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Cathedral City presents new traffic-calming policy after five pilot studies
Summary
City staff presented a two-part traffic-calming policy that sets investigation thresholds and a six-step temporary-measures process; staff recommended low-cost, immediate actions while permanent neighborhood plans will require petitions, interagency review and funding.
City Engineer Armando Baldizzone presented an updated traffic-calming policy and guidelines to the Cathedral City City Council at a Jan. 8 study session, outlining a two-part process of data-driven investigation followed by implementation of temporary or permanent traffic-calming measures.
The policy sets objective thresholds for initiating an investigation: the 85th-percentile speed must be greater than 35 miles per hour or at least 70 percent of measured speeds must exceed 25 miles per hour. Baldizzone described a six-step investigation that begins with identifying a street for study and proceeds through covert speed radar collection, temporary speed-feedback signs, enforcement, temporary ramps and, if warranted, a funding memorandum recommending permanent measures.
Baldizzone said staff conducted pilot investigations at five locations beginning in July 2024 — two segments on Whispering Palms Trail, Bega Road, Avenida Cimino and Avenida del Guillermo — and that none of the five advanced past the step that installs temporary feedback signs once those signs were placed. On Whispering Palms Trail, for example, the 85th-percentile speed dropped from 35 to 30 mph and the share of drivers exceeding the posted limit fell from 73 percent to 49 percent after feedback signs were installed. Based on those results, the report recommends flashing 25-mph speed limit signs, speed-feedback signs and centerline striping, with construction tied to an identified capital-improvement project for that corridor.
The policy groups measures into awareness (striping, signs), vertical deflection (speed bumps, speed cushions), horizontal deflection (curb extensions, traffic circles) and diversion structures (partial closures, medians). Baldizzone highlighted trade-offs: some devices can increase emergency response times (research cited by staff estimated 7–10 seconds delay per speed hump) or shift traffic to adjacent streets. He said localized projects require a petition showing 75 percent support from affected residents; neighborhood-scale plans require broader outreach, funding decisions and may take several years to implement.
Council members pressed staff on timelines, notification and resident involvement. Mayor Pro Tem Tim Gregory and Council member Carnivale asked that completed speed-study results be included in regular weekly or monthly reports so council members — and residents — do not “miss” items that staff plan to advance. Council member Gutierrez asked whether a resident could serve on the internal traffic-calming committee; staff replied that investigation data must be gathered blind (to avoid skewing results) but that residents are consulted after an investigation produces recommendations.
Baldizzone said city actions — low-cost steps such as police enforcement, temporary radar trailers, striping and signage — would be implemented “immediately after the recommendation,” and the director of public works would decide whether available operations-and-maintenance funds can pay for measures or whether a CIP or council-allocated funds are required. He noted potential funding sources: public-works O&M, assessment-district funds, council district improvement funds and capital improvement program funds.
Staff recommended the council treat the presentation as informational while it finalizes the draft policy for future adoption. "Staff is presenting this update on the traffic calming policy and guidelines to the city council for discussion, comments, recommendations to prepare for adoption at a later date," Baldizzone said.
Council members indicated general support for the approach but asked staff to add procedural clarifications, including: a clear route for residents to request studies (an email alias or web form), a practice to notify council when a study is completed, and explicit language that ballots and mailings are sent to both owners and occupants when neighborhood ballots are distributed.
The policy will return for formal adoption after council and staff incorporate the requested clarifications and align funding recommendations with the upcoming budget process.
