Traffic and Parking Commission approves speed cushions on three Las Vegas streets

The Las Vegas Traffic and Parking Commission on March 27, 2025, approved installation of speed cushions on O'Bannon Drive, Via Olivero Avenue and Alaska Avenue after staff presented traffic studies showing speeds well above the posted limit and persistent cut‑through traffic.

Sean Robinson, assistant city traffic engineer, told the commission the transportation engineering division collected speed and volume data and conducted neighborhood outreach before recommending calming measures. "Our study revealed that the posted speed limit on O'Bannon Drive is 25 miles per hour, significantly higher at 33 miles per hour," Robinson said, and he reported an 80th‑percentile speed of about 39 mph on that segment.

Staff said they mailed notices to households adjacent to the proposed improvements and summarized responses: for O'Bannon Drive, mailers went to 69 properties and the city recorded 10 responses in support, 3 opposed and 56 nonresponses; for Via Olivero Avenue staff mailed 77 notices and recorded 5 in support, 2 opposed and 70 nonresponses; and for Alaska Avenue mailers went to 27 properties with 5 supportive responses and none opposed. Robinson also told the commission that roughly 60% of daily traffic on the O'Bannon segment and about 70% on Via Olivero were cut‑through vehicles, figures staff used to evaluate eligibility under the city's Neighborhood Traffic Management Program.

Robinson said measured speeds on the three streets exceeded the 25 mph posted limit by wide margins: he reported an average speed of about 33 mph and an 80th percentile near 39 mph on O'Bannon Drive; an average near 38 mph and an 80th percentile around 46 mph on Via Olivero Avenue; and an average near 40 mph with an 80th percentile about 48 mph on Alaska Avenue between Kayak Drive and Sunbeam Drive. Robinson noted that the Institute of Transportation Engineers estimates traffic calming devices can reduce excessive speeds by about 20–25% and cut‑through traffic by up to 20% when sited appropriately.

The Transportation Engineering Division recommended a mix of full‑width humps and speed cushions. For O'Bannon staff proposed full‑width humps at four locations near American Family Park and six speed cushions elsewhere on the corridor; staff said full‑width humps help reduce motorcycle high‑speed gaps while cushions allow larger emergency vehicles to straddle them. Robinson said the City of Las Vegas Fire Department supports the installations provided the devices meet the city's specifications.

Commissioners offered brief comment before each vote. "I do live in this area, and I do understand what an issue this is…it's almost like a racetrack at night," Commissioner Emmanuel said in support of the O'Bannon installation. There were no public speakers on any of the three items.

Votes at a glance: the commission approved the proposed speed cushions/humps for (1) O'Bannon Drive between Buffalo Drive and Rosanna Street (motion by Commissioner Swaddling, second by Commissioner Lang; passed by voice vote); (2) Via Olivero Avenue between Durango Drive and Buffalo Drive (motion by Commissioner Lang, second by Commissioner Swaddling; passed by voice vote); and (3) Alaska Avenue between Kayak Drive and Sunbeam Drive (motion by Vice Chair Calderon, second by Commissioner Swaddling; passed by voice vote).

Staff told the commission the Via Olivero installation is expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2025 and would be completed as part of a capital improvement project over roughly a two‑year period, depending on contractor sequencing and mobilization. For all three corridors staff said implementation would be subject to future funding and coordination with residents, emergency services and other stakeholders.

The commission moved the items forward with no further conditions; staff will include the approved calming measures in forthcoming project schedules and continue community outreach prior to installation.