HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrd 1130 Relative to Speed ZonesORDINANCE NO. 1130
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM DESERT,
CALIFORNIA, RESCINDING ORDINANCE NUMBERS 526, 526A, 546, 774, 780, 797,
804, 815, 831, 832, 834, 835, 836, 844, 845, 876, 877, 878, 879, 910, 911, 913, 921,
949, 950, 951, 952, 953, 954, 955, 956, 957, 958, 959, 960, 961, 994, 995, 996, 997,
998, 999, 1000, 1002, AND 1005, AND AMENDING SECTION 10.36.010 OF TITLE 10
OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA, RELATIVE TO
SPEED ZONES
WHEREAS, the California Vehicle Code allows local jurisdictions to establish
speed zones on local streets by use of an Engineering and Traffic Survey; and
WHEREAS, an Engineering and Traffic Survey, as required, has been conducted
and the need to establish a speed zone has been determined; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Palm Desert finds that all the
recitations are true and correct and does constitute the findings and considerations of
the Council in this case,
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Palm Desert, California, does
hereby ordain as follows:
Section 1. That Section 10.36.010 of the Code of the City of Palm Desert,
California, is hereby amended to read as follows:
"10.36.010 Speed Zones:
Miles per Hour Roadwav Seqment
25 De Anza Way between San Carlos Avenue to Portola Avenue
25 Fairway Drive between Portola Avenue to Cook Street
25 Fred Waring Drive between Painters Path To Highway 111
25 Joshua Tree Street between Tumbleweed Lane to San Luis Rey Avenue
25 Michigan Drive between Kansas Street to Warner Trail
25 Painters Path (West) between Highway 111 to Terminus
25 Sagewood Drive between Monterey Avenue to Country Club Drive
25 San Gorgonio Way between Monterey Avenue to San Pedro Avenue
25 San Gorgonio Way between San Pablo Avenue to San Carlos Avenue
25 Tennessee Avenue between California Drive (W) to Fred Waring Drive
25 Verba Santa Drive between Highway 74 to Tumbleweed Lane
25 Virginia Avenue between California Drive to Terminus
30 California Drive between Fred Waring Drive to Avenue of the States
30 De Anza Way between Portola Avenue to Alessandro Drive
ORDINANCE NO. 1130
Miles per Hour Roadwav Segment
30 Edgehill Drive between Greene Way to Painters Path
30 Grapevine Street between Highway 74 to Portola Avenue
30 Ironwood Street between Verba Santa Drive to San Luis Rey Avenue
30 Joshua Tree Street between Grapevine Street to Tumbleweed Lane
30 Michigan Drive between Warner Trail to Avenue of the States
30 New York Avenue between Virginia Avenue to Connecticut Street
30 Painters Path (East) between Edgehill Drive to El Paseo
30 San Luis Rey Avenue between Ironwood Street to El Paseo
30 Shadow Mountain Drive between Highway 74 to Portola Avenue
30 Warner Trail between Fred Waring Drive to Hovley Lane East
35 Alamo Drive between Mesa View Drive to Haystack Road
35 Alessandro Drive between San Carlos Avenue to Deep Canyon Road
35 Deep Canyon Road between Fairway Drive to Highway 111
35 El Paseo between Highway 111 (West) to Highway 74
35 El Paseo between Highway 74 to Highway 111 (East)
35 Magnesia Falls Drive between Portola Avenue to Deep Canyon Road
35 Ocotillo Drive between Grapevine Street to El Paseo
35 Portola Avenue between Grapevine to Highway 111
35 San Pablo Avenue between Highway 111 to San Gorgonio Way
35 San Pablo Avenue between San Gorgonio Way to Fred Waring Drive
40 Deep Canyon Road between Fred Waring Drive to Magnesia Falls Drive
40 Mesa View Drive between Highway 74 to Portola Avenue
40 Monterey Avenue between Highway 111 to Fred Waring Drive
40 Portola Avenue between Mesa View Drive to Grapevine
40 Portola Avenue between Highway 111 to Magnesia Falls Drive
40 San Pablo Avenue between Fred Waring Drive to Magnesia Falls Drive
45 Deep Canyon Road between Highway 111 to Fred Waring Drive
45 Fred Waring Drive between Highway 111 to Cook Street
45 Haystack Road between Highway 74 to Portola Avenue
45 Hovley Lane East between Portola Avenue to Water Way
45 Park View Drive between Highway 111 to Monterey Avenue
50 Cook Street between Fred Waring Drive to Country Club Drive
50 Country Club Drive between Monterey Avenue to Portola Avenue
50 Country Club Drive between Portola Avenue to Washington Street
50 Dinah Shore Drive between Westerly City Limits to Monterey Avenue
50 Eldorado Drive between Hovley Lane (East) to Frank Sinatra Drive
50 Fred Waring Drive between Warner Trail to Washington Street
50 Gerald Ford Drive between Cook Street to Frank Sinatra Drive
50 Hovley Lane East between Water Way to Eldorado Drive
2
ORDINANCE NO. 1130
Miles Der Hour Roadwav Seqment
50 Hovley Lane East between Eldorado to Washington Street
50 Hovley Lane West between Monterey Avenue to Portola Avenue
50 Magnesia Falls Drive between Monterey Avenue to Portola Avenue
50 Monterey Avenue between Fred Waring Drive to Country Club Drive
50 Monterey Avenue between Market Place to 1-10 Freeway
50 Portola Avenue between Magnesia Falls Drive to Country Club Drive
50 Washington Street between Fred Waring Drive to 1-10 Freeway
55 Cook Street between Country Club Drive to 1-10 Freeway
55 Frank Sinatra Drive between Monterey Avenue to Tamarisk Row Drive
55 Fred Waring Drive between Cook Street to Warner Trail
55 Gerald Ford Drive between Monterey Avenue to Portola Avenue
55 Gerald Ford Drive between Portola Avenue to Cook Street
55 Oasis Club Drive between Hovley Lane (East) to Country Club Drive
55 Portola Avenue between Country Club Drive to Frank Sinatra
55 Tamarisk Row Drive between Frank Sinatra Drive to Country Club Drive
60 Monterey Avenue between Country Club Drive to Market Place
60 Portola Avenue between Frank Sinatra Drive to Gerald Ford Drive
Section 2. That Ordinance Numbers 526, 526A, 546, 774, 780, 797, 804, 815,
831, 832, 834, 835, 836, 844, 845, 876, 877, 878, 879, 910, 911,
913, 921, 949, 950, 951, 952, 953, 954, 955, 956, 957, 958, 959,
960, 961, 994, 995, 996, 997, 998, 999, 1000, 1002, and 1005 are
rescinded.
Section 3. That the City Clerk is hereby directed to publish this ordinance in
the Desert Sun, a newspaper of general circulation, circulated in
the City of Palm Desert, California, and shall be in full force and
effective thirty (30) days after its adoption.
3
ORDINANCE NO. 1130
PASSED, APPROVED and adopted by the City Council of the City of Palm Desert,
California, at its regular meeting held on the day of , 20 ,
by the following vote, to wit:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
ATTEST:
RACHELLE D. KLASSEN, CITY CLERK
CITY OF PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA
JIM FERGUSON, MAYOR
4
Table 1
City of Palm Desert
Citywide Survey to Extablish Traffic Speed Zones
2006 Speed Zone Recommendations
Posted
Street
Segment
Speed
MPH
Alamo Drive
Mesa View Drive to Haystack Road
35
Alessandro Drive
San Carlos Avenue to Deep Canyon Road
35
California Drive
Fred Waring Drive to Avenue of the States
30
Cook Street
Fred Waring Drive to Country Club Drive
45
Country Club Drive to 1-10 Freeway
55
Country Club Drive
Monterey Avenue to Portola Avenue
45
Portola Avenue to Washington Street
50
De Anza Way
San Carlos Avenue to Portola Avenue
25
!Portola Avenue to Alessandro Drive
30
Fairway Drive to Highway 111
35
Deep Canyon Road
Highway 111 to Fred Waring Drive
45
Fred Waring Drive to Magnesia Falls Drive
40
Dinah Shore Drive
Westerly City Limits to Monterey Avenue
50
Edgehill Drive
Greene Way to Painters Path
30
El Paseo
Highway 111 (West) to Highway 74
35
Highway 74 to Highway 111 (East)
( 35
Eldorado Drive
Hovley Lane (East) to Frank Sinatra Drive
50
Fairway Drive
Portola Avenue to Cook Street
25
Frank Sinatra Drive
Monterey Avenue to Tamarisk Row Drive
55
Painters Path To Highway 111
NP(55)
Highway 111 to Cook Street
45
Fred Waring Drive
lCook Street to Warner Trail
50
Wamer Trail to Washington Street
50
Monterey Avenue to Portola Avenue
55
Gerald Ford Drive
Portola Avenue to Cook Street
NP(65)
(Cook Street to Frank Sinatra Drive
NP(65)
Grapevine Street
+Highway 74 to Portola Avenue
30
Haystack Road
Highway 74 to Portola Avenue
45
Portola Avenue to Water Way
45
Hovley Lane (East)
Water Way to Eldorado Drive
45
Eldorado to Washington Street
50
Hovley Lane (West)
Monterey Avenue to Portola Avenue
50
Ironwood Street
IVerba Santa Drive to San Luis Rey Avenue
30
Joshua Tree Street
Grapevine Street to Tumbleweed Lane
' 30
Tumbleweed Lane to San Luis Rey Avenue
25
Monterey Avenue to Portola Avenue
50
Magnesia Falls Drive
Portola Avenue to Deep Canyon Road
35
Mesa View Drive
!Highway 74 to Portola Avenue
40
Michigan Drive
Kansas Street to Warner Trail
lWamer
I 25
Trail to Avenue of the States
+ 30
Highway 111 to Fred Waring Drive
40
Monterey Avenue
Fred Waring Drive to Country Club Drive
50
Country Club Drive to Market Place
60
Market Place to 1-10 Freeway
50
NP(XX) - Street Section Not Posted
1 of 2
Recommended Change
Speed Limit
35
35
30
50
55
50
50
25
30
35
45
40
50
30
35
35
50
25
55
25
45
55
50
55
55
50
30
45
45
50
50
50
30
30
25
50
35
40
25
30
40
50
60
50
+5
+5
+5
+5
Table 1
City of Palm Desert
Citywide Survey to Extablish Traffic Speed Zones
2006 Speed Zone Recommendations
Street
Segment
Posted
Speed
Recommended
Change
MPH
Speed Limit
New York Avenue
Virginia Avenue to Connecticut Street
30
30
Oasis Club Drive
Hovley Lane (East) to Country Club Drive
55
55
Ocotillo Drive
Grapevine Street to El Paseo
35
35
Painters Path (East)
Edgehill Drive to El Paseo
30
30
Painters Path (West)
Highway 111 to Terminus
NP(55)
25
Park View Drive
Highway 111 to Monterey Avenue
45
45
Mesa View Drive to Grapevine
40
40
(Grapevine to Highway 111
I 35
I 35
Portola Avenue
IHighway 111 to Magnesia Falls Drive
I 40
I 40
IMagnesia Falls Drive to Country Club Drive
50
I 50 I
(Country Club Drive to Frank Sinatra
55
I 55
I Frank Sinatra Drive to Gerald Ford Drive
I 55
I 60
+ 5
Sagewood Drive
(Monterey Avenue to Country Club Drive
25
I 25
San Gorgonio Way
(Monterey Avenue to San Pedro Avenue
25
I 25
ISan Pablo Avenue to San Carlos Avenue
I 25
I 25 I
San Luis Rey Avenue
IIronwood Street to El Paseo
I 30
I 30
I Highway 111 to San Gorgonio Way
25
I 35 I + 10
San Pablo Avenue
San Gorgonio Way to Fred Waring Drive
35
I 35
Fred Waring Drive to Magnesia Falls Drive
35
I 40 I + 5
Shadow Mountain Drive
IHighway 74 to Portola Avenue
30
I 30
Tamarisk Row Drive
(Frank Sinatra Drive to Country Club Drive
I 55
I 55
Tennessee Avenue
California Drive (W) to Fred Waring Drive
'Highway
25
I 25 I
Verba Santa Drive
74 to Tumbleweed Lane
25
I 25
Virginia Avenue
ICalifornia Drive to Terminus
NP(55)
I 25
Warner Trail
(Fred Waring Drive to Hovley Lane East
I 30
I 30
Washington Street
(Fred Waring Drive to 1-10 Freeway
I 50
I 50
NP(XX) - Street Section Not Posted
2 of 2
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Proposed Speed Zones Changes
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Streets with Proposed Speed Limit Increases
Streets Previously Un-Posted
0 0.5 1 2
Miles
PRELIMINARY MINUTES
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION
NOVEMBER 8, 2006
Greenwood responded that commercial trucking was largely
regulated by the State and Federal governments, although the City
did have a few streets with time limits for commercial trucking. Mr.
Vaka noted that the City of Indian Wells had a restriction on truck
travel through that city; i.e., Fred Waring Drive. Mr. Greenwood
responded that the City of Indian Wells established the program on
Fred Waring Drive after the City of Palm Desert had done the
same, and the reason Palm Desert established that program was
the very close proximity of houses to Fred Waring with no sound
walls or poor quality sound blockers. Mr. Vaka noted there was a
similar situation with homes on Cook Street from Frank Sinatra to
Country Club, which was all residential, all without sound walls, and
all with houses backing up to Cook Street.
Chairman Lebel noted this might be something for staff to look into.
Mr. Greenwood added that the City currently had a project on
Cook Street, which will include the necessary sound mitigation
measures.
Commissioner Larsh moved to, by Minute Motion, receive and file the
Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Statistics report for September 2006. Motion was
seconded by Commissioner Nethery and carried by a 5-0 vote.
E. Consideration of the Establishment of Speed Zones Citywide
Mr. Diercks reviewed the staff report and offered to answer any
questions. At the request of Chairman Lebel, he explained the
speed survey process, noting that speed limits were posted at 85%
of the average speeds.
MR. BILL WINTERHALTER, Belmonte Estates, asked when the
survey was done, and Mr. Diercks responded that it was conducted
in August 2005. Mr. Winterhalter expressed concern with traffic on
Cook Street between Frank Sinatra and Country Club, most
specifically the speed of traffic, designation of Cook Street as a
truck route, and stopping distance of the large trucks. He was also
concerned with vehicles turning onto Cook Street from the various
housing developments such as The Lakes, Desert Falls, Montecito,
etc. He felt increasing the speed limit would result in more
collisions, and he suggested it be dropped from 55 to 45 miles per
hour.
Chairman Lebel noted that without speed surveys and designation
of speed limits, law enforcement cannot effectively use radar and
cite violators, as the cases could be thrown out of court due to not
having the survey to back it up.
4
PRELIMINARY MINUTES
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION
NOVEMBER 8, 2006
Mr. Winterhalter asked whether the Police Department could track
how many citations are issued on Cook Street during a certain
period of time.
Captain Thetford responded that the Police Department tries to hit
every large arterial street in the City at least once a month. The
Public Safety Commission receives monthly totals of citations, but
they are not street -specific; however, he did have the ability to
break the information down by street.
MR. GREG VAKA noted that the City was currently considering
narrowing the lanes on Cook Street between Frank Sinatra and
Country Club by eliminating the bicycle lane and expanding the
existing two lanes to three lanes. In addition, the recommendation
was to increase the speed limits. He was concerned with that as
well as the truck traffic and felt this was a disaster waiting to
happen. He felt the speed limit should be 45 miles per hour the full
length of Cook Street from Frank Sinatra to Fred Waring.
MR. JOHN GRANT, Montecito, agreed with Mr. Vaka and Mr.
Winterhalter. He said there was a lot of both general traffic and
truck traffic on Cook Street in the mornings, and the biggest violator
of speed and noise was the Burrtec trucks. He felt these vehicles
caused a big maintenance problem for the City due to the rippling
of the roads from the weight of the trucks. He was concerned
about safety, especially in the early morning and late afternoon
hours, with the trucks using Cook Street as an on and off ramp for
the freeway. He also felt that having 45 miles per hour on one side
of Country and 50-55 miles per hour on the other side did not make
sense. He asked that the City seriously reconsider increasing the
speed limits. He also felt this was a decision that should be made
on the local level rather than by the State of California.
MRS. ANN VAKA, resident of Desert Falls, noted that she had
actually seen vehicles traveling south on Cook Street become
airborne after hitting the dip at Country Club. In addition, she asked
why the City would conduct speed tests in August, which is the
slowest time of the year, and felt they should be done when the
snow birds are back.
Mr. Baka stated that a petition had been submitted in March 2006,
signed by approximately 215 residents, suggesting that the City
consider slowing the traffic down, keep the two lanes and bicycle
lane, put up a sign stating that Jake brakes cannot be used by the
large trucks because of the residential area, give Burrtec some kind
of incentive to move its yard from its current location to an area
5
PRELIMINARY MINUTES
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION
NOVEMBER 8, 2006
some place else in the City where it would be more convenient to
the freeway, etc.
Mr. Greenwood stated that staff was in a tough position with regard
to speed limits. Unfortunately, speed zones are barely a local
control issue. The City is regulated at both the State and National
level. If the City is going to enforce with radar, it has to follow
detailed procedures set forth by the State. He said the speed limit
established has to be based on the 85th percentile of the actual
traffic on those streets. When the Sheriffs Department uses radar
to enforce the speed limits, if the City does not follow these
guidelines, an officer may not present radar evidence against the
speeder; if he does, the officer is breaking the law. If the City
abandons speed enforcement on any given street, the speed limit
will actually increase. Staff's recommendation was that the Public
Safety Commission forward a recommendation to the City Council
that it follow these guidelines so the City's enforcement program
can be found to be valid and substantial and would withstand the
challenge in court.
Chairman Lebel noted it was his recollection that Mr. Greenwood
had made a report to the Commission relative to the number of
houses on a street within a given segment being part of the criteria
for designating speed zones.
Mr. Greenwood responded that this particular issue was when the
City found itself at odds with the Vehicle Code, which says that any
street with 13 houses or more in a quarter mile on one side was a
residential street with a speed limit of 25 miles per hour. On the
other hand, if that street was wider than 40 feet or longer than a
quarter mile, radar has to be used to enforce that. With that
criteria, the houses must be fronting on that street.
Commissioner Nethery asked whether the State law said radar
cannot legally be used to enforce a speed limit if the limit was lower
or higher than the 85th percentile.
Mr. Greenwood agreed. He said it used to 5 mile per hour
increments below the 85th percentile, but it has recently been
changed to "the nearest 5 mile per hour." For example, if the 85"
percentile resulted in a speed limit of 48 miles per hour, the City
used to round it down to 45 miles per hour, but now it must be
rounded up to 50. He said this was the law, and if the City did not
follow it, the judge would not only throw that particular citation out
but would also invalidate the speed zone program. He added that
police officers were required to present the evidence at every trial.
0
PRELIMINARY MINUTES
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION
NOVEMBER 8, 2006
Mayor Ferguson noted that he had been working on this issue for
ten years, and the most important thing he had learned was that
most people do not follow speed limit signs. They look at how wide
the road is, how clear the visibility is, how straight the road is, etc.
He noted that the reason for the speed studies is so that law
enforcement can cite the 15% of the people who are driving over
the limit and be able to take them to court. The counterintuitive
thing would be to lower the speed limit under the belief that people
are going to actually read the sign and follow the speed limit. While
it was very difficult for the City to raise speed limits, experience
showed that unless the surveys were done and the limits set at the
85th percentile, they could not be adequately enforced.
Upon question by Mr. Grant as to why the study was done in
August, Mayor Ferguson responded that if the surveys are done in
the off season when are were fewer people, the statistical data is
such that there will be a lower speed survey. If done in high
season when there are a lot more people here, the average speed
would be faster, and the 85" percentile would also be higher.
Commissioner Nethery stated that while the Commission was
sympathetic to the concerns of the residents, the problem was in
deciding what to do: 1) Lower the speed limit below the 85th
percentile mandated by the State and not be able to use radar
which, in the long run, would result in people driving faster because
the limit could not be enforced with radar; or 2) set the limit at the
85th percentile as required by I aw so that the Police Department
can use radar and try to step up enforcement. He said that was the
tradeoff that the City was stuck with, and there were problems with
both options.
Mr. Greenwood noted that enforcement was the key, and the City
of Palm Desert was fortunate to have the best traffic enforcement
group in the Coachella Valley. The City had the resources to
respond when complaints and issues like this arise.
Captain Thetford noted that the Police Department's enforcement
program was driven in part by collision data, where collisions are
occurring. Another part of that enforcement program was based on
public comment, and the Police Department could not do its job
without public input. He said representatives attended meetings of
the City Council, Public Safety Commission, etc., and concerns
raised at those meetings about traffic drove them to do the
enforcement programs. He added that the Police Department was
completely accessible to the public. This included having a
7
PRELIMINARY MINUTES
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION
NOVEMBER 8, 2006
website, pal mdesertpolice.org, where citizens could type in their
concerns about traffic and anything else in the City, and the
Department would look into those issues and respond.
Upon question by Commissioner Nethery as to the impact of setting
speed limits at less than the amount recommended by the speed
survey, Lt. Thetford responded that it would take an extremely
effective tool out of the hands of law enforcement, as they would
not be able to use radar to enforce the limit. Mr. Vaka suggested
lowering the speed limit to 45 miles per hour just between Frank
Sinatra and Country Club on Cook Street. Lt. Thetford noted that
he would not recommend an artery street like Cook Street having a
section where the Police Department could not use radar to enforce
the speed limit. He felt it was very important to have the speed
survey in Palm Desert, and he felt the Police Department should be
able to effectively use all of the tools available to enforce the speed
limits.
Commissioner Nethery said he felt this would be counter-
productive.
Commissioner Nethery moved to, by Minute Motion, concur with staffs
recommendation to City Council to establish speed zones on streets throughout the
City. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Larsh and carried by a 5-0 vote.
Mrs. Gilligan noted that this matter would be before the City Council
at its meeting of December 14, 2006, and a draft set of minutes
from this Public Safety Commission meeting would accompany that
report.
VII. CONTINUED BUSINESS
A. Update on Video Surveillance Pilot Program (continued from the
meeting of September 14, 2006)
Ms. Scully noted the staff report in the packets and offered to
answer any questions.
Rec:
Action:
VIII. OLD BUSINESS
14
MEETING DATE 49 147 -0 .
CITY OF PALM DESER �, G�oNTlr TO /
iii PAS$ED To 2ND READING 1 ((—o
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
REQUEST: Adopt Ordinance No.1130 , Rescinding Prior Ordinances As Listed
And Establishing Speed Zones On Streets Throughout the City
SUBMITTED BY: Mark Greenwood, P.E.
Director of Public Works
NOTIFICATIONS: Bruce Harry, Director of Public Works
City of Rancho Mirage
69825 Highway 111
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
Lawrence Tai, County Traffic Engineer
County of Riverside
4080 Lemon Street, 8TH Floor
Riverside, CA 92501
Tim Jonasson, City Engineer
City of La Quinta
P.O. Box 1504
La Quinta, CA 92253
Tim Wassil, Public Works Director
City of Indian Wells
44-950 Eldorado Drive
Indian Wells, CA 92210
DATE: December 14, 2006
CONTENTS: Table 1 — Speed Recommendations
Exhibit 1 — Existing Speed Zones
Exhibit 2 — Proposed Speed Zone Recommendations
Safety Commission 11-08-06 Preliminary Minutes Pages 4-8
Ordinance
Recommendation:
Concur with the recommendation of staff and the Public Safety Commission and adopt
Ordinance No. 1130 , rescinding prior ordinances and establishing speed zones on
streets throughout the City.
Establish Speed Zones
Page 2of3
December 14, 2006
Discussion:
Section 22358 of the California Vehicle Code allows cities to establish, by ordinance,
speed zones on local streets. Speeds established by ordinance must be supported by
an Engineering and Traffic Study, and a new speed study must be performed every five
years in order for a speed zone to remain valid. Without the support of a proper
Engineering and Traffic Study, the enforcement agency is unable to use radar to
enforce a posted speed, which may lead to disregard of posted speeds by the motoring
public.
The report entitled "City of Palm Desert - Citywide Survey to Establish Traffic Speed
Zones" has been completed to satisfy the Engineering and Traffic Study requirements.
The report provides a detailed analysis of all roadway segments with posted speeds
throughout the City. The objective of the analysis is to review the adequacy of existing
speed limits and to provide recommendations for new posted speeds by examining the
various roadway characteristics that contribute to the establishment of appropriate
speed limits.
A summary of the existing posted speed limits and the recommended speed zones as
presented in the Citywide Survey to Establish Traffic Speed Zones report are shown in
Table 1 attached to this staff report. Findings of the report indicate that a large majority
of the posted speed limits in Palm Desert are appropriate and should remain as is, with
the noted exceptions.
The report has identified seven roadway segments where speed limit increases are
recommended:
Street
Cook Street
Country Club Drive
Fred Waring Drive
Hovley Lane East
Portola Avenue
San Pablo Avenue
San Pablo Avenue
Segment
Fred Waring Dr to Country Club Dr
Monterey Avenue to Portola Avenue
Cook Street to Warner Trail
Water Way to Eldorado Drive
Frank Sinatra Dr to Gerald Ford Dr
Highway 111 to San Gorgonio Way
Fred Waring Dr to Magnesia Falls
Existing
45
45
50
45
55
25
35
Recommended Change
50 + 5
50 + 5
55 + 5
50 + 5
60 + 5
35 + 10
40 + 5