ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The clock is ticking to slow down vehicles before graduation season in Allentown. And the mayor says he wants his city to be the slowest in America.
New speed cushions designed to slow vehicles went up Tuesday on Parkway Boulevard.
It comes as the city works to cut down on an alarming number of pedestrian injuries and fatalities.
City administrators want Malcom W. Gross Rose Garden at Cedar Creek Park to be safe for everyone who comes down to take graduation pictures this spring.
Speed cushions were installed on Tuesday along Parkway Boulevard, and they’re being installed all over the city.
Across Allentown, Traffic Control Specialist Bill DeLong says speeding is the biggest problem. Speed cushions can help prevent it.
“It makes everyone pay attention to what’s going on,” DeLong said.
DeLong says there were seven pedestrian fatalities in the city last year.
Allentown is using grant money secured since 2023 to install speed cushions in five different locations across the city.
“These are like a hard rubber material, and we bolt them into the street,” said Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk.
The cushions are being placed across from heavily traveled parks and schools, including next to Union Terrace Elementary.
“They’re fairly inexpensive, so a set is $2,500 so It’s an inexpensive way to make the city safer. I’d love to see them in other parts of the city,” said Mayor Tuerk.
Speed cushions will be on Parkway Boulevard for 2 to 3 years, then, DeLong says, they can be picked up and re-used.
“They’re not done. They find another home they can be recycled. That’s why it’s a great product we can keep moving them around and re-installing them,” DeLong said.
The next set will be laid down by next week on Ott Street, at the entrance to the Cedar Creek Pool.