Staff Report
City Council
Item No. {{section.number}}.K
Meeting Date: June 25, 2025
From: John A. Corella, Director of Public Works
Title: Second Reading of an Ordinance to Adopt the 2025 Citywide Speed Limit Survey
RECOMMENDATION:
To provide second reading, by title only, and adopt an ordinance approving the Engineering and Traffic Survey prepared by Albert A. Webb Associates and establishing the 2025 Citywide Speed Limits in Cathedral City.
BACKGROUND:
The California Vehicle Code requires that cities establish speed limits, greater than 25 mph, based on an Engineering and Traffic Survey (E&TS) completed by a California registered Traffic Engineer. These surveys should be updated every five years and may be extended to seven (7) or ten (10) years if the city engineer determines that specific criteria have been met and no significant changes in roadway or traffic conditions have occurred. The city’s last Citywide Speed Survey was updated seven (7) years ago in 2019 and extended in 2024.
On October 8, 2021, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 43 (AB 43), which amended the California Vehicle Code to strengthen traffic safety regulations. The bill extends the validity of speed limits established through Engineering and Traffic Surveys from seven (7) to up to fourteen (14) years, contingent upon certification by a registered engineer. It also enhances local agencies’ authority to adjust speed limits based on safety considerations, land use, and the presence of vulnerable pedestrian groups, including children, seniors, and individuals experiencing homelessness. Furthermore, AB 43 authorizes reduced speed limits within “business activity districts” and updates the process for conducting traffic surveys to support these changes.
Given the extension of the 2019 Citywide Speed Survey under AB 43 and recent changes to the city's roadway network due to infrastructure projects, city staff determined that it was necessary to assess whether the current speed limits remain appropriate. This transition period provided an opportunity to evaluate roadway safety, traffic flow, and community concerns, all of which are essential in deciding whether updates to the posted speed limits are needed.
In November of 2024, the City Council approved a proposal from its traffic engineering consultant, Albert A. Webb Associates (Webb), to conduct an Engineering and Traffic Survey (Study) of the City’s General Plan roadways for a not to exceed amount of $45,012.00. This Study has been concluded and includes all arterial, major highways, secondary highways and collector roads in Cathedral City.
In March 2025, Webb submitted a draft of the Study to city staff for review. Upon completing their evaluation, staff provided recommendations for several modifications. The draft was subsequently presented to the City Council during a Study Session on May 14, 2025, to provide an update and obtain feedback. During the session, the City Council recommended re-evaluating the following segments:
Street From To Council Recommendation
Date Palm Drive Vista Chino 30th Avenue Reduce from 55 MPH to 50 MPH Date Palm Drive 30th Avenue McCallum Way Maintain speed at 45 MPH Vista Chino Drive West City Limits Landau Boulevard Reduce from 55 MPH to 50 MPH Vista Chino Drive Landau Boulevard Avenida Maravilla Reduce from 55 MPH to 50 MPH Vista Chino Drive Avenida Maravilla Date Palm Drive Reduce from 55 MPH to 50 MPH Whispering Palm Trail 30th Avenue McCallum Way Maintain speed at 25 MPH In response to the City Council’s recommendations, Webb conducted a re-evaluation of six (6) proposed roadway segment changes, applying the methodology and requirements outlined in the California Vehicle Code, as well as the amendments introduced through Assembly Bill 43. This review supported five (5) of the six (6) recommended changes.
The recommendation to maintain a 25 MPH speed limit on Whispering Palms Trail, between 30th Avenue and McCallum Way, required further analysis due to insufficient current data.
Given its exclusion from the 2019 Citywide Speed Survey and various roadway considerations, Webb recommended postponing changes to this segment’s speed limit and revisiting the ordinance once updated survey data is available.
On May 21, 2025, city staff presented the Study, along with the associated City Council recommendations, to the Cathedral City Planning Commission. The Commission approved a recommendation for the City Council to adopt the Study and suggested an increase in the speed limit on Cathedral Canyon Drive between Kings Road and Terrace Road. Upon review, Webb recommended that the existing posted speed limit be retained, citing the residential character of the corridor and referencing the findings of the 2019 Citywide Speed Study, which was previously approved by the City Council.
At its May 28, 2025, meeting, the City Council reviewed and approved the Planning Commission's recommendation to adopt the Study. In addition, the City Council introduced and conducted the first reading of an Ordinance proposing modifications to the posted speed limits on thirteen (13) roadway segments. This Ordinance also serves to update Ordinance No. 823, which established speed limits in 2019 (attached hereto).
A summary of the proposed speed limit adjustments, as detailed in the Study, is presented in the table below.
Street From To Speed Modification
Date Palm Drive Vista Chino 30th Avenue Reduce from 55 MPH to 50 MPH McCallum Way Date Palm Drive Santoro Drive Reduce from 30 MPH to 25 MPH McCallum Way Santoro Drive Da Vall Drive Reduce from 30 MPH to 25 MPH Mountain View Road Varner Road North City Limits Reduce from 55 MPH to 50 MPH Palm Drive Interstate 10 Varner Road Reduce from 60 MPH to 55 MPH Ramon Road Date Palm Drive Neuma Drive Reduce from 50 MPH to 45 MPH Ramon Road Neuma Drive Da Vall Drive Reduce from 50 MPH to 45 MPH Santoro Drive 30th Avenue McCallum Way Increase from 25 MPH to 35 MPH Varner Road West City Limits Edom Hill Road Reduce from 55 MPH to 50 MPH Vista Chino West City Limits Landau Boulevard Reduce from 55 MPH to 50 MPH Vista Chino Landau Boulevard Avenida Maravilla Reduce from 55 MPH to 50 MPH Vista Chino Avenida Maravilla Date Palm Drive Reduce from 55 MPH to 50 MPH The speed limit adjustments for the thirteen (13) roadway segments are outlined in Ordinance No. 2025-XX, which is attached to this staff report. The Ordinance establishes the proposed speed limits for all arterial roads, major highways, secondary highways, and collector roads within Cathedral City, based on the findings and recommendations of the 2025 Citywide Speed Survey.
DISCUSSION:
Approval of the second reading and adoption of an ordinance will establish the 2025 Engineering and Traffic Study as the official basis for the city’s posted speed limits, ensuring continued enforcement and compliance with state requirements.
Based on the findings presented in the Study, city staff recommend that the City Council approve the second reading of an ordinance adopting the Engineering and Traffic Study prepared by Albert A. Webb Associates, thereby establishing the Study as the official 2025 Citywide Speed Limits for the City of Cathedral City.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The implementation of this Study will incur costs associated with the removal, replacement, and installation of speed limit signage. These activities will be conducted by the Public Works Department to ensure compliance with the adopted 2025 Citywide Speed Limits Study. It is estimated that approximately 80 new speed limit signs will be required along the 13 roadway segments subject to revised speed limits.
The total estimated cost for the removal, replacement, and installation of the new speed limit signs is $20,160. This estimate includes approximately $16,800 allocated for labor and materials, with an additional contingency of 20% ($3,360) to address any unforeseen expenses.
The funding for this expenditure will be provided from the existing appropriations within the Public Works Gas Tax (241) and Measure A (243) Maintenance and Operating Budget.
Fiscal
Year DESCRIPTION GENERAL LEDGER
ACCOUNT CODES
PROJECT
CODE AMOUNT
ONE TIME
or
ONGOING
2025-2026 Gas Tax Materials
and Supplies
241-400-460-461-
8200-8201 N/A 10,080.00 ONE TIME
2025-2026
Measure A
Materials and
Supplies
243-400-460-461-
8200-8201 N/A 10,080.00 ONE TIME
2025-2026 Total $20,160.00
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
Goal E: Safety
Objective: Cathedral City is safe for all who live, work, visit and play in our community.
Action E-2: Continue to explore and utilize technology to promote public safety.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Attachment 1 - Speed Survey Recommendations Table
2. Attachment 2- 2025 Cathedral City Speed Survey Report
3. Attachment 3- 2025 Speed Limit Ordinance No.
4. Attachment 4- Adopted Ord 823 - 2019 Speed Limits