PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The unusually snowy winter took a toll on Philadelphia, including its speed cushions — those rubber ramps that slow down traffic on residential streets.
Speed cushions proliferated during the several years in which Philadelphia’s snowfall was so negligible as to barely require plowing, so it was a bit of surprise when streets were cleared after the January storm and fragments of cushions were scattered about.
Streets Commissioner Kristin Del Rossi said plows and other snow removal equipment scrape very close to the street surface, where snow-covered speed cushions are hidden.
“When the plow is pushing the snow and it comes into contact with the rubber speed cushion, it basically pulls from the lip of the speed cushion,” she explained. “In some cases it shears the bolt and in other cases it rips the rubber cushion and it just pops right off.”
She added that about 140 cushions — 10% of the devices citywide — were impacted.
“Our crews were working around the clock trying to clear those streets with all types of equipment—backhoes, plows, skid steers,” said the commissioner. “[On] some of the smaller streets, we had to use smaller equipment, so it gets a little bit lower than the plow itself.”
According to Del Rossi, the city has the materials in-house to make repairs and is drawing up a schedule for the work. She said it’s also working on new maps for next year that will show where speed cushions are, so plow drivers can avoid popping them off the street.
In the meantime, residents should call 311 if they see a damaged cushion, to make sure it’s on the repair list.