(New Traffic Signal at Farrell Dr. & Tahquitz Canyon Way)

Palm Springs, CA

You may have noticed quite a bit of road improvements in Palm Springs this summer from street paving to shiny new traffic signals. You also may have been asking yourself why you’ve been waiting at these traffic signals longer than usual.

This is because the City of Palm Springs received a grant to upgrade “signals, poles, motion detection timing, and other equipment at 17 intersections as part of the Federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HISP)” and while the project is being completed, each traffic light is set to PRE-TIMED CYCLE.

The locations for each new traffic signals are at:

1. East Palm Canyon Dr & Smoke Tree Ln/Cerritos Rd.
2. East Palm Canyon Dr & Farrell Dr./Barona Rd.
3. East Palm Canyon Dr & Cherokee Way
4. El Cielo Rd & Ramon Rd.
5. Farrell Dr. & Tahquitz Canyon Way
6. Farrell Dr & Baristo Rd.
7. Gene Autry Trail & Via Escuela
8. Indian Canyon Dr. & Racquet Club Rd.
9. Lawrence Crossley Rd & Dinah Shore Dr.
10. Paseo Dorotea & Ramon Rd.
11. Sunrise Way & Racquet Club Rd.
12. Sunrise Way & Amado Rd.
13. Sunrise Way & Tahquitz Canyon Way
14. Sunrise Way & Baristo Rd.
15. Sunrise Way & Ramon Rd.
16. Sunrise Way & Mesquite Ave
17. Sunrise Way & East Palm Canyon Dr.

The City of Palm Springs has addressed the longer than usual wait times at each traffic light and is asking residents to be patient during this time.

More specifically, on the Palm Springs website, they state:

“While the equipment that controls the traffic signal and the various components are being switched out, the traffic signals are placed on a PRE-TIMED CYCLE which means that the signal will cycle (green-yellow-red) at a timed interval for left-turns and thru-lanes, whether there are cars at the intersection or not. This is done for safety reasons, because the controller senses something is not working (because a component is not connected or only partially installed) and defaults to a known pattern to avoid conflicting traffic movements from getting green lights, in all directions, at the same time.

As the traffic lights progresses through its cycle, drivers will need to practice patience. Please do not call the City to fix the traffic signal timing. Work is anticipated to be finished by January 2023.”

Until then, sit back, relax, and enjoy the breathtaking views of the scenery around us.

For more information on the project, click here.