BACKGROUND:
Nationwide, vehicles speeding on streets has been a challenge since the invention of the automobile. As urban areas expanded, so did roadways and vehicular traffic. As vehicles became more powerful, speeds increased accordingly. With respect to the aforementioned, residential neighborhood streets have also been affected by speeding vehicles, despite the efforts of the residents and local law enforcement over the years.
The City of Cathedral City is not immune to the challenges of vehicles speeding in residential neighborhoods. The City Public Works (Engineering and Public Works Maintenance Divisions) and Police Departments are responsible for working together to address the concerns of residents regarding vehicle speeding and implementation of the appropriate traffic calming measures to reduce speeding on the City streets.
Aware of these challenges, the City created the Traffic Calming Committee composed of City Staff from various Departments/Divisions including Public Works Maintenance, Fire, Police, Fleet Maintenance, and Engineering. The Traffic Calming Committee is responsible for several City-wide traffic calming goals as follows:
1. Work closely with the Police Department Traffic Enforcement Division on immediate traffic calming measures.
2. Procure and implement temporary traffic calming measures on City streets.
3. Evaluate temporary traffic calming measures effectiveness and implement or not implement permanent traffic calming measures on the same above streets.
4. Update the City “Traffic Calming Procedures” for internal procedures and constituent.
While the Police Department is currently engaged in the first goal, City-wide traffic calming enforcement measures, the Traffic Calming Committee has been meeting and working on the first portion of the second goal which is the selection and procurement of the necessary equipment to provide temporary calming measures. This equipment will provide a temporary response to the concerns of residents, while permanent traffic calming measures are evaluated.
DISCUSSION:
The Committee has held three meetings to review procurement options for traffic calming equipment. The proposed equipment selected by the Committee for traffic calming includes temporary portable speed humps and respective signage, radar speed feedback equipment, flashing speed limit signage, other related signage, and an enclosed storage trailer. The enclosed trailer would become the storage unit to house the aforementioned traffic calming equipment, making it accessible and transportable.
The Committee proposes the procurement of traffic calming equipment by way of cooperative purchasing agreements and directly purchasing from previously used vendors.
Below is a description of the traffic calming equipment, the vendors, and attached to this Staff Report are the detailed quotes for each item.
Traffic Calming Trailer
Norco Trailers
The proposal from Norco Trailers is to acquire an enclosed trailer to house the traffic calming equipment. The trailer dimensions are 5 feet in width, 5 feet in height and 10 feet in length (as shown in the attached proposal). The City solicitated quotes from multiple vendors, Norco Trailers, TrailerPlus, and The Trailer Zone. Norco Trailers was the only responsive vendor and therefore selected to provide this item.
SoCal Grafix Inc.
SoCal Grafix Inc. proposal includes the trailer wrapping with the City logo for the Traffic Calming Trailer. SoCal Grafix Inc. is a local vendor and has provided vehicle wrapping for City Vehicles in the past.
Traffic Calming Equipment
Traffic Logix Corporation
The proposal from Traffic Logix is to acquire three (3) speed humps (various sizes), two (2) speed radar feedback signs, and two (2) speed limit placard kits. Traffic Logix is made available to the City through the cooperative purchasing agreement with Sourcewell.
Roadline Products Inc.
Roadline Products Inc. proposal includes the “speed hump” signs and flashing speed limit signs that are required according to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) to inform drivers of the traffic calming measure ahead. Two (2) speed hump signs and two (2) solar powered flashing speed limit signs are proposed as part of the traffic calming equipment. Roadline Products Inc. were selected due to their previous experience working with the City on providing similarly requested items.
The summary table below shows the cost for the Traffic Calming Equipment by vendor.
Traffic Calming Item Cost
Norco Trailers $5,394.60
SoCal Grafix Inc. $2,778.75
Traffic Logix Corp. $12,816.19
Roadline Products Inc. $2,161.63
Total $23,151.17
Staff recommends the City Council authorize the City Engineer, on behalf of the Traffic Calming Committee, to execute the purchase of temporary portable speed humps and respective signage, radar speed feedback equipment, flashing speed limit signage, other related signage, an enclosed storage trailer with a City logo wrap in the total amount of $23,151.17, to implement temporary traffic measures on City streets.
FISCAL IMPACT:
In the approved Bi-annual Budget FY 2023/24 and FY 2024/25 the City Council allocated:
•$25,000.00 in funds to acquire traffic calming equipment from account 611 Equipment Replacement.
•$100,000.00 in funds under Material and Supplies from account 233 Traffic Safety Fund to acquire traffic calming materials
The total cost for the Traffic Calming Equipment is in the amount of $24,607.17.
A budget adjustment in the amount of $16,721.10 on 611 Equipment Replacement Fund to allocate funding for the purchase of the traffic equipment is required. The remaining amount of $7,886.07 will be an expense on account 8201 Material and Supplies from 233 Traffic Safety Fund, as shown below
TRAFFIC EQUIPMENT - 611 Equipment Replacement Fund
Trailer and Wrap (City Logo) $ 8,173.35
Traffic Radar (2 units) $ 8,547.75
Subtotal Traffic Equipment $ 16,721.10
TRAFFIC MATERIALS - 233 Traffic Safety Fund
Speed Cushions, Speed Placard Kit (2 units) and material $ 4,268.44 Signs (Speed and Bumps) $ 3,617.63
Subtotal Traffic Materials $ 7,886.07
Traffic Calming Equipment Total $ 24,607.17
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
City Council Goal B: Community Investment
Cathedral City roads, gateways, public spaces, and other city infrastructure are well planned, designed, constructed, and maintained.
Action B-12
Develop a traffic calming plan with strategies for addressing location specific speeding issues.