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Commission approves speed cushions, speed-limit cut and reclassification on 78th Street with reevaluation plan
Summary
After reviewing counts and warrants, the Transportation Commission approved staff's recommendation to add speed cushions, lower the posted speed to 25 mph and reclassify 78th Street, with staff directed to remeasure speeds and weekend pedestrian counts after installation.
The Scottsdale Transportation Commission voted Feb. 19 to approve staff recommendations for traffic calming on 78th Street at Gold Dust Avenue, approving speed cushions north and south of Gold Dust, lowering the posted speed from 30 to 25 mph and reclassifying 78th Street from a minor collector to a local collector — with a required post-installation reevaluation of speeds, traffic volumes and weekend pedestrian counts.
Senior traffic engineer Lane Dominguez presented an evaluation that used the city's pedestrian-crossing guidelines. Staff reviewed March 2024 average daily traffic (1,860 vehicles per day), pedestrian camera counts from Oct. 14–16, 2025 (peak hour 7–8 a.m., 14 pedestrians total across both legs), and five years of collision history (two collisions at the intersection in that period; one collision involved a bicyclist). The location earned 28 points under the city's warranting criteria; the guideline threshold for enhanced treatments such as an RRFB, PHB or signal is 30 points.
Dominguez told commissioners that the pedestrian counts were collected in 15-minute intervals via deployed cameras and that counts included bicycles and micromobility devices. Commissioners asked whether weekend counts might alter the result; staff said a weekend re-count could be performed and committed that conditions would be reexamined after the speed reduction and speed-cushion installation.
Commissioner Baker moved to approve staff recommendations with the caveat that after the changes are implemented staff would remeasure speed, traffic and pedestrian volumes (including weekend counts when weather is appropriate) and return to evaluate whether an enhanced crossing is needed. The motion was seconded and passed by roll call.
The vote record as recorded in the meeting transcript: Chair Wilcoxon — approved; Vice Chair Cardella — yes; Commissioner Marmon — yes; Commissioner Pankiewicz — yes; Commissioner Koftau — approved; Commissioner Baker — yes. The commission's action implements the approved traffic-calming measures and establishes a clear re-evaluation step tied to installed countermeasures.
Staff said the intersection may be reevaluated if conditions change and that the design for the speed cushions is at 100% and that an after-installation study will be performed. No enhanced pedestrian crossing treatment will be installed at this time based on the current warrant score; it could be added later if post-installation conditions or additional pedestrian data justify it.
