Cleveland drivers are about to feel a lot more bumps in the road. City crews are set to install 200 new speed tables this year, bringing the total to roughly 400 of the raised traffic‑calming devices on neighborhood streets. The expanded rollout builds on a multi‑year pilot and the earlier first 100 phase, all aimed at slowing drivers on residential blocks where speeding and crashes have been persistent headaches. Some neighbors who begged for the tables say they finally feel safer, while others grumble about the noise, rattling, and wear on their cars as crews move into new areas.
City rolls out massive buildout
According to News 5 Cleveland, the city plans to install 200 speed tables this year, which will bring the total in use to about 400. News 5 cameras were rolling as crews put in three tables along Cook Avenue and interviewed Division of Traffic Engineering Commissioner Robert Mavec, who said post‑installation analyses show vehicle speeds typically drop anywhere between nine miles per hour and ten miles per hour. The station also spoke with resident Ria Terra Nova‑Webb, who said she has petitioned for traffic‑calming on her block after a fatal crash there.
Pilot data shows drivers hitting the brakes
The city's Speed Table Pilot Evaluation Report found consistent slowdowns at test locations, with mean speeds falling by about 7.8 miles per hour and 85th‑percentile speeds dropping roughly 8.9 miles per hour after installation. The pilot, launched in summer 2022 and evaluated in May 2023, used modular and formed asphalt tables across ten pilot sites to track changes in speed, crash history, and resident feedback, according to the City of Cleveland. City documents state that those results helped secure ARPA and City Council discretionary funding for a wider program.
How the asphalt bumps get built
Local crews are currently building asphalt speed tables directly on the roadway. News 5 Cleveland reported that crews laid about 12 inches of asphalt and formed a three‑inch rise in the center of each table before adding paint and warning signs. To keep pace with the expanded schedule, the city has also issued a requirements bid for asphalt speed‑table installation and flexible delineator bollards that closes on June 30, as it looks to hire contractors, according to the City of Cleveland. The request for bids details ODOT asphalt specifications, thermoplastic markings, and traffic‑control requirements for every installation.
Neighbors split over the plan
Reaction to the blocks where the tables have appeared has been sharply mixed. Coverage by WOIO/Cleveland19 shows some residents near earlier installations complaining about vibrations and changes to how heavy vehicles move along their streets, even as other neighbors and petitioners say the tables have cut down on dangerous speeding. City officials say the program includes advanced signage, pavement markings, and post‑installation reviews to respond to quality‑of‑life concerns.
Which streets get tables and how to ask for one
The program is designed for local streets with medium traffic volumes of about 1,000 to 4,000 vehicles per day and documented speeding issues. Residents can nominate a block using an online form or by filing a 311 request, according to the City of Cleveland. Officials say installations will continue through 2026 and that an interactive map will be updated as locations are confirmed, while staff carry out follow‑up speed studies to measure how well the tables are working. For questions, the city lists a [email protected] contact and notes that snow‑plow training and signage are part of the rollout in an effort to minimize service disruptions.
