City relaunches speed reduction program for neighborhoods

Published on January 20, 2023

The Public Works Department has updated its alternative speed abatement program (ASAP) to make it easier for residents to reduce speeding in neighborhoods and around schools, libraries and other public buildings.

The revamped program expands the traffic calming features available, decreases eligibility requirements for streets and removes the requirement to provide a conceptual plan.

Previously, applicants were required to pay for the entire cost of the traffic calming device, but the new program provides City funding for half the cost of the device, with the other half being paid for by the applicant.

“We are happy to reintroduce the speed abatement program with enhanced features and funding,” said Public Works Director Eric Wenger. “We have $50,000 allocated for this cost-sharing program and will expand the budget if needed.”

Once installed, the City will maintain the traffic calming feature.

To qualify, streets must:

  • Be public.
  • Be located near homes, apartments or a public institution such as a school, library or hospital.
  • Be identified in PlanOKC as a neighborhood street, connector street or industrial street.
  • Have a posted speed limit of 25 miles per hour for speed humps and up to 30 miles per hour for speed cushions.

Five traffic calming features are available, depending on the street.

  1. Street alerts - white pavement markings permanently affixed to the roadway surface with messages such as “stop ahead,” “yield,” and “slow.”
  2. Driver feedback signs - permanently mounted, interactive signs that display the speed of a vehicle as it approaches the sign.
  3. Speed humps - a rounded, raised section of roadway that is constructed of either prefabricated panels or asphalt concrete. They are approximately twelve feet in length (in line with the street) with a height ranging from three to four inches.
  4. Speed cushions - a speed hump that has wheel paths cut through it to reduce travel speeds of cars while allowing fire trucks and ambulances to pass over them with little to no effect.
  5. Mini-roundabouts - a circular median sized to fit within a neighborhood intersection without requiring any other physical changes to the intersection.

More information and applications are available at okc.gov/ASAP.

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Media Contact

Shannon Cox, OKC Public Works

(405) 297-2130

shannon.cox@okc.gov

 

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