This is a recommendation to the residents of PGA West and a PETITION to the City Council. It concerns KSL\'s request that they install "worm medians" on Madison, which would be a huge safety hazzard and prevent us from going north on Madison out of PGA West gates.

1. To: Residents of PGA West
From: PGA West Residents, making up the Madison Street Access Committee
Date: September 29, 2011
RE: Request for Your Political Support for a Long Term Traffic Plan for Madison
THE CITY OF LA QUINTA IS CONSIDERING SHUTTING DOWN THE LEFT TURNS (2 NORTH, 1 SOUTH) ON
MADISON AT THREE EXITS IN PGA WEST. THIS SHUT DOWN HAS BEEN PROPOSED BY KSL AND WILL BE A
MAJOR SAFETY HAZZARD AND A HUGE INCONVENIENCE TO ALL RESIDENTS, VENDORS AND WORKERS
AT PGA WEST WHO USE THE GATES ON MADISON STREET.
THIS LETTER REQUESTS YOUR SUPPORT OF A PETITION TO STOP THIS IMPOSITION ON PGA WEST
RESIDENTS.
The purpose of this email (or letter) is to request your written support of our proposal to the City of La
Quinta to revise the long term traffic development plan along Madison. Attached to this document is a
1-page petition to the city that states that you support our recommendation. After you have reviewed
this memo, please fill out the petition and return it to us as soon as possible.
Background
In June of this year some of the residents who live close to the Madison Gates were notified that there
would be a public hearing on June 21, 2011 to consider a resolution that would:
1. Revise the tract maps and approved traffic plans for 4 PGA West subdivisions that are alongside
Madison Street.
2. The applicant, KSL, was requesting that the traffic plan be revised to include 3 raised “worm medians”
and a triangular median (known as a pork chop) instead of 4 traffic signals that they were obliged to
pay for under the originally approved Tract Map 28960.1 These worm medians and the pork chop would
prevent PGA West residents who use the Madison gates from making a left (north) onto Madison. This,
of course, is the only direction most of us go when we use the Madison Gates. It is the way to the Hwy
111, I-10 and the City of La Quinta. In addition, it would prevent residents on the east side of Madison
(by the Legends Gates) from driving to the Club straight across Madison, directly through PGA West.
They would have to go all the way around Madison to 54th St. to Jefferson/PGA West Blvd to get to the
Club. A diagram of the “worm” and “pork chop” medians is attached.
3. KSL was offering to give the City of La Quinta cash to complete the worm medians and pork chop they
proposed in return for releasing them from all remaining financial obligations. The cost of the worms
and pork chop would be dramatically lower than their current financial obligation of 4 traffic lights.
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Traffic signals were supposed to be built at: Winged Foot/Laurels/Eagle Bend; Weiskopf/Legends Way; Troon
Way; and Ave 58 at Black Diamond.

2. Madison Access Committee Recommendation to PGA West Residents
Approximately 60 residents showed up at the public hearing on June 21st and more sent letters and
emails to the City Council to protest this resolution. Our objections were based on:
1. Safety: This was far and away our largest concern. The revised plan proposed by KSL would have
required those of us who live on the west side of Madison to exit the gates going southbound and make
a U-turn in order to go northbound.
a. Making U-turns anywhere isn’t safe, but trying to do it in the face of oncoming traffic that is
sometimes going in excess of 80 miles/hour is downright suicidal. Madison is currently the only
4-lane north-south road. As development continues further south on Madison (future golf and
residential developments already on the books, a raceway, and a linkup with Rt. 86) traffic is
likely to get significantly heavier, making U-turns even more dangerous than they already are.
b. Emergency Vehicles would be forced out of their way when every second counts and be put in
dangerous U-turn situations.
c. Motorists entering the worms the wrong way and making a left onto Madison would add to the
risk of accidents. Unfortunately, many of us have observed motorists (and police) skirting the
law, entering worms in the direction of oncoming traffic in order to make an illegal left hand
turn. This will only add to the possibility of accidents.
d. Inability of large vehicles (like fire engines, garbage trucks, RVs) or trucks with trailers (like
landscapers) to make a U-turn without, in effect, having to make a 3-point turn. This puts
everyone in more danger.
2. Severe Inconvenience: Nearly all of the people who use the Madison Gates are going northbound.
This would severely restrict our ability to go northbound (without exposing us to higher risk posed by U-
turns). In addition, residents on the east side of Madison would not be able to go straight across the
Legends gate for direct access to the clubhouses.
Resolution of the June 21st Hearing
During the course of that hearing, with the degree and intensity of public protest, it became clear to the
City Council that action on the resolution should be postponed until: 1) seasonal residents returned to
their homes and could add their input; 2) alternative traffic plans were considered that would meet the
objectives of the City as well as the needs of the residents; and 3) until a fair “buyout” price for KSL
could be negotiated. The hearing was officially postponed until November 1, 2011.
The Madison Street Access Committee -- How & Why It Was Formed
A number of us who were at the public hearing were concerned that if we didn’t get together and
provide the City with an alternative plan that would meet the needs of the residents, as well as the City,
then our input would not be appropriately considered. We decided to form a Committee, The Madison
Street Access Committee (the “Committee”), to work with the City to develop an alternative long term
traffic plan.
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3. Madison Access Committee Recommendation to PGA West Residents
The mission of the Madison Street Access Committee is to investigate, plan, prepare and present a
comprehensive alternative to the plan presented to the City by KSL. The members of the committee
are: Rich Stenton (Chairman); Judy LeBlang (Secretary); Dave Turner; Kathy Foord; Paula Matos; Karen
Pelletier; George Harmina; Merv Kirshner; Dick Moore; and Mike Walker (Manager of Res 1).
Objectives
The City of La Quinta’s objectives are to:
1. Preserve the “rural” feel of the area: The City would like to minimize the number of lights, stop signs
or other traffic control features unless traffic density or accidents demonstrate the need for tighter
traffic control. The City also has guidelines that it will follow, for example, there should be a minimum
of 1,060 feet (1/5th of a mile) between traffic lights.
2. Promote public safety: If the traffic density or occurrence of accidents makes it evident, the City will
put in traffic controls.
3. Cash out KSL’s future obligations under Tract Map 28960. This cash would be put into the City’s DIF
fund. This fund is NOT earmarked for Madison traffic improvements and could be used by the City to
fund road work anywhere within La Quinta.
The Objective of the Madison Street Access Committee is to recommend a long term traffic control
plan that would:
1. Promote Public Safety: Preserve the ability of emergency vehicles to exit the Madison Gates and go
north. In addition, we want to protect the safety of residents when they do want to go north onto
Madison Street.
2. Minimize the inconvenience to residents, vendors and workers: For the residents, vendors and
workers who use the gates on the west side of Madison, north is almost the only direction that residents
and vendors want to travel. Residents on the east side of Madison should also be able to go straight
across the Legends gate for direct access to the clubhouses.
3. Give the City a long term traffic plan that the residents would support and that the City could use to
price out what KSL should pay the City to buy out their obligation.
Recommendation & Rationale
The Committee’s recommendation to the City is that the long term traffic control plan in Tract Map
28960 be revised to include:
 A traffic signal at the Winged Foot/Laurels/Eagle Bend Gate (which would also handle traffic out
of Griffin Ranch)
 A traffic signal at the Weiskopf/Legends Way Gate, and
 A modified “pork chop” at 58th that would enable residents to go north into the
Summit/Legends.
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4. Madison Access Committee Recommendation to PGA West Residents
 Norman Gate to remain as constructed.
Note that no changes would be made to Madison until warranted by increased traffic density or
accidents.
Alternatives, like traffic circles and stop signs, were also considered but rejected due to space
constraints (in the case of traffic circles) or ineffectiveness (in the case of stop signs).
Our rationale for this recommendation is that:
1. It would protect the safety of residents in both emergency and non-emergency situations by enabling
us to go northbound on Madison without having to make U-turns. It would also enable Legends
residents to cross Madison to get to the Club.
2. It would enshrine the residents’ preferred method of handling traffic control in the development plan
(Tract Map 28960). If the City wishes to revise it again in the future, they would have to seek public
input again before it could be changed.
3. It would cost KSL about the same amount of money they are currently obligated for under Tract
Maps 28960 and Tract Map 29136, so it has a higher probability of being accepted by all parties.
Next Steps
Please sign the attached petition. There are 2 ways you can do this. Either:
1. Go to our online petition (http://www.pgawest.org/Petition_for_Madison_Street_Access.htm), fill in
the petition form and click the “Submit My Petition” button, OR
2. Print out the petition on Page 6, complete the form and return it to Res 1 or FAX it to 760-771-5125 as
soon as possible, ideally by October 25th.
Once we have your petitions in hand, we will present them to the City along with the recommendations
we have outlined in this document.
Summary
The Madison Street Access Committee believes that this recommendation is the best way to enshrine
our preference into law. This recommendation would preserve our ability to go north onto Madison,
preserve the ability of residents on the east side to cross at the Legends gate, and protect our safety.
Your support, by signing the attached petition, gives us the ability to present a united front to the City
and get them to listen to our desires.
If you have any questions, please post them on our Facebook page (in Facebook search for “Madison
Street Access Committee”) or email them to Rich Stenton at prstent@aol.com and we will answer as
quickly as possible.
We thank you for your support.
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5. Madison Access Committee Recommendation to PGA West Residents
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6. Madison Access Committee Recommendation to PGA West Residents
Instructions: Review the petition below. Sign your name, date, include your PGAW address and FAX
this page only to 760-771-5125, OR to submit your petition electronically go to
http://www.pgawest.org/Petition_for_Madison_Street_Access.htm and complete the form.
PGA WEST RESIDENTS’ PETITION
TO THE
LA QUINTA CITY COUNCIL/KSL LAND 1, LLC HEARING
The PGA West residents’ committee has reviewed the traffic control plan recommended by KSL
for Madison Avenue, Airport Avenue, and 58th Street and has made the following
recommendations:
1. Install a traffic signal at the Winged Foot/Laurels/ Eagle Bend Gate instead of a worm
barrier, when traffic density warrants it.
2. Install a traffic signal at the Weiskopf/Legends Way Gate instead of a worm barrier, when
traffic density warrants it.
3. Install a modified “pork chop” at 58th to enable residents to go north into the
Summit/Legends from 58th when warranted by traffic density.
4. All Norman Gates both on Madison and Airport would remain the same as constructed.
I/We have read the committee’s report and hereby petition the City Council to incorporate the
above requirements into any amended agreement with KSL, which changes their existing
obligation to install signals and road improvements on Madison, Airport and 58 th Street. These
recommendations are necessary to guarantee residents will be able to make safe left turns out
of PGA West to proceed north on Madison. These stated requirements are in keeping with
traffic safety standards and also facilitate the safety of the numerous vendors now utilizing
these exits onto Madison. I/We endorse this petition and the committee’s presentation of our
name and recommendation to the City Council.
Please sign:
Signature: _____________________________________________
Please Print Your Name: _________________________________
Date: ______________________
Your PGA West Address: ____________________________________________________
FAX this page to 760-771-5125
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