Speed tables installed in Squirrel Hill as part of city’s traffic calming initiative

PITTSBURGH — A recent traffic study found more than 75 percent of vehicles traveling on Shady Avenue in Squirrel Hill exceeded the posted speed limit of 25 mph, according to the city of Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI). Officials said the rate of speeding, along with crash history, indicated a strong need for traffic calming intervention.

This week, crews installed two speed tables, a modified version of a speed hump, between Beacon Street and Phillips Avenue.

“People like to gun it when they see the stretch of road going up the hill,” said Maxwell Hutchinson, who walks his one-year-old daughter to school every day – which he said isn’t always smooth sailing.

“Sometimes, cars have, you know, come up pretty close to the sidewalk or even up onto the grass margin before, especially at the top by the light trying to zip around. If they do that fast, they might hit us,” Hutchinson said.

So the City of Pittsburgh is taking action to keep pedestrians and drivers safe by putting the traffic calming project into motion along this busy road. It’s the latest move from DOMI to get drivers to slow down in busy, walkable neighborhoods.

“I haven’t noticed too many people speeding or driving badly, but it makes me feel better that they’re there,” said Christopher Best

Channel 11 spoke with people who live in the area, a few of whom shared concerns about traffic and weather, but most are in favor of the project.

“We think they’re great. We’re excited to see what it does for the street. We’re glad they’re here and that the city is trying to reduce the speed here,” Hutchinson said.

Work on the speed tables should be done by Friday.

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