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BPAC - ACTION ITEM - (1) Receive and Discuss a Presentation on the Rancho Higuera NTMP (Neighborhood Traffic Management Program); and (2) Provide Input to Staff.
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Meeting Date: May 21, 2026
Contact/Dept.: Andrew Maximous, Mobility & Traffic Engineering Manager
Public Works
Phone Number: (310) 253-5628
Fiscal Impact: Yes [ ] No [X] General Fund: Yes [ ] No [X]
Attachments: Yes [X] No [ ]
Public Notification: E-Mail via GovDelivery (05/14/2026): Meetings and Agendas - Mobility Subcommittee; Notify Me - Construction, Street Maintenance and Closures; Stay Informed - Bicycle & Pedestrian / Culver CityBus / Construction, Street Maintenance and Closures
Department Approval: Yanni Demitri, Public Works Director/City Engineer (05/06/26)
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RECOMMENDATION
Receive and discuss a presentation on the Rancho Higuera NTMP (Neighborhood Traffic Management Program) and provide input to City staff.
BACKGROUND
The Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NTMP) is the City Council’s adopted policy to address traffic concerns in residential neighborhoods. The process contained in the NTMP was followed by the Rancho Higuera residential neighborhood, which is situated in the northeastern part of Culver City, just east of Downtown. The neighborhood is bounded by Washington Boulevard on the west, National Boulevard on the north, Hayden Avenue on the east and Ince Boulevard and Higuera Street on the south.
Findings and recommendations of the NTMP Phase 1 were approved by the City Council on November 18, 2019. Some of the traffic calming measures such as curb extensions and traffic circles were installed with quick build materials to allow for future evaluation, consideration, and fine tuning. Permanent measures installed included high-visibility crosswalks, signing and striping enhancements, and speed cushions. These traffic calming measures were installed along Higuera Street, Lucerne Avenue, National Boulevard, and Ince Boulevard.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the removal of a travel lane on Washington Blvd for the Move Culver City project have delayed the start of the Phase 2 evaluation. Modifications to the Move Culver City corridor have been completed, and the City is ready to move forward with this study.
The Rancho Higuera Neighborhood Association and a group of residents articulated their concerns about excessive speeding, high traffic volumes, and cut-through traffic. It was reported that cut-through traffic uses the neighborhood streets, as well as the streets in the Hayden Tract area, to travel between destinations south and east of the neighborhood, the I-10 freeway, and arterials to the west.
DISCUSSION
Community Workshops
Community Workshop #1 was held on May 20, 2025. Residents identified several primary concerns including:
• Excessive speeding on neighborhood streets
• Peak-hour congestion and cut-through traffic
• Difficulty crossing streets safely near schools and intersections
• Aggressive driving behavior
• Traffic impacts associated with adjacent employment centers and Hayden Tract growth
• Concerns regarding the effectiveness and appearance of some Phase 1 improvements
Additional concerns included parking spillover, inadequate compliance with crosswalks and turn restrictions, and requests for stronger traffic diversion measures such as cul-de-sacs, closures, and enhanced enforcement.
Community Workshop #2 was held on October 28, 2025. The workshop focused on reviewing traffic concerns, discussing preliminary strategies, and evaluating potential access restrictions and circulation changes.
Residents continued to express concerns regarding commuter cut-through traffic, speeding, and neighborhood livability. Several participants expressed support for stronger diversion measures, including a potential closure at Hayden Avenue and Higuera Street and additional turn restrictions intended to discourage regional through traffic from utilizing residential streets.
Concerns were also raised regarding potential traffic diversion to adjacent neighborhood streets, resident accessibility, and parking enforcement.
Community Workshop #3 was held on April 30, 2026. focused on the presentation of refined conceptual alternatives and evaluation of Phase 1 effectiveness. The workshop included updated traffic speed analysis and conceptual circulation scenarios.
The traffic speed analysis indicated that Phase 1 traffic calming improvements generally reduced operating speeds along Higuera Street compared to pre-project conditions. Average 85th percentile speeds were reduced from approximately 27.8 mph to 24.3 mph at surveyed locations.
Based on community input and technical analysis, staff and the consultant team developed three conceptual scenarios for consideration.
Conceptual Traffic Management Scenarios
Scenario A - Existing Access / Enhanced Traffic Calming
Scenario A maintains the existing neighborhood circulation pattern while focusing on enhanced traffic calming measures and operational improvements. Proposed measures include:
• Upgrading temporary Phase 1 traffic circles and quick-build treatments;
• Additional all-way stop control at selected intersections;
• Enhanced pedestrian crossing visibility;
• Supplemental signage and striping;
• Peak-hour turn restrictions; and
• Additional traffic calming elements such as edge line treatments and potential future vertical deflection measures.
This scenario emphasizes reduced vehicle speeds and improved pedestrian safety while minimizing changes to neighborhood accessibility.
Scenario B1 and B2 - Restricted Access at Lindblade Street or near Hayden Ave
Scenarios B1 and B2 include targeted access restrictions near Lindblade Street or near Hayden Avenue intended to reduce regional cut-through traffic traveling between Washington Boulevard, Hayden Tract, and the neighborhood street system.
The concept would modify neighborhood circulation patterns while maintaining local residential access. The scenario is intended to discourage through trips while preserving emergency access and neighborhood connectivity.
Potential benefits include reduced neighborhood traffic volumes and improved pedestrian comfort. Potential drawbacks include redistribution of traffic to adjacent streets and increased travel distances for some residents.
Scenario C - Restricted Access at Hayden Avenue / Lucerne-Wesley Area
Scenario C evaluates more substantial circulation modifications, including restrictions or closures near Hayden Avenue and/or the Lucerne Avenue/Wesley Street area. This scenario represents the most aggressive traffic diversion strategy presented to the community and is intended to significantly reduce non-local vehicle traffic within the neighborhood.
The conceptual evaluation included preliminary travel pattern and travel time comparisons illustrating how regional through traffic may shift back to arterial streets under this scenario.
As discussed during the community workshops, this scenario may provide greater reductions in cut-through traffic but could also result in increased inconvenience for residents, altered emergency response routing, and traffic redistribution onto surrounding streets.
Community Feedback
Community feedback to date reflects a range of perspectives regarding neighborhood circulation changes. Many residents expressed support for stronger traffic diversion measures to address cut-through traffic and speeding concerns, while others emphasized maintaining neighborhood accessibility and minimizing traffic diversion impacts to adjacent streets.
Several recurring themes emerged during the outreach process, including:
• Desire to reduce regional commuter traffic using residential streets;
• Requests for safer pedestrian crossings near schools;
• Interest in improving aesthetics and permanence of Phase 1 improvements;
• Support for enhanced traffic calming and additional all-way stop control;
• Concerns regarding enforcement and compliance; and
• Requests to maintain reasonable resident access and circulation flexibility.
Staff anticipates continued community outreach and refinement of concepts prior to returning to the City Council with a recommended implementation plan.
Next Steps
The next phase of the study will include:
• Additional community outreach and feedback collection
• Refinement of conceptual alternatives
• Preliminary cost estimates
• Evaluation of operational and circulation impacts
• Coordination with emergency services and affected stakeholders
• Preparation of a preferred implementation strategy for future City Council consideration.
Staff anticipate returning to the Mobility Subcommittee and City Council with a recommended preferred alternative and implementation strategy following completion of the outreach and evaluation process.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
The Rancho Higuera NTMP Phase 2 Study is funded through CIP Project No. PO008 (Rancho Higuera NTMP). Funding was previously approved by the City Council as part of the consultant agreement with Gibson Transportation Consulting.
Future implementation costs associated with any recommended traffic calming or circulation modifications will be evaluated and presented separately as part of a future Capital Improvement Program request and/or City Council action.
ATTACHMENTS
2026-05-21-ATT-BPAC-RanchoHiguera-Preliminary Concept Plans