Speed Cushions
5 Best Speed Cushions for 2026 (Ranked by Use)
Cojo
May 7, 2026
6 min read
The best speed cushion in 2026 depends on three things: does the street need to keep emergency-vehicle access open, what's the traffic mix, and is the install permanent? Cushions differ from bumps and humps in one defining way — they have wheel-track gaps that let wide-axle vehicles (fire trucks, ambulances) straddle at speed while slowing passenger cars. The ITE Traffic Calming Manual treats cushions as the standard for streets that need calming AND emergency-vehicle access on the same surface.
Below: five cushion types ranked by use case, what each one does well, and the spec details that matter when you're picking. Pairs with best speed cushions for fire-access streets and the speed cushions and tables Oregon statewide guide.
Five factors decide cushion fit:
The CISA Vehicle Ramming Mitigation guide is silent on cushions (they are traffic-calming, not security devices), so reference the ITE Traffic Calming Manual and the Federal Highway Administration's Traffic Calming ePrimer for design guidance.
A factory-manufactured rubber cushion in 4-section or 6-section assemblies with engineered wheel-track gaps. Bolts to existing asphalt or concrete with anchor hardware. Removable for snow operations or grade changes.
Specs: 6 to 8 feet wide x 6 feet long x 3 to 3.5 inches tall. Wheel-track gaps at 1.85-meter centers. Hot-dip galvanized hardware. Yellow-and-black factory color.
Cost: $2,500 to $5,500 installed each.
Pros: Removable. Modular replacement of damaged sections. Predictable factory dimensions. 5 to 8-year service life. Cons: Higher upfront cost than asphalt. Anchor maintenance every 2 to 4 years.
A continuous asphalt cushion poured in place, with wheel-track gaps formed during the pour. Custom dimensions to match local fire-apparatus axle width.
Specs: Custom width and length to match site, 3 to 4 inches tall, 4,000 psi-equivalent hot-mix asphalt with chevron paint and reflectors.
Cost: $3,500 to $7,000 installed each.
Pros: Lowest per-year cost (10 to 15-year life). Custom dimensions. Aesthetic match with surrounding pavement. Cons: Permanent -- removal requires saw-cut and patch. Not removable for snow operations.
An asphalt or concrete base cushion with brick or paver inlay on the surface for visual cohesion with surrounding hardscape.
Specs: Custom base + 6 to 8-inch brick inlay. Wheel-track gaps maintained. Mortar-set or sand-set bricks.
Cost: $5,500 to $12,000 installed each.
Pros: Visual integration with district aesthetic. Long lifespan if maintained. Adds character. Cons: Highest cost in the cushion family. Mortar replacement every 5 to 10 years. Snow plow damage to bricks.
A modular rubber cushion designed to come up before snow season and reinstall in spring. Recessed anchor sleeves remain in place; cushion sections lift off and store for the season.
Specs: Same dimensions as modular rubber (Item #1) but with quick-release anchor hardware. Recessed sleeves cast flush to pavement.
Cost: $3,200 to $6,500 installed each.
Pros: Survives unlimited plow seasons. Modular replacement. Same emergency-access function as fixed cushions during use. Cons: Storage logistics for the off-season. Higher initial cost than fixed rubber. Sleeve drainage matters.
A reinforced cushion engineered for repeated heavy-vehicle loads. Steel-reinforced rubber or concrete with engineered wheel-track gaps for both fire-apparatus and forklift wheels.
Specs: 8 to 10-inch wide tracks, 3 to 3.5 inches tall, steel-plate reinforced or 5,000 psi concrete with #5 rebar.
Cost: $4,500 to $9,500 installed each.
Pros: Survives forklift and semi-truck repeat loads. Long industrial-grade lifespan. Custom track geometry. Cons: Higher cost than residential-grade. Custom engineering review for loads above standard fire-apparatus.
| Site Profile | Recommended Cushion |
|---|---|
| Residential street, fire-access requirement | Modular rubber (#1) |
| Permanent traffic-calming, no plowing | Monolithic asphalt (#2) |
| Historic or character district | Brick-inlay decorative (#3) |
| Bend / Sisters / mountain corridor | Removable rubber (#4) |
| Industrial or distribution loading yard | Heavy-duty industrial (#5) |
This is the engineering decision that defines a cushion. The gap must be wide enough that the local fire department's apparatus can straddle the cushion at speed without bouncing.
Typical U.S. fire-apparatus axle widths:
Most modular cushions are spec'd at 1.85-meter centers, which works for engines but bounces ladder trucks. Sites that host frequent ladder-truck calls should spec 2.0 to 2.10-meter centers. Coordinate with your local fire department before ordering.
We installed 3 modular rubber speed cushions on a Salem residential fire-access road that had complaints of cut-through traffic but a fire-marshal-mandated apparatus access path. Spec'd at 1.85-meter wheel-track gaps, 6-foot wide x 6-foot long sections, hot-dip galvanized anchor hardware, factory yellow-and-black with reflective banding.
Per-cushion installed cost averaged $3,400 across the 3-cushion run. Salem Fire confirmed acceptable apparatus straddle at the post-install field test. Resident speed monitoring at 60 days showed average speeds dropped from 28 mph to 19 mph through the corridor.
Always verify current requirements with your local fire department, public works, and jurisdiction. This article reflects 2026 specifications.
Cojo installs modular rubber, monolithic asphalt, and removable speed cushions across the Oregon I-5 corridor. We coordinate wheel-track-gap dimensions with local fire departments, install on shoulder-season schedules, and stripe and sign on the same mobilization. Contact Cojo for a cushion quote.
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