Storm Drain Marking Instructions

A storm drain marking kit contains enough safety vests for all on the team, plenty of adhesive tubes, a caulking gun, a wire brush, a pair of snips to open adhesive tubes, a piercing wire (to pierce inside seal on tube), a hammer and chisel (to remove old markers if needed), rags (to help keep things clean), and the storm drain signs.

Prepare: Marking the drains should be done in teams of at least two people so that one may watch for traffic. Adult supervision is necessary with children. 

• Safety vests should be worn while marking the drains.

• Make sure the storm drain lid is flat, dry, and free of loose debris.

• The sign should be centered on the storm drain lid about 6” to 12” from the street edge. Use the brush provided to lightly scrub the surface where the marker will be placed and sweep the loose debris away from the storm drain lid.

• If old signs need to be removed, use the hammer and chisel to pry off the old signs and then follow these cleaning instructions.

• If the signs have a protective backing, peel it off.

• Prepare the caulk gun by cutting about ½ of an inch off the end of the adhesive tube and pierce the inside seal of the tube using the piercing wire. Pull back the handle of the glue gun, insert tube, and push the handle back in.

Attach: Use caution with the adhesive as it can be messy and can be difficult or impossible to remove from skin and clothing.

• On the back of the sign, place a line of adhesive around the edge about one inch from the edge. Draw an X in the middle from one corner to the opposite corner. The adhesive line should be about a quarter of an inch thick. After applying the glue, pull back on the handle to release pressure on the adhesive (or it may continue to come out).

• Position the sign over the storm drain lid so that the writing can be read from the street. It should be centered on the storm drain lid about 6” to 12” from the street edge.

• Press the sign firmly into place and use a rag to wipe away excess adhesive.

What is a Speed hump?

A speed hump is a traffic calming measure that consists of raised pavement that is placed across a roadway to reduce motorists’ speeds. Their primary purpose is to reduce speeds, but they can have a secondary effect of reducing traffic volumes. Speed humps are generally 3 to 3 ½ inches in height and 12 to 14 feet in length.

Where can speed humps be placed?

The Institute of Transportation Engineers recommends that speed humps be limited to streets with a posted speed limit of 30 mph or less, and the City’s Comprehensive Plan also has language that requires speed humps to be generally limited to residential streets and neighborhood collector streets. They are spaced at intervals to encourage motorists’ speeds of approximately 25mph between the speed humps, and at locations that won’t interfere with traffic safety at adjacent intersections.

How do I request a speed hump for my street?

If you would like your street to be considered for one or more speed humps, please contact the City’s Neighborhood Transportation Coordinator, Brian Pessaro, at brian.pessaro@stpete.org or at 727-893-7843. The process for a speed hump to be approved and constructed on your street involves four steps.

Step 1 – Traffic Study

City staff will conduct a study to measure motorists’ speeds and traffic volume to determine whether they meet the established threshold of being excessive.  For speeding, that criterion is that the 85^th-percentile speed (85% of drivers going this speed or below) is greater than 35 mph.

For streets that meet the criterion, staff will advance the project to the next step in the process.  For streets that do not meet the criterion, staff could recommend alternative efforts to be undertaken, which could include a recommendation for enforcement or other educational efforts.

Step 2 – Petition

The next step in the process is the petition.  To demonstrate community support for the speed hump(s), the City requires at least two-thirds (67%) of the residents who abut the street within the study area to sign a petition indicating that they want the proposed speed hump(s). The City will provide the petition for a neighborhood resident to circulate and return when completed.

Step 3 – Neighborhood Association Concurrence

After a completed petition is received, City staff will contact the neighborhood association where the street is located (if there is an active one for your area) and ask them to consider an amendment to their neighborhood traffic plan to approve the new speed hump(s).  Please note that because neighborhood associations were instrumental in the development of the original neighborhood traffic plans, the City considers their approval of the speed hump(s) an important step in the overall process.

Step 4 – Inclusion in the Program List

Once the proposed speed humps are approved through the completed petition and neighborhood association, the City adds them to a running list of locations for design and construction.  While funded by the City through an annual program supported by the Penny for Pinellas surtax, the City generally receives more requests for speed humps than can be accommodated within a single years' time.  Speed humps will be designed and constructed in the order in which they are approved.  

How long does the process take?

The time from the initial request to the City to when a speed hump is approved and constructed can vary considerably.  The time to complete a traffic study is generally 2 to 3 weeks.  The time to circulate a petition is determined by those who volunteer to do so.  The time for consideration by the neighborhood association varies by association, with most approving within a week to 2 months, though a few associations generally do not support the installation of traffic calming devices.  The time for design and construction varies dependent upon the number of locations currently on the Program List of approved locations and historically takes approximately 1 to 2 years.

For more information about neighborhood transportation and traffic calming, please contact:

Brian Pessaro
Neighborhood Transportation Coordinator
727-893-7843
brian.pessaro@stpete.org