Hold onto your cups, speed bumps could return to Riverton streets. 

City leaders discussed the idea in October to possibly reintroduce speed bumps as a way to dissuade speeding vehicles. 

Councilmember Andy Pierucci, who requested the discussion, said speed bumps aren’t the solution to every problem, “but it could be the solution for some of the speeding problems.”

The question comes as a result of differing interpretations on city code passed in 2018 that nixed all future speed bumps after a unanimous council vote. Any proposed humps were no longer installed after Oct. 1, 2018. 

But the language of the ordinance left a question for city staff to decipher whether existing speed bumps should remain after new asphalt is overlaid, or whether they should be removed during that process. 

City Manager Kevin Hicks requested more guidance and direction from the council. “My reading of the ordinance is any speed bumps prior to 2018 should still stay there even after an overlay.” 

While Mayor Trent Staggs said his understanding from a previous public works director was those speed bumps would be removed. 

No other surrounding cities allow permanent speed bumps, said Public Works Director Cary Necaise, though Bluffdale allows temporary ones. Necaise noted research on how effective speed bumps are goes both ways, he cited noise ordinance violations, snow plow damage and slower emergency response times as reasons people request no speed bumps. 

For Councilmember Troy McDougal who has one in front of his house, he feels it does not solve speeding. While it slows some people down, it also encourages other demographics to go faster. 

“It’s not a silver bullet,” he said, later adding “enforcement is really the only that really has teeth.” 

Pierucci preferred to have speed bumps be an option and suggested the language in city code prohibiting speed bumps be removed. In an effort to find traffic calming measures, speed bumps are historically one way to do it, he said. 

“I would like to see that tool return to our toolkit as an option where it makes sense,” he said. “I just think we’re shortchanging ourselves when we completely eliminate that tool as an option.”

He pointed to Shaggy Peak Drive as a place where a speed bump would be effective, having had one there previously. 

Councilmember Tish Buroker said the original ordinance was wise at the time but “the neighborhoods who lost their speed bumps, they mourn their loss to this day.” 

She suggested they look at cut out speed bumps like they have in Salt Lake City, that would allow fire trucks to pass through quickly without damaging the vehicle. 

The majority of the council expressed interest in reintroducing speed bumps through a formal process with future discussions to be had before any ordinance changes are made.