La Mesa is testing two temporary speed humps on Date Avenue and is seeking public feedback before placing them in neighborhoods.
LA MESA, Calif. — If you’re driving through La Mesa, you may notice a new bump in the road – literally.
The City of La Mesa is testing temporary speed humps on Date Avenue near City Hall and the police station as part of a pilot program aimed at slowing traffic and improving neighborhood safety.
Unlike traditional concrete speed humps, these are made of rubber composite material. They’re temporary, can be moved, and are already on the road, giving drivers a chance to experience them. The humps are built for speeds of about 20 miles per hour.
La Mesa Mayor Mark Arapostathis said the flexibility allows the city to test traffic-calming measures in different neighborhoods.
“We can deploy them when we can see and get data from that neighborhood [on] how speed humps have effectively calmed traffic, and if it goes further, they may even have permanent speed humps in that neighborhood,” he said.
Arapostathis also said the temporary humps are far more cost-effective. Traditional concrete speed humps can cost around $20,000, while the rubber composite versions range from about $2,000 to $4,000.
As part of the program, the city is asking drivers to share their experience through an online survey. The survey focuses on ride comfort, visibility, whether the humps slowed drivers down, and overall safety.
The temporary speed humps will remain on Date Avenue through the end of the year. After that, the city plans to test another version designed for 25-mile-per-hour streets.
Arapostathis is encouraging residents to experience the humps themselves.
“We’re asking people to come and actually drive their car on Date, maybe on their way to the post office, to the library, if they have business … test them out and see what they feel like,” he said.
You can find a link to the survey here. Feedback can also be submitted by email at traffic@cityoflamesa.gov.