A newly released report from the Philadelphia City Controller’s Office details extensive noncompliance in speed cushions installed outside city schools, finding that nearly all reviewed locations failed to meet contract specifications and accepted engineering safety standards.
Christy Brady announced Thursday that her office reviewed 140 speed cushions placed at 44 Philadelphia schools. The installations, completed from 2023 through 2025, were carried out under City Council Ordinance 230103, requiring traffic-calming measures near schools under the city’s Vision Zero effort to eliminate traffic-related deaths and serious injuries.
Of the 140 speed cushions examined, only two met the height and ramp length dimensions specified in the contract blueprints. Engineers determined that 99% of the installations did not match the approved design measurements.
“We looked at 140 speed cushions, and of that amount, only two were installed properly,” Brady said.
The review was prompted by concerns raised by residents across the city regarding newly installed speed cushions. Speed cushions are designed to slow vehicle speeds in school zones to protect pedestrians, particularly children.
Although the contract blueprints complied with guidance issued by PennDOT, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), the Controller’s Engineering Unit found widespread discrepancies between the approved designs and the actual field installations.
Inspectors identified slope as the primary concern. While transportation guidelines cap the grade at 10% for speed cushions, measurements found that 95% exceeded that threshold. In several cases, the cushions were built at slopes two to three times above the recommended maximum.
“What we found were grades that were two to three times the amount; 95% of the speed cushions we looked at were at an improper grade,” Brady said.
About 95% of the cushions measured in the study were above the 10% grade threshold. According to the report, excessive grades may create safety risks even when drivers are traveling at posted speed limits. The Controller’s Office noted that overly steep cushions can increase the risk of vehicle damage, loss of control, and impediments to emergency vehicles.
Beyond slope concerns, inspectors documented additional inconsistencies. Some speed cushions were constructed too high, leading to vehicle damage as cars passed over them. Others were built too low to the ground and were not completely effective as traffic-calming devices. The report also noted that drivers who do not significantly reduce speed may experience an unexpected jolt, potentially damaging suspension systems or the plastic aerodynamic skirts under vehicles.
One driver described that experience outside Henry Lawton Elementary in the Wissahickon neighborhood. Bruce Williams told 6abc that his Toyota Prius sustained damage after crossing a speed cushion near the school.
“I’m probably doing about 12 miles an hour and I still bumped my skirt on the car,” Williams said, pointing to scrapes and other visible damage.
The financial scope of the installations reviewed in the report is significant. The estimated average cost for speed cushion and related traffic calming installations was approximately $51,000 per school. Across the 44 schools examined, the total project value amounted to roughly $2.2 million.
In response to the findings, Brady called on the city to correct the deficiencies or pursue financial recovery from contractors responsible for noncompliant installations.
“The city needs to bring existing speed cushions into compliance with safety standards or seek restitution from the vendors who installed the ones that do not conform,” Brady said.
The report also recommends stronger supervision and quality control over contractors during installation, along with standardized inspection and measurement procedures to prevent future noncompliance.
