About the Program
The City of Cambridge is expanding its traffic calming efforts through a new Speed Hump Pilot Program designed to make residential streets safer and more comfortable for everyone. Funded in part by Participatory Budgeting, where residents voted to dedicate $250,000 toward reducing neighborhood speeding, the program will deliver 48 new speed humps on key residential streets citywide. The first nine speed humps are scheduled for installation in November 2025.
What is a speed hump?
Speed humps are gradual, raised areas of pavement across the roadway designed to slow traffic while maintaining reasonable comfort for drivers and cyclists. They differ from speed bumps commonly found in parking lots by being longer and lower, allowing vehicles to pass over them at safe, reduced speeds.
Why speed humps?
Speed humps:
- Help reduce vehicle speeds on residential streets.
- Can be installed more quickly and widely than traditional traffic calming measures like raised intersections or crosswalks.
- Are proven tools used by many nearby cities to improve safety for all road users.
How are locations selected?
The first speed hump locations were selected based on prior requests from residents and the Cambridge City Council, serving as an initial pilot. Moving forward, new locations will be evaluated using both community-submitted traffic calming requests and several criteria, including:
- Traffic data (vehicle speeds and volumes),
- Street width and grade,
- Proximity to schools, hospitals and other sensitive land uses
- Crash history
- Part of a primary or secondary emergency response route
Please note: Parking may be temporarily restricted during construction, but speed hump installation will not result in the permanent loss of any on-street parking spaces.
Construction signage, pavement markings, and warning signs will be posted in advance in each neighborhood. Those wishing to provide us with feedback can fill out this feedback form.
Current and Past Installations
2026 Speed Hump Work
In Fall of 2026, speed humps were installed on the following streets:
Already Completed Speed Humps:
- Clarendon Ave - Construction Completed
- Gold Star Road - Construction Completed
- Rice Street - Construction Completed
- Fayerweather Street - Construction Completed
- Raymond Street - Construction Completed
- Buckingham Street - Construction Completed
- Coolidge Ave - Construction Completed
- Magee Street - Construction Completed
November 2026 Speed Humps Work:
- Hurley Street
- Charles Street
- Second Street
- Windsor Street
2025 Speed Hump Work
Installation of speed humps were installed on the following streets in 2025:
- Dover Street – 1 speed hump
- Between City Line and Mass Ave
- Lakeview Avenue – 2 speed humps
- Between Malcolm Rd and Worthington St
- Field Street and Garden Street (near Universal Playground) – 3 speed humps
- Field St (2 speed humps) between Fern St and Alpine St
- Garden Street near Alpine Street
- Reservoir Street – 1 speed hump
- Between Huron Ave and Vassal Lane
- Walden Street – 2 speed humps
- Between Vassal Lane and Concord Ave
