Speeding in Des Moines neighborhoods has become a dangerous epidemic, but a bold new plan aims to put the brakes on reckless drivers. And this is the part most people miss: it’s not just about annoyance—it’s about safety. Excessive speed plays a role in nearly one-third of crashes on residential streets, according to city officials. That’s why Des Moines leaders have unanimously approved a comprehensive traffic calming program designed to slow drivers down and make streets safer for everyone, especially pedestrians and children.
Take Williams Street, for example, a once-quiet corridor between Easton Boulevard and University Avenue that residents like Bill Probasco describe as transforming from a “cow path” into something resembling a highway. “It’s like the interstate now,” Probasco laments. His experience isn’t unique—city engineers identified 11 areas across Des Moines where drivers routinely ignore speed limits, turning residential streets into potential danger zones.
But here’s where it gets controversial: the city’s solution includes installing 37 speed humps across multiple neighborhoods, a move that some might argue is overkill. Yet, Des Moines City Engineer Steven Nabor defends the approach, stating, “There’s a habitual problem, and we need to address it with the traffic calming program.” The humps, modeled after Detroit’s design, are seven feet long and three inches high, aimed at reducing speeds to around 15 miles per hour while still allowing emergency vehicles and buses to pass safely.
The $311,414 project doesn’t stop at speed humps. It also includes narrowing roadways, adding curb extensions, installing medians and pedestrian refuge islands, and improving signage and pavement markings. These measures are part of the 2026 traffic calming program, which seeks to create safer, more walkable neighborhoods. For residents like Probasco, the changes are long overdue. “Whatever it takes to protect the babies—that’s what matters,” he says.
Is this the right approach, or are there better ways to tackle speeding? Mayor Connie Boesen acknowledges the widespread issue, noting, “We could put speed humps on every street for the speed people are going, because all we hear about is speeding.” Construction is set to begin this summer, with completion expected by season’s end. But the question remains: will these measures truly curb speeding, or are they just a temporary band-aid on a deeper problem?
What do you think? Are speed humps and traffic calming measures the best solution, or should cities explore other strategies? Let us know in the comments below!
