Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 3.L
Meeting Date: October 14, 2026
From: John A. Corella, Director of Public Works
Title: Approval for the Purchase of a Meridian Traffic Control Trailer RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the purchase of one Meridian Archer T-1000 Drop Deck Trailer in an amount not to exceed $39,010.78 to support the deployment and transportation of the Meridian Mobile Barrier System and other heavy-duty traffic control equipment; and authorize the City Manager to execute all documents necessary to complete the purchase.
BACKGROUND:
At its May 27, 2026, meeting, the City Council approved the purchase of the Meridian Mobile Barrier System (Barriers) to improve event safety and the efficiency of street closures. Staff knew that a heavy-duty trailer would be needed to transport and deploy the Barriers but had not yet determined the most cost-effective method of acquiring one. Staff therefore proceeded with the barrier purchase while evaluating whether Public Works Maintenance could fabricate or modify a suitable trailer in house at a lower cost than purchasing a purpose-built model.
Public Works Maintenance had previously fabricated and retrofitted a traffic control trailer inhouse, prompting staff to consider a similar approach for the Barriers. However, after evaluating the required specifications, trailer, material quotes, fabrication costs, and associated staff time, staff determined that a standard equipment trailer would not adequately address the operational requirements. The size and weight of the Barriers (700 lbs. each) require a drop-deck design for loading and unloading capabilities. Manual handling without the drop deck feature would be labor intensive and less efficient during deployments as a forklift would be required.
Based on this evaluation, staff determined that purchasing a purpose-built heavy-duty traffic control trailer would provide the most practical and efficient solution for the Meridian Mobile Barrier System. A dedicated trailer will provide staff a safe and efficient means of transporting, deploying, and retrieving the Barriers while reducing the time and effort required for setup and removal. The trailer will also provide a versatile resource for emergency response and other traffic control activities beyond the Downtown Safety Barrier Project.
DISCUSSION:
Staff evaluated two options for transporting and deploying the Meridian Mobile Barrier System and other traffic control equipment.
Option 1 - Purchase Meridian Archer T-1000 Drop Deck Trailer:
Staff evaluated the purchase of a Meridian Archer T-1000 Drop Deck Trailer, a purpose-built heavy-duty trailer capable of transporting the Meridian Mobile Barrier System and other traffic control equipment. Its drop deck design provides a lower loading height, allowing equipment to be loaded and unloaded more efficiently and improving accessibility during field operations. The trailer would also provide additional capacity to transport barriers, traffic control devices, and related equipment in a single organized unit.
Option 2 – Purchase and Modify a Heavy-Duty Trailer:
Staff also evaluated purchasing a heavy-duty trailer and having Public Works Maintenance modify it to provide specifications and functionality comparable to the Meridian Archer T1000 Drop Deck Trailer. Staff obtained and reviewed quotes for a suitable trailer and the materials and fabrication required to accommodate the Meridian Mobile Barrier System and other traffic control equipment.
Evaluation:
In coordination with the Fleet Coordinator, staff evaluated purchase costs, material, and fabrication expenses, staff time, and operational efficiency. Although Option 2 was initially considered a potentially more cost-effective alternative, staff determined that the combined cost of purchasing and modifying a heavy-duty trailer would be approximately the same as, and potentially greater than, the cost of the purpose-built trailer under Option 1. Option 2 would also require a significant commitment of Public Works Maintenance staff time and resources to design, fabricate, and complete the modifications.
Option 1 would provide a purpose-built trailer that can be placed into service without an extensive in-house fabrication project. Based on its comparable overall cost, lower demand on City staff resources, and operational advantages, staff recommends purchasing the Meridian Archer T-1000 Drop Deck Trailer. The trailer is expected to arrive within 10 days of placing the order, allowing staff to begin preparing it for deployment promptly.
If Council does not approve the purchase, crews would need to use a forklift to load and unload the barriers and an available trailer to transport them. The available trailer would carry fewer barriers per trip, requiring additional trips and making deployments more labor intensive and difficult to complete.
Public Works Maintenance plans to include a second Meridian Archer T-1000 Drop Deck Trailer in the upcoming budget cycle to support the next phase of the Downtown Safety Barrier Project and further expand the City’s traffic control capabilities.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Staff proposes funding the $39,010.78 purchase from existing resources within Fund 241 (Gas Tax) and Fund 243 (Measure A), with each fund contributing 50 percent. These funds would be transferred to the Vehicle Replacement Fund to complete the purchase.
Funding for the $39,010.78 purchase is available within the FY 2026-27 budget from savings realized within the Fund 241 (Gas Tax) and Fund 243 (Measure A) on completed Public Works Maintenance projects. These projects include concrete street and curb repairs and the median renovation along Date Palm Drive in front of the Food 4 Less shopping center.
These savings are sufficient to cover the purchase without reducing funding for, or affecting the scope or schedule of, any planned or currently budgeted Public Works Maintenance projects.
FISCAL YEAR DESCRIPTION
GENERAL
LEDGER
ACCOUNT
CODES
PROJECT
CODE AMOUNT
ONE TIME
or
ONGOING
2026/2027 Gas Tax
Transfer Out
241-900-910-
911-9300-9301 N/A $19,505.39 One-Time
2026/2027 Measure A
Transfer Out
243-400-460-
461-9300-9301 N/A $19,505.39 One-Time
2026/2027 Equip Replace
Transfer In
611-900-910-
911-7400-7408 N/A ($19,505.39) One-Time
2026/2027 Equip Replace
Transfer In
611-900-910-
911-7400-7410 N/A ($19,505.39) One-Tiime
2026/2027 Equip Replace
Expenditure
611-000-000-
000-8800-8807 N/A $39,010.78 One-Time
2026/2027 Total $39,010.78
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
GOAL E: Safety
Objective: Cathedral City is safe for all who live, work, visit, and play in our community.
E-14: Renew and improve our event safety planning, protocols and standards: streets, parking garage, Amphitheater, parks and others.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Meridian Archer T-1000 Drop Deck Trailer Quote
2. Meridian Archer T-1000 Drop Deck Trailer Specifications