ITE Fact Sheet

City of El Mirage — Regular Meeting (2021-01-21)

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Traffic Calming Fact Sheets 
May 2018 Update 
Speed Cushion 
 
Description: 
• 
Two or more raised areas placed laterally across a roadway with gaps between raised areas 
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Height and length similar to a speed hump; spacing of gaps allow emergency vehicles to pass 
through at higher speeds 
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Often placed in a series (typically spaced 260 to 500 feet apart) 
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Sometimes called speed lump, speed slot, and speed pillow 
Applications: 
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Appropriate on local and collector streets 
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Appropriate at mid-block locations only 
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Not appropriate on grades greater than 8 percent 
 (Source: James Barrera, Horrocks, New Mexico) 
(Source: Delaware Department of Transportation) 
ITE/FHWA Traffic Calming EPrimer: https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/speedmgt/traffic_calm.cfm 
Design/Installation Issues: 
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Two or more cushions at each location 
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Typically 12 to 14 feet in length and 7 feet in width 
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Cushion heights range between 3 and 4 inches, with trend toward 3 - 3 ½ inches maximum 
• 
Speed cushion shapes include parabolic, circular, and sinusoidal 
• 
Material can be asphalt or rubber 
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Often have associated signing (advance-warning sign before first cushion at each cushion) 
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Typically have pavement markings (zigzag, shark's tooth, chevron, zebra) 
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Some have speed advisories 
Potential Impacts: 
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Limited-to-no impact on non-emergency access 
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Speeds determined by height and spacing; speed reductions between cushions have been 
observed averaging 20 and 25 percent  
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Speeds typically increase by 0.5 mph midway between cushions for each 100 feet of separation 
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Studies indicate that average traffic volumes have reduced by 20 percent depending on 
alternative routes available 
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Average collision rates have been reduced by 13 percent on treated streets  
Emergency Response Issues: 
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Speed cushions have minimal impact on emergency response times, with less than a 1 second 
delay experienced by most emergency vehicles  
Typical Cost (2017 dollars): 
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Cost ranges between $3,000 and $4,000 for a set of rubber cushions