humps in vulnerable school zones to help reduce speeds, protect school children, and make Vision Zero a reality.
The county’s engineering team conducted a detailed study considering factors such as speed data, accident history, and community feedback to identify the most critical locations for speed reduction measures. The speed humps were installed at thirteen locations, including Cardinal Elementary and Gunston Middle School.
The pilot program began in the Fall of 2023 with the installation of speed humps in the school zones experiencing the most dangerous driving and risk factors. In Winter of 2023-2024, data was collected, while the public was engaged to offer feedback in the summer of 2024. The second round of speed humps will be installed in Fall of 2024 in additional targeted school zones where speeding continues unabated despite new speed limit laws.
The recycled rubber speed humps from Traffic Logix are designed for easy installation and removal. Embedded highway tape makes the humps highly visible as drivers approach, while the rubber construction makes the drive smoother, despite compelling drivers to slow down.
The speed humps are made of interlocking rubber units that simply snap together and are bolted to the road surface. They can be easily removed and reinstalled as needed for testing or road resurfacing.
The Benefits
Initial findings indicate significant reductions in speeding in school zones where the recycled speed humps have been installed. Residents have expressed appreciation for the safety measures and the added security they offer their children each day.
Scott Sedwick, the Operations Manager for the Department of Environmental Services, highlighted the impact: “The speed humps are performing well and our community is seeing improved safety around schools, which was our primary goal.”
He also noted the benefits of working with a dedicated transportation expert from Traffic Logix on the project who can offer insights and guidance throughout the project.
The county plans to expand the pilot program based on positive community feedback and the safety benefits observed. Future steps include additional data collection and community engagement to refine speed hump policies and strategies, and the installation of additional speed humps to protect school zones across the County.
