Speed Cushion Program

Speed cushions can help control speeding on neighborhood streets, by reducing average speeds. Unlike traditional police enforcement, speed cushions provide continuous service. They may also help discourage cut-through traffic by diverting it elsewhere without slowing emergency fire response times.

Yes. Some of the disadvantages include:

• Residents living near speed cushions may experience increased noise levels as vehicles traverse speed cushions day and night.
  
• Although it’s rare, vehicles may drive on sidewalks or through front yards to avoid speed cushions.
• Traffic may be diverted to previously quiet parallel streets in the neighborhood.
• Speed cushions may block the flow of drainage water on some streets and can cause flooding problems. 
  
• Speed cushions interfere with street repaving, decreasing the effectiveness of both the speed cushion and the new pavement surface.
  
• Speed cushions require signing and striping, which some residents consider unattractive.
  
• On-street parking may be prohibited in certain locations.
  
• Motorized street sweeping equipment cannot be used at speed cushion locations.

Yes. Petitions help show whether strong resident support for speed cushions exists. The City will designate a petition boundary area which usually consists of homes along the street where speed cushions are proposed. Residents must obtain support from at least 70 percent of residents in the petition boundary area, and from every resident whose home is within 100 feet of a proposed speed cushion.

Speed cushions are permitted on minor collector streets in residential areas where average daily traffic (ADT) is below 10,000 vehicles per day and where the speed limit is at or below 30 mph. 

S​peed cushions are not permitted:

• Within 200 feet of a STOP sign, YIELD sign or traffic signal. 
  
• Closer than 500 feet apart.
  
• On or near steep grades or sharp curves.
  
• At locations that the City of Phoenix Fire or Street Transportation Departments deem unsuitable for speed cushions.

Each speed cushion, with required signing and striping, costs approximately $5,500 to install. Depending on a street’s documented average speed, residents pay a portion of the cost, as shown in the table. Residents can collect and pay their portion of the cost of speed cushions any way they prefer.

Average speed on a street:                                   Cost to residents per cushion

Posted speed limit or less                                           $2,800

1-4 miles per hour above speed limit                     $ 500

5 miles per hour or more above speed limit       $ 200

Speed threshold can be reduced by 1 MPH for cushions within 250 feet of a park or school. 

The Street Transportation Department reserves the right to change pricing structure without notice.                                                  

The first step in the process is talking with your neighbors to assess support for the possible installation of speed cushions. The second step would be ​a traffic study, which will show the average speed of vehicles using a street. To request a study, residents should complete and return the Speed Cushion Study Request form and obtain signatures representing ten households on your street. A separate form should be completed for each street where cushions are to be considered.

Signing this form does not commit residents to support speed cushions, nor does it commit them to provide funding in the future.

1. ​Residents should speak with their neighbors to gauge neighborhood support for a possible traffic calming installation.
2. Residents complete and return a Speed Cushion Study Request ​form (PDF) with signatures representing ten households on the street where cushion are proposed. (Each additional street requires an additional form.)
   
3. City staff conducts a preliminary inspection of the street to determine if speed cushions are appropriate. If the street is not suited for cushions, staff notifies residents in writing that their street is not eligible for speed cushions.
   
4. If the street is eligible for speed cushions, staff conducts a traffic study to document the speed of traffic.
   
5. Residents are notified about the results of the study and the corresponding speed cushion fee.
6. If residents wish to pursue speed cushions, they notify city staff. Residents and staff work together to determine appropriate locations for speed cushions, and staff prepares a map showing the proposed locations. Staff may perform a drainage review as needed to assess the potential for flooding. 
7. Residents speak with their neighbors to gain support for possible placement of speed cushions.
   
8. City staff will prepare a petition and provide it to the residents to circulate. Residents must document at least 70 percent support from the affected area and 100 percent support from residences within 100 feet of any proposed speed cushion.
   
9. Residents submit signed petitions back to the city along with the appropriate speed cushion fee.
10. City staff verifies the petitions.
    
11. If consensus building is adequate, staff notifies its contractor to install the cushions as shown on the petitions. After installation, staff will sign and stripe the cushions according to city standards.

1. If, during petitioning, residents wish to change the location of one or more speed cushions, or add speed cushions to the proposal, they must notify city staff. Staff will prepare new petitions showing the new proposal, and residents must discard all previous petitions, signed or unsigned.
2. Residents may circulate petitions and obtain signatures for up to 6 months from the distribution of the petitions. Any petitions older than 6 months that are submitted to the city will be rejected.
   

To Remove An Installed Speed Cushion

1. If, at a future time, residents want to remove one or more installed speed cushions, they must submit a petition with at least 51% approval of the original affected area. If approved, residents must pay to remove the cushions.