Speed Humps Concern Laurel Drive Residents

Two Laurel Drive residents told the Springfield Township Committee at its Tuesday meeting that recently-installed speed humps are not only ineffective but have negatively impacted the quality of their lives.

First to speak was Mark Rodrick. Upon seeing him approach the podium, Committeeman Ziad Andrew Shehady stepped down from the dais and stated that there has been "some uneasiness about Mr. Rodrick's recent disrespectful and belligerent" behavior in the form of phone calls to township employees and suggested that a uniformed police officer remain in close proximity.


Rodrick read two letters, one penned by his neighbor who has lived on Laurel Drive for 56 years and one written by Rodrick's wife, an attorney. Both letters expressed the residents' annoyance at the placement of the humps and what they deem to be their ineffectiveness. Each said because the humps are a fair distance apart, drivers increase their speed immediately after driving over them. Both residents also stated that they did not feel they were given ample notice about the installation of the humps.

Rodrick's wife, who addressed her letter to Shehady, wrote that the findings and proposals for speed calming devices that she had requested in advance of a meeting held on Columbus Day 2012 were never provided to her and it was only when she returned from vacation 10 months later that she found speed humps directly in front of her home as well as fluorescent signs that she believes would be better suited to a commercial setting such as a shopping center parking lot.

"While I'm sure that the Township Committee was aware of the proposed placement directly in front of my home, it was never communicated to me," Rodrick wrote. "I find this whole speed hump issue to have been handled abhorrently by the township. It was pushed through on holidays and implemented without our knowledge during August when so many residents were away. My husband and I both work and cannot attend every meeting. That is why we entrust the members of the committee to protect our interests. Clearly, our interests have not been protected. The township did not consider other conservative measures."

In their letters, both residents wanted to know why speed limit signs or police monitoring for speeding motorists were not considered prior to the installation.

Rodrick and Mayor David Amlen had a brief but heated exchange after Rodrick was told his allotted five minutes at the podium were up.

"Why was I not provided a letter to my home saying that you were placing this device directly in front of it?" Rodrick asked multiple times.

Amlen said it's not common practice to notify residents when a speed hump or bump is installed.

"I'm sorry if it inconveniences your quality of life," Amlen said. "I think it's the luck of the draw that you happen to be at the point in the street that the traffic specialist determined was the proper placement for this speed hump."

"I have no data from the traffic specialist; I requested that," Rodrick stated. "I have no reports. I have no tickets. I have no history of tickets. I have no history of speeding. I have no history of counting cars since Columbus Day of last year when I requested it in this forum. That data has not been provided."

"The back and forth is not going on," said Amlen, referring to the continuing exchange after Rodrick exceeded his allotted time. "I'm done answering you. You're totally disrespectful. You ask a question and then you interrupt me. Please sit down."

Rodrick said he will be at every meeting going forward until the speed humps are removed. He also told Amlen he would file a complaint with the county and the state if the data that he has requested through the Open Public Records Act is not provided to him within the required timeframe. 

A second resident, who lives at the opposite end of Laurel where the speed hump is slightly higher and in front of his home, said he cannot possibly get over the hump without scratching and damaging his Corvette. 

"I have seen at least five different cars speeding over it and there are sparks flying," he said. 

Amlen said that over the last five or six years many residents in the town have requested speed-calming measures. He said that on the advice of police and the traffic specialist, last year it was determined that Tooker Avenue would receive speed humps. So far, there have been no problems there, he said. At the time, he added, Laurel Drive residents were upset that they did not receive the speed humps, but "there is only a finite amount of money."

Amlen said while it's unfortunate when a resident feels he has been singled out, this was not the case. He then suggested the resident speak with Sam Mardini, Assistant Township Engineer, to see if anything could be done.

The Township Committee will meet next at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24.