The narrow street runs parallel to Lincoln Avenue and is often used by drivers as a cut-through to Willow Street and Minnesota Avenue. Because it is a long, straight street, residents said drivers ignore the 25-mph speed limit and go up to 60 mph.

"It irks me to death that people speed down this block," said longtime Willow Glen resident Ann Beers.

Beers has lived on Blewett Avenue for 24 years and said the problem has been ongoing.

"There have been discussions on and off with the city about speeding since we moved here," Beers said. "But in the last 10 years, more and more younger people have moved in and have young children, so it's become a bigger discussion."

About eight years ago, the neighbors tried to get the city to do something more permanent, Beers said.

"But because it's considered a route for the fire engines, they wouldn't put speed bumps on the street."

Since that time the Beerses resigned themselves to things being the way they are.

Then newcomers Heather Butler and Bill Cardoza moved to Blewett Avenue about a year ago and took up the fight.

"When we first moved in, we realized that there weren't any neighbors in front of their homes," Butler said. "It's scary. People speed through here at more than 50 mph."

Butler and Cardoza did their homework on the issue and are reaching out to city officials.

"There have been three traffic studies done in the last five years, and the results are always the same; the average speed is 26 mph," Butler said. "But high speeds range from 50 to 60 mph. The volume of cars is not the issue, nor is the average speed. We're just afraid there's going to be a fatality one of these days."

Laura Wells, San Jose department of transportation division manager for neighborhood traffic, said speed has actually gone down in the past 10 years.

"Back in 1995, the average speeds were between 28 and 30 mph," Wells said. "Since then, they have dropped to 25 to 26 mph due to the neighborhood automated speed-compliance program [NASCOP] implementation."

The program places a photo radar machine on neighborhood streets to detect speeders. The other traffic-calming measure in place is radar trailers.

"NASCOP has brought the number of chronic speeders down, and I would love to continue focusing on that program," Wells said. "We could also bring a radar trailer and work with the police department."

But since the average speed on Blewett Avenue is 25 to 26 mphs, which is consistent with the citywide average, speed bumps are not an option, Wells said.

There have, however, been studies done that show installing street trees that create a canopy help to lower speed, Wells said.

But neighbors on Blewett Avenue have already looked at that option. They are unable to plant large trees because the park strips are too small, said Renee Turnacder, a Blewett Avenue resident.

Turnacder has an infant and is worried about her daughter's safety.

Butler, Cardoza and a handful of other neighbors are meeting with Wells to discuss the problem and possible solutions.

"We want Blewett Avenue to be a front-yard community," Butler said. "Speed needs to be controlled, and we're not going to stop until something gets done. Even the ice cream truck speeds through here."