Panama City tests speed cushions and outlines neighborhood petition plan for paving

Neighborhood residents told the commission they are seeing high speeds on local streets and asked what tools the city offers. A recent arrival, Patty, said drivers "blow through the stop sign" on Woodridge Road and asked whether the city had yard signs, speed humps or a movable radar trailer to slow traffic.

Staff responded that the city has three movable radar trailers used for traffic studies and is piloting speed cushions — rubber prototypes designed with gaps to allow ambulances and fire trucks to cross without impact. "They're basically speed bumps, but they have breaks in between them so that ambulances and fire trucks can get over them very quickly," staff explained. The city said three prototype cushions have been installed and are being evaluated for reliability and unintended consequences such as maintenance and bolt failures.

Officials also said they are developing a neighborhood petition program modeled on county participation paving, where neighbors agree to share costs and the city assists with planning and financing options. Staff described the program as allowing neighbors to request traffic-calming or paving improvements with estimates of cost and potential assessments so residents can make an informed choice.

Separately, residents discussed a rails‑with‑trails and bike‑lane network to connect neighborhoods and downtown; staff said the city is coordinating with county and regional partners and advocates to pursue phased trail construction and separated bike facilities where feasible.

Next steps: Staff will continue trials of speed cushions, make traffic‑study radar trailers available for neighborhood data collection and develop the neighborhood petition/paving program for future adoption.