Speed humps on Elm Street up for review

Bellaire hearing to allow residents their say on whether deterrents should remain

There will be a public hearing May 2 on the effectiveness of speed humps on Elm Street in Bellaire to determine whether they should remain.

City council will hold that public hearing at 6 p.m. in the city council chambers, located in city hall at 7008 South Rice Ave.

Residents’ concerns about speeding in front of their homes prompted the Bellaire city council to allow the installation of speed humps there last October.

“I want them to be permanent. We live in the middle of our block. Eight years ago our dog stepped off the curb and was killed by a speeding car. We’ve lived in our home for 18 years and speeding has been a serious problem for the past 10 years,” said Alicia Brantley, an Elm Street resident.

A group of 32 residents living in homes along Elm Street, between South Rice Avenue and the West Loop, originally petitioned the Bellaire city council in December 2014 to place, or allow to be placed, speed humps on Elm Street.

The city verified the petition in January 2015, held a public hearing on March 2, approved speed humps on March 23 and had them installed in October. Residents made the petition request under the city’s “Neigh-

borhood Traffic Improvement Program” ordinance and in concert with that law’s requirements paid the city $11,150 to cover the costs. The ordinance requires a 180-day evaluation period and a subsequent second public hearing.

Gerald Tacket has lived in Bellaire since 1959. He’s lived on Elm Street since 1993.

“Speeding was a serious problem. We would hear cars late at night accelerating down our street. We don’t hear that anymore, since the speed humps were installed. They seem to be helping,” he said.

Tackett said he does see some drivers go over the speed humps still at a rapid rate of speed, but it does slow them down.

He mentioned an occasion 15 years ago when a friend’s car was struck in front of his house, while he and the friend were speaking in the front yard, by a car thief fleeing from police. The road has long seen its share if unsafe driving, he said. Though the petition drive began in earnest in the winter of 2014, residents had been complaining about the issue and seeking city intervention for a number of years, according to Elm Street resident Kyle Simson, who led the signature drive.

“I’ve witnessed some crazy driving. I’ve witnessed a high speed chase. I saw a guy on a racing motorcycle recently doing high speed warms ups, swerving on our street. A lot of drivers use Elm as a cut through to get over to Loop 610. I recently saw a child on a bicycle nearly hit by a speeder. As residents, we are just sick of it,” said Simson back in December 2014. He has two teenage children.

He and other residents complained that drivers use Elm Street as a cutthrough to get over to the West Loop. They complained that drivers often swerve in and out around parked cars, place children in danger by speeding and dart around homeowners who are attempting to turn into their driveways.

One Elm Street mom said her nanny’s car side mirror was knocked off by a speeding driver.

Prior to installing the speed humps the city had conducted a traffic study, put up more prominent speed limit signs and restriped the street to demarcate it as a no-passing zone. Residents told the council in 2014 that drivers were still speeding and passing other drivers on Elm Street.

The city placed the speed humps at the intersections with Third Street, North Second Street and between Anderson Street and Jaquet Drive.

Police chief Byron Holloway has been observing the traffic flow.

“I have sat down there and watched traffic. It seems to be flowing very smoothly,” the chief said.

The May 2 public hearing is part of the city council’s process. Any interested Bellaire resident may speak concerning the issue. Residents also can submit emails to the council via city clerk Tracy Dutton at tdutton@ci.bellaire.tx.us.