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City staff: state will fully fund $9.7 million signal at SR‑62 and Pearson; construction expected in 2027
Summary
Deputy City Manager Danny Porras told the Desert Hot Springs City Commission the planned four‑way signal at State Route 62 and Pearson Boulevard is approved for state funding, is in advanced design, and is expected to enter construction in 2027 with an estimated cost of $9.7 million.
Deputy City Manager and City Engineer Danny Porras told the Desert Hot Springs City Commission on Jan. 8 that a long‑standing safety problem at the intersection of State Route 62 and Pearson Boulevard will be addressed with a new four‑way traffic signal approved for full state funding.
Porras said the intersection — currently controlled by a two‑way stop at Pearson — recorded 21 collisions during a three‑year review period (Jan. 1, 2019–Dec. 31, 2021), 14 of them broadside collisions, which helped make the case for a signal. He said Caltrans has approved the project for funding “through the State Highway Operations Protection Program” and that the latest design is in plan check.
Why it matters: the city and commissioners long have cited safety concerns at that crossing. The planned improvements include split phasing, video detection, advanced‑warning beacons and left‑turn turnouts; Porras said engineers modeled a layout similar to other SR‑62 signals in the region to reduce cross‑traffic conflicts.
Cost and schedule: Porras said the 2022 cost estimate is $9,700,000. He described the design as roughly 90% in plan check and stated that, with Caltrans processes, construction is expected to begin in 2027 with an anticipated completion by February 2028. “It was worth the wait,” Porras said, noting the project received 100% state funding so the city will not have to use local funds.
Intergovernmental limits: Porras emphasized that the intersection falls under Caltrans jurisdiction because it is on a state highway and that Caltrans controls design approvals, construction and maintenance there. He said the city and Riverside County participated in decision‑making but do not perform the construction work.
Commissioner reaction: Commissioners praised staff for advancing the project and expressed frustration with the length of state timelines. Porras responded that five years is common for Caltrans projects and that some interchange projects have taken up to a decade from design to construction.
What’s next: Porras said staff will post the presentation materials on the city’s public works web page and remain available for public questions as the project completes plan check and moves toward Caltrans permitting and construction contracting.
Sources and attribution: details and direct quotes come from Danny Porras’s staff presentation to the Desert Hot Springs City Commission on Jan. 8, 2026.
