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City of El Mirage — Regular Meeting (2025-02-04)

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Engineering 
Community  Development Services Department 
10000 N El Mirage Road, El Mirage 85335 
623-972-8116; Fax 623-876-4605; TDD 623-933-3258 
www.elmirageaz.gov 
 
 
CITY OF EL MIRAGE POLICY FOR  SPEED CUSHION INSTALLATION PROGRAM  
 
Dated: July 1, 2020 
Revised: February 4, 2025 
 
Request & Evaluation - Residents may request speed cushions through a petition process to 
address speeding concerns. An engineering and safety evaluation of any speed cushion request 
will be made by the City of El Mirage to determine that the guidelines listed below are met. 
Since speed cushions have a wide-ranging impact not only on the vehicles crossing them, but 
also on the residents living on the immediate and nearby streets, the installation will be studied 
within the context of an overall Neighborhood Traffic Management Study. Speed cushion 
requests will be handled in the order in which they are received. City staff will coordinate with 
the requestora Traffic Engineer to select the proposed locations for installation. The cost of the 
evaluation and the installation of any approved speed cushions will be paid for by the City based 
on the annual funding available.  provided. 
 
Speed - Speed cushions will be considered on local or collector streets where the posted speed 
limit does not exceed 30 mph. See Page 7 for Street Classifications and Page 8 for Speed Limits. 
Should the 85th percentile speed on these streets exceed the posted speed limit by 58 mph or 
more by at least 85% of those vehicles using the streeton any day or in any direction, speed 
cushions may be considered. If the speed requirements are not met at the time of the initial study, 
then a second study can be conductedmay be  twelverequested twelve months later to determine 
if the street meets the qualification. 
Traffic Volumes – Each individual street location should be evaluated to justify installing speed 
cushions. Streets with total volumes (both directions) less than 400 vehicles per day will not be 
considered for speed cushions. However, if a study shows that area drivers are using a street as a 
"cut-through" route, then speed cushions may be installed regardless of speed or volumes. 
Emergency and Transit Routes – Prior to approving the  locations for speed cushion 
installation, the proposed locations will be reviewed with police, fire,  ambulance and other 
emergency services departments. In addition, consideration will may also be given to other 
potentially affected groups such as transit agencies, school districts, refuse collection agencies, 
etc. Should the proposed installation of speed cushions have a significant impact on providing 
emergency services or other critical services, the request for the installation may be denied. 
Resident Neighborhood Surveys – Once it is determined that speed cushions are warranted, a 
petition process will be used where the individual or group that made the request (the 
“Requestor”) will be required to gather signatures from properties that have frontage along the 
affected street. Prior to obtaining signatures, City staff will determine the Ppetition Aarea and 
provide the Requestor with the signature form that will include the property addresses and a map 
of the proposed cushion locations. . Resident surveys are required to determine support for speed 
cushion installation after it is determined that a particular street is eligible for speed cushions. A 
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documented majorityWithin the Petition Area, sixty percent (60%) of the residents properties 
must approve the installation of the cushions.should be in favor of speed cushion installations. 
Signatures from eitherof the owner or the occupant are acceptable. Where proposed speed 
cushion locations are determined, 100% of those signatures of the properties within 100 feet are 
required, whereas, 75% of the resident’s signatures on the rest of the affected street are required. 
If the area contains a Homeowners’ Association (HOA) common area, the HOA Board must gain 
approval through board action documented in the official meeting minutes. Petitions shall be 
completed and returned to the City of El Mirage within three months. 
 
 
Several items of note regarding the Neighborhood Survey are as follows: 
 Either property owners or tenants may sign the petition 
 The City will attempt to contact the owner of any vacant lots for a vote 
 Properties that have rear frontage along the Petition Area will be included in the survey 
 If no response is received from a property, occupied or vacant, it will be considered a 
“no” vote 
Speed Cushion Installation – After obtaining all studies, approvals, and appropriate 
neighborhoodand the Neighborhood Ssurveys, City staff will present the project to City Council 
for approval. Upon Council approval, the City staff will arrange to have its contractor install the 
speed cushions at the City’s expense. Appropriate signages and striping will be installed by the 
City. 
Speed Cushion Removal – Installations cannot be considered for removal for at least one year 
after installation. The process to remove the installation cushions must follows the same petition 
requirements and Council approval used in the original installation. 
Contact: Bryce Christo, Assistant City Engineer, at 623-876-2974 
 
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COMMUNITY  DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT  
ENGINEERING DIVISION 
10000 N. El Mirage Road 
 
 
El Mirage, AZ 85335 
Phone:  623-876-2974 
www.elmirageaz.gov 
 
 
SPEED CUSHION REQUEST FORM 
 
Residents may begin the process for requesting sSpeed cCushions through the El Mirage Engineering 
Division.  Please read the “City of El Mirage Policy for Speed Cushion Installation Program" on pages 1 and 
2 to determine if your street is eligible and for the full process and requirements.  The Engineering Division 
will review and approve/deny the request.   
 
 
Staff will conduct have a traffic count study performed on the street to determine vehicle speeds and 
volumes.  Local and collector streets with 85th percentile speeds at least 58 miles per hour above 
the posted speed limit and volumes over 400 vehicles per day may qualify. 
 
If warrants are met, a Traffic Engineer will prepare a report and exhibit that will determine preliminary 
Staff will identify proposed speed cushion locations and create a "Preliminary Location" map.  
 
Staff will review the locations with emergency service departments and other affected agencies.   
 
Staff will create and send the Rrequestor a petition with the area addresses required to collect 
signatures.   
 
100% of properties within 100 feet of the proposed locations & 6075% of properties within the 
Petition Area on the rest of the affected street must sign and indicate "YES" for the request to be 
completed.  
 
 
Please complete the information below: 
 
 
 
Requested Street to be Considered: _______________________________________________________________ 
Nearest Cross Street: __________________________________________________________________________ 
Contact Name: ____________________________     Address: __________________________________________ 
Phone Number: ___________________________      Email Address: _____________________________________ 
 
I understand this request will be processed according to the procedures detailed in the "City of El Mirage Policy for 
Speed Cushion Installation Program".  I agree to be the contact person for the above request. 
  
 
Signature of Applicant _________________________________________________   Date ____________________ 
  
 
 
Please send the completed form to: 
 
City of El Mirage 
Community Development Services Department -– Engineering Division 
Re:  Speed Cushion Request 
10000 N. El Mirage Road 
El Mirage, AZ 85335

For Office Use Only 
 APPROVED            DENIED