Coachella organizers apologize for traffic chaos, promise improvements

*Traffic jams local roads as campers head into the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 10. (Image: Video still from NBC Palm Springs)*

Goldenvoice, the company behind the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, has apologized for the traffic issues that plagued the first weekend of this year’s event and assured that changes are underway to prevent a recurrence. George Cunningham, the senior vice president of public safety for the company, outlined the proposed changes at the Indio City Council meeting on Wednesday.

Cunningham acknowledged the traffic challenges faced by the community and surrounding areas during the festival’s first weekend. He stated that Goldenvoice has held detailed meetings with various departments and entities, including Indio, La Quinta and other Coachella Valley cities, to discuss and implement changes for the upcoming weekend and Stagecoach festival.

He emphasized that the success of the festival’s public safety operations relies on the collaboration of all involved entities. The changes for the upcoming weekend include the opening of an additional toll plaza with 12 more toll booths at the northern entry point, adding to the existing 32 lanes of processing.

Cunningham explained that the new toll booths would help process between 3,200 to 3,500 vehicles for camping. Once the camping area fills up, vehicles will continue to be processed at the northern area and directed to another entry point into the venue. This process will continue throughout the day until the streets are relieved of the pressure from incoming campers.

The new measures are expected to alleviate about nine and a half miles of vehicle traffic. The toll plazas will open at 9 a.m., but preparations will be made well before that time to ensure a smooth process.

Cunningham also addressed the staffing challenges that led to six of the 32 lanes being closed on Thursday morning of the first weekend. He assured that process changes have been made to ensure all lanes are staffed and ready for the upcoming events.

Similar plans are being considered for the Stagecoach country music festival, although adjustments may be needed due to the different types of vehicles expected at that event.