Every speed cushion request on Orinda's books remains stalled, the city's Traffic Safety Advisory Committee confirmed Monday, Aug. 17, with the oldest dating back more than seven years and no reason listed in the meeting record for the hold.
The committee, chaired by James Blaisdell, met Monday, Aug. 17, at City Hall, 22 Orinda Way. According to the official meeting record, the four requests flagged in our Aug. 17 preview, Davis Road, Crestview Drive, Claremont Avenue and Loma Vista Drive, remain frozen, each marked "no update."
The Davis Road request, submitted in June 2019, has now sat on hold for more than seven years.
As we reported Aug. 17, the city's FY 2026/27 traffic calming budget of $30,000 has gone untouched since the fiscal year began July 1. That remains the case 47 days in.
New Manzanita Drive request logged
The committee formally added a new Level 2 & 3 pedestrian safety request for Manzanita Drive, received in June 2026, to its traffic calming list. The request first appeared on the committee's July 20 agenda as a new item before being carried to Monday's meeting. It is categorized as a pedestrian safety concern, distinct from the speed cushion requests.
The meeting record groups the Manzanita Drive item under the same "on hold" section as the speed cushion requests, though it was initially treated as a new submission. Its current status is unclear.
A separate Level 2 request for signage and pavement markings on Monte Vista Road is listed as "current" but also received no update Monday.
Last year's spending
The city actually overspent its traffic calming budget last fiscal year. According to a city budget document, Orinda spent $41,217.25 in FY 2025/26 against the same $30,000 allocation, exceeding it by $11,217.25. That spending went to Orchard Road traffic calming, Coral Drive and Knickerbocker/Spring striping, and new signs on Oak Drive, Lombardy Lane and Sleepy Hollow Lane.
The bulk,$32,000, landed in June 2026 for the Orchard Road and Coral Drive projects.
What's next
The meeting agenda also included discussion of potential updates to the city's Neighborhood Traffic Management Program and an update on the 2026 Bicycle, Trails and Walkways Master Plan revision, Orinda's first since 2011.
No timeline for resolving the frozen speed cushion requests was provided. The next regular TSAC meeting is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 21.
