FHWA-HRT-23-059 

HRDI-20/05-23(WEB)E

Office of Research, 

Development, and Technology

Office of Infrastructure 

Research and Development

Turner-Fairbank Highway 

Research Center

6300 Georgetown Pike

McLean, VA 22101-2296

https://highways.dot.gov/research

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/

infrastructure/

construction costs

CASE STUDY

Complete Streets Construction 

Cost Case Study: Village Center 

in the City of La Quinta, CA

Location: City of La Quinta, CA (33.68 N, 116.30 W)

Project Length: 1.5 mi

Project Duration: August 2019–January 2021 (17 mo)

Problem Statement

Officials identified several safety and mobility challenges on the three 

roadways that serve the village center of the city of La Quinta: Calle Tampico, 

Eisenhower Drive, and Calle Sinaloa (also known as 52nd Avenue or 

Avenue 52).

They identified the following challenges:

• Pedestrian crossing opportunities were only at intersections 

that were spaced more than 1,000 ft apart.

• Crosswalks at intersections had no curb extensions or median refuges 

to reduce pedestrians’ and bicyclists’ exposure to vehicle traffic.

• Most vehicles (85 percent) along Calle Tampico, Eisenhower 

Drive, and Calle Sinaloa traveled faster than the posted 

speed limit (45 mph, 40 mph, and 40 mph, respectively) 

according to speed surveys from 2007 through 2014.

• Crosswalks were not clearly visible to motorists, and signalized 

intersections had as many as 32 conflict points (pedestrian and 

bicycle, pedestrian and vehicle, and bicycle and vehicle).

• Sidewalks and bicycle lanes were not contiguous (with 

approximately 30 percent gaps). There was no direct connection 

for pedestrians and bicyclists to reach Bear Creek Trail, a popular 

destination and an essential route for children to access school.

• Vehicles exiting driveways merged immediately with high-speed 

traffic, a complex and difficult maneuver for drivers.

• Sidewalk curb ramps were not compliant with the 

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).(1)

• Lighting was inadequate for pedestrians in the project area.

Modal Focus (check all that apply):

F Pedestrians F Transit users

F Bicyclists F Freight providers

F Micromobility users F Motorists

✓

✓

✓ ✓

© 2023 City of La Quinta.
2

Project Context 

The city of La Quinta has a vibrant village center with 

restaurants, shops, hotels, the La Quinta Museum, 

a library, a wellness center, city hall, parks, and an 

elementary school. Many residents live within half a 

mile of the village center, and they walk, bicycle, or 

drive to destinations of interest. Three roadways serve as 

primary routes to the village center’s attractions: Calle 

Tampico between Eisenhower Drive and Washington 

Street, Eisenhower Drive between Calle Tampico and 

Calle Sinaloa, and Calle Sinaloa and 52nd Avenue 

between Eisenhower Drive and Washington Street—from 

Eisenhower Drive to Desert Club Drive.

Context refers to the built environment within which the 

roadway is located. The American Association of State 

Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) A 

Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets: 

The Green Book, 7th Edition provides information about 

Figure 1. Map. La Quinta Village Complete Streets project location.(3)

Original map: © 2022 Google® My MapsTM. 

Modified by FHWA (see Acknowledgment section).

traditional functional classifications for roadways as 

well as context classifications.(2) For all three roadways, 

the roadway context is suburban, and the functional 

classification is arterial.

Prior to the La Quinta Village Complete Streets project, 

each of the three roadways had four 12-ft travel lanes and 

a raised center median. The right-of-way of each roadway 

was approximately 108 ft wide. Average daily traffic 

volumes exceeded 10,000 vehicles on all three roadways. 

Speed surveys showed that 85 percent of all traffic on the 

three roadways operated above the posted speed limit. 

Figure 1 shows the project location.

The city of La Quinta had been planning a revitalization 

of the village center, in part by promoting an environment 

friendly to pedestrians and bicyclists and by improving 

safety and mobility for all roadway users. Addressing the 

problems identified in the La Quinta Village Complete 

Streets project was part of the revitalization effort.(4)
3

Community Engagement Summary

The city partnered with the Southern California 

Association of Governments (SCAG) Go Human 

community engagement program to seek public input 

on how to revitalize the village center and create an 

environment friendly to pedestrians and bicyclists while 

promoting safety and mobility for all users.(5) The city 

began gathering input with surveys, virtual consultations, 

and face-to-face meetings focused on safety and 

mobility challenges. Feedback indicated a desire for the 

following changes:

• Improved infrastructure for pedestrians and 

bicyclists (particularly crossings and refuge areas).

• Traffic calming.

• Reduced points of conflict at intersections.

The city incorporated initial feedback in developing plans 

for the La Quinta Village Complete Streets project. As 

1 California developed specific plans for communities to complement countywide, comprehensive general plans.

the project progressed, the city engaged further with the 

community and revised the original project accordingly.1

The nature of the engagement changed to informing all 

users—pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists—on how 

to use the new or improved infrastructure. Community 

engagement was bilingual (English and Spanish).

Project Improvements

The city constructed improvements where pedestrian, 

bicycle, golf cart, and automobile traffic existed. The 

reduced travel lanes and midblock crosswalks provide 

access to a park, Old Town La Quinta, and an elementary 

school. The city also enhanced existing lighting 

facilities to improve illumination for pedestrians and 

bicyclists, among others. Table 1 contains a detailed 

summary of the project improvements. Figure 2, figure 3, 

figure 4, figure 5, and figure 6 present the before and 

after improvement photos from a roadway segment at 

Calle Tampico in La Quinta.

Table 1. Project improvements.

Problem Description of Improvements

Lack of visibility for pedestrian and bicycle 

crossings at intersections.

Long distances between intersections 

with no options to cross midblock.

• Conventional intersections reconstructed as roundabouts with 

high-visibility crosswalks.

• High-visibility crosswalks midblock (between roundabouts) to reduce the 

distance between existing intersections.

• Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) at midblock crosswalks to 

further increase visibility.

• Pedestrian signals with push buttons to facilitate movement through 

the crosswalk.

• Curb extensions and midblock refuge medians to break the crossing 

distance into two and thus reduce pedestrian and bicyclist exposure to 

vehicle traffic

Narrow sidewalks with curb ramps 

that were not compliant with the ADA.

Gap in bicycle lane network.

• Four travel lanes reduced to two, right-of-way freed up to widen 

sidewalks, occasional on-street parking, and closed gaps in 

bicycle networks.

• ADA-compliant curb ramps (new and existing).

Many conflict points in intersections.

Inadequate timing at signalized intersections.

• Five single-lane roundabouts with 8 conflict points each replaced signalized 

and stop-controlled intersections that had 32 conflict points each.

• Roundabouts reduced vehicle congestion (stacking and backups) 

emanating from the intersections.
4

Table 1. Project improvements (continued).

Problem Description of Improvements

Operating speeds greater than posted 

speed limits.

Driveways merged directly into high-speed 

travel lanes (no turn lanes available).

Traffic calming—the combination of road diet (reduced four travel lanes to 

two, one lane in each direction) and roundabouts (replaced all five 

intersections)—reduced operating speeds, which provided a safer environment 

for merging traffic on the roadway and incoming vehicles from driveways.

Inadequate drainage and 

landscaping infrastructure.

• Roundabouts, splitter islands, and water quality features designed to 

enhance and blend into the landscape using the city’s “desert oasis” 

color palette.

• Improved stormwater system.

Inadequate lighting. Enhanced lighting facilities and additions to improve illumination for 

pedestrians, bicyclists, and other users.

Figure 2. Photo. The intersection of Calle Sinaloa, Avenida Bermudas, and 52nd Avenue before improvement.

© 2023 City of La Quinta.

These images are intended to be examples of real-world, existing conditions; the conditions shown in the photos are not limited to best practices, approved designs, 

or approved behaviors, and may reflect conditions that are not recommended.
5

Figure 3. Photo. The intersection of Calle Sinaloa, Avenida Bermudas, and 52nd Avenue after improvement.

© 2023 City of La Quinta.

Figure 4. Photo. A view of the intersection of Calle Tampico and Avenida Bermudas during improvement.

© 2023 City of La Quinta.

These images are intended to be examples of real-world, existing conditions; the conditions shown in the photos are not limited to best practices, approved designs, 

or approved behaviors, and may reflect conditions that are not recommended.

These images are intended to be examples of real-world, existing conditions; the conditions shown in the photos are not limited to best practices, approved designs, 

or approved behaviors, and may reflect conditions that are not recommended.
6

Figure 5. Photo. Another view of the intersection of Calle Tampico and Avenida Bermudas during improvement.

© 2023 City of La Quinta.

Figure 6. Photo. A view north along Eisenhower Drive toward the intersection of Eisenhower Drive 

and Avenida Montezuma.

© 2023 City of La Quinta.

These images are intended to be examples of real-world, existing conditions; the conditions shown in the photos are not limited to best practices, approved designs, 

or approved behaviors, and may reflect conditions that are not recommended.

These images are intended to be examples of real-world, existing conditions; the conditions shown in the photos are not limited to best practices, approved designs, 

or approved behaviors, and may reflect conditions that are not recommended.
7

Project Results

By implementing the La Quinta Village Complete 

Streets project and replacing existing intersections with 

roundabouts, the city reduced congestion and delay along 

all three roadways. Specifically, traffic-calming measures 

considerably reduced vehicle speeds and made merging 

from driveways onto travel lanes less complex and safer. 

Midblock crosswalks, connectivity to Bear Creek Trail, 

and closed gaps in bicycle lanes provide safer access 

to the village center and elementary school. There has 

also been an increase in pedestrian and bicycle traffic 

after construction.

Although crash counts are not available since construction 

was completed because of interruptions arising from the 

global pandemic, city officials report zero fatalities on the 

three roadways from the completion of the project in 2021 

through June 2022.

Project Funding Sources

• Federal.

• State:

○ Caltrans Active Transportation Program grant.(6)

○ California Senate Bill 1 Road Maintenance 

and Rehabilitation Account.(7)

Project Delivery Mechanism

F Alliance 

contracting/ 

integrated project 

delivery (IPD)

F Construction manager/

general contractor 

(CM/GC)

F Progressive 

design-build (PBD)

F Public-private 

partnership (P3)

F Design-build (D-B) F Project bundling

F Design-bidbuild (D-B-B)F Indefinite delivery/

indefinite quantity (IDIQ) 

✓

• Regional and local:

○ La Quinta Art in Public Places program.(8)

○ Coachella Valley Water District rebate.(9)

○ Special Gas Tax Street Improvement Fund.(10)

○ Measure A funds (local 1⁄2-cent sales 

tax dedicated to transportation).(11)

○ Measure G funds (local 1-cent sales tax).(12)

○ Transportation Uniform Mitigation 

Fee (development impact fee).(13)

Project Costs*

Total Project Costs – $12,567,196

Construction – $11,187,115

• Mobilization – $480,000

• Roadway construction and related 

activities – $5,357,564

• Roundabouts – $2,410,000 ($482,000 each) 

• Lighting (furnish and install street 

lighting) – $500,000 ($8,772 each)

• Concrete sidewalk (becomes shared-use path 

close to roundabouts) – $339,346 ($77 per lin ft)

• Curb ramps (with detectable warning 

surface) – $252,950 ($2,342 each)

• Pedestrian beacons (RRFBs) – $215,000 

(28 units at $7,679 per unit)

• Pedestrian crossing improvements 

(median refuge) – $51,146 ($2,131 each)

• Road diet (lane striping and markings) – $90,000

• Asphalt concrete bicycle lane (lane striping, 

markings, and green-colored surfacing) – $125,423 

($28.86 per lin ft)

• Drainage – $414,100

• Landscaping (irrigation system, planting, 

cobble rock, crushed rock) – $951,586

Project Website

https://www.laquintaca.gov/our-city/complete-streets(4)

Utility Adjustments

$0

Right-of-Way

$31,194

Preliminary Engineering

$1,348,887

*Project costs include improvements that benefit mobility in general and may have been necessary regardless of any safety improvements.
8

Recommended citation: Federal Highway Administration, Complete Streets Construction Cost Case Study: Village Center in the City 

of La Quinta, CA (Washington, DC: 2023) https://doi.org/10.21949/1522004.

8. La Quinta, CA. n.d. “Art in Public Places” (web 

page). https://www.laquintaca.gov/business/communityresources/art-in-public-places-192, last accessed 

March 10, 2023.

9. Coachella Valley Water District. n.d. “Coachella Valley 

Water District” (web page). http://www.cvwd.org/, last 

accessed March 10, 2023.

10. La Quinta, CA. 2023. Municipal Code 

Chapter 3.18 – Special Gas Tax Street Improvement 

Fund. La Quinta, CA: La Quinta City Council. https://

library.municode.com/ca/la_quinta/codes/municipal_

code?nodeId=TIT3REFI_CH3.18SPGATASTIMFU, last 

accessed March 10, 2023.

11. Riverside County Transportation Commission. 

1988, renewed 2002. Measure A Sales Tax Ordinance 

No 02- 001. Riverside, CA: Riverside County 

Transportation Commission. https://www.rctc.org/

funding-and-planning/, last accessed March 10, 2023.

12. La Quinta, CA. 2017. Measure G Sales Tax. 

La Quinta, CA: La Quinta City Council. https://www.

laquintaca.gov/business/tax-measure, last accessed 

March 10, 2023.

13. La Quinta, CA. 2023. Municipal Code Chapter 3.33 

Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee. La Quinta, CA: 

La Quinta City Council. https://library.municode.com/

ca/la_quinta/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=TIT3REFI_

CH3.33TRUNMIFE, last accessed March 10, 2023.

Acknowledgment

The map in figure 1 was modified by the authors to mark 

the path of the La Quinta Village Complete Streets project 

location. The original map is the copyright property of 

Google® My MapsTM and can be accessed at https://www.

google.com/maps/@33.6754344,-116.3014193,17z.

(3)

References

1. Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. 1990. Public 

Law 101-336. 108th Congress, 2nd session. https://www.

govinfo.gov/app/details/CREC-2002-01-29/CREC-2002-

01-29-pt1-PgS222, last accessed February 6, 2023.

2. AASHTO. 2018. A Policy on Geometric Design of 

Highways and Streets: The Green Book, 7th Edition. 

Washington, DC: AASHTO.

3. Google®. 2022. Google® My MapsTM, Mountain View, 

CA, obtained from https://www.google.com/maps/d/, 

last accessed September 13, 2022.

4. La Quinta, CA. 2019. “La Quinta Village Complete 

Streets Project” (web page). https://www.laquintaca.gov/

our-city/complete-streets, last accessed March 10, 2023.

5. SCAG. n.d. “Go Human” (web page). https://scag.

ca.gov/go-human, last accessed February 3, 2023.

6. Caltrans. 2013. “Active Transportation Program (ATP)” 

(web page). https://dot.ca.gov/programs/local-assistance/

fed-and-state-programs/active-transportation-program, 

last accessed March 10, 2023.

7. State of California Office of Legislative Counsel. 

2017. Senate Bill No. 1 Road Maintenance and 

Rehabilitation. Sacramento, CA: State of California 

Office of Legislative Counsel. https://leginfo.legislature.

ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180SB1, 

last accessed February 3, 2023.

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