DATE: AUGUST 12, 2025
DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
FROM: DAVID JACOBS, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
BY: ADRIANA ROBLES, CITY ENGINEER
GERARDO RODRIGUEZ, ASSISTANT ENGINEER
TITLE: ARCADIA WAY NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC
CALMING PLAN
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
A motion to approve a Resolution approving the Arcadia Way Neighborhood Traffic Calming Plan for implementation.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
At its August 20, 2024, meeting, City Council approved the 2024-2025 Prioritization of Traffic Calming Projects, which ranked Arcadia Way as the second highest priority. Staff held a community meeting and worked with residents of Arcadia Way to develop a traffic calming plan. A vote was conducted to gauge community support, and the Arcadia Way Neighborhood Traffic Calming Plan met the support requirements as prescribed by the City’s Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (“Traffic Calming Policy”).
BACKGROUND:
In October 2009, the City Council adopted the Salinas Neighborhood Traffic Management Program to address residential neighborhood traffic concerns. The program was established to address traffic concerns from residential neighborhoods. Traffic calming devices are generally not considered traffic control devices as defined by the State and Federal Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (“MUTCD”). The City began compiling traffic calming studies in 2002 and found there were very few applications in California. To assist in the development of the City’s policy, the City hired a consultant to develop the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program. The resulting Traffic Calming Policy contains a toolbox of traffic calming measures that can be used to address neighborhood problems associated with speeding and vehicle volume on residential streets. The adoption of the policy also included the adoption of the traffic calming tools. The policy also provides the process for consideration of projects under the program which is important for securing the residents’ support.
While developing the policy, City staff met with affected parties including emergency response providers, solid waste collection services and street sweeping. Therefore, implementation of the Traffic Calming Program includes considerations and understanding of the program by potentially affected parties.
On November 7, 2017, following an influx of traffic calming requests received, the City Council approved criteria for prioritizing traffic calming requests based on traffic conditions, collision history, nearby land uses, roadway geometrics and facilities. These criteria provide a more holistic way of analyzing and prioritizing requests given the City’s limited resources. In order to process requests based on the approved criteria, staff annually presents a recommended traffic calming priorities list to the Traffic and Transportation Commission and City Council. City staff then proceeds with plan development, plan support and plan implementation based on Council approved priorities.
In August 2023, residents of Arcadia Way submitted a petition requesting the City to investigate speeding issues along Arcadia Way. Staff conducted traffic studies at various locations along the street, compiled data, analyzed the street, and the results confirmed high speeds and volume, pedestrian/bicycle collisions, horizontal curvature on Arcadia Way. Arcadia Way was ranked second highest in the 2024-2025 Traffic Calming Prioritization (Resolution No. 23065), approved by City Council.
The Traffic and Transportation Division held a community meeting on May 8, 2025, to develop a traffic calming plan with residents of Arcadia Way neighborhood to address the speeding concerns. With residents’ input received at the meeting, a neighborhood traffic calming plan was developed. The plan includes three (3) speed cushions and crosswalk enhancement on Arcadia Way. Attachment 1 provides the approximate locations of the speed cushions.
In accordance with the City’s policy, the plan was taken to vote to determine support from residents. The vote was conducted over a 6-week period. On June 26, 2025, the voting period ended, and the neighborhood met the support vote required. The City received ballots from 52% of all households, meeting the 50% return rate requirement. Of the ballots received, 86% were in favor of the Plan, meeting the 67% in favor requirement. Staff is therefore recommending the implementation of the Arcadia Way Neighborhood Traffic Calming Plan.
Traffic and Transportation Commission
The Arcadia Way Neighborhood Traffic Calming Plan was presented to the Traffic and Transportation Commission at its July 10, 2025, meeting. The Commission voted unanimously (7-0) recommending City Council approve a Resolution to implement the Arcadia Way Neighborhood Traffic Calming Plan supported by residents. The estimated cost of these improvements is $42,600 and sufficient budget is available and appropriated in the Traffic Calming Program Budget (CIP 9163).
Traffic Calming Policy Update
City staff has received comments and questions regarding the process of the Traffic Calming Policy from residents, Councilmembers, and Commissioners. There have been concerns of the length of the process from when a traffic calming petition gets submitted to when traffic calming devices get implemented, resources for the program, and the prioritization process. Staff has taken the comments and questions and have been working towards updating the Traffic Calming Policy. City staff has held two study sessions with the Traffic and Transportation Commission in June and July 2025 to bring forward proposed changes to the Traffic Calming Policy and receive feedback. The proposed changes will be brought to the City Council in September.
CEQA CONSIDERATION:
Staff has determined that the project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines (Section 15301, Class 1). The project consists of the operation, repair, or minor alteration of public streets involving no expansion of use. There would be no significant effect on the environment.
CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 84308 APPLIES:
No.
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
The Traffic Calming Policy support Council’s goal of “Infrastructure” and “Public Safety”.
DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION:
Public Works staff coordinate with the Salinas Fire Department on the recommendation of the traffic calming plan. Staff also coordinates with the Salinas Police Department if traffic calming enforcement assistance is necessary. Implementation is coordinated with Public Works maintenance staff.
FISCAL AND SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT:
There is no direct fiscal impact with accepting this traffic calming plan.
Fund
Appropriation
Appropriation
Name
Total Appropriation
Amount for recommendation
FY 24-25 CIP Budget Page
Last Budget Action (Date, Resolution)
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution
Attachment 1: Arcadia Way Proposed Traffic Calming Plan Page | 3
Page | 1
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