BACKGROUND:
Cathedral Canyon Drive is a 4-lane divided modified secondary highway (64’ curb-to- curb) with a 10 foot right of way on each side per the City’s General Plan. There are no sidewalks or curb ramps on either side of the street, and a majority of the right-of-way has existing landscaping. Cathedral Canyon Drive from Canyon Shores Drive to Dinah Shore Drive is predominantly residential, but no homes front the street. There are three schools within the 3/4-mile project segment vicinity: Cathedral City Elementary School, Cathedral City High School and Mayfield College. There are an estimated 2,745 students enrolled in these schools. Bicycles and vehicular traffic currently share the road along Cathedral Canyon Drive from Canyon Shores Drive to Dinah Shore Drive, which has striping for a 5-foot Class II bike lane. For bicyclists this is not optimal and presents an exposed mode of travel with the adjacent vehicular traffic driving at posted speeds of 45 MPH with the 85th percentile speeds averaging 49 MPH.
The average daily traffic (ADT) on Cathedral Canyon north of Canyon Shores Drive to Dinah Shore is 16,722 vehicles per day.
The City proposes to install an estimated 6,700 linear feet of sidewalk, ADA compliant curb ramps, and upgraded bike lanes on Cathedral Canyon Drive from Canyon Shores Drive to Dinah Shore Drive on both sides.
On the west side of Cathedral Canyon Drive, the improvements will include a 5-foot sidewalk, and the widening of the currently existing 5-foot Class II bike lane to 7-foot Class II bike lane (a 5-foot riding lane with a 2-foot buffer). On the east side of the street will be an 8-foot sidewalk to accommodate the installation of a Class I (shared-use) bicycle/pedestrian path. Both walking pedestrians and bicyclists will be able to use the Class I bicycle path. The improvements will also include a High Intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK) signal at Calle Trujillo, which will provide a protected pedestrian crossing alternative to traditional traffic signals.
The addition of sidewalks and ADA compliant curb ramps will allow a safer path of travel and fill the void of missing walkways north of Canyon Shore Drive. This will provide pedestrians a continuous walking path from Canyon Shore Drive to Dinah Shore Drive.
Upgrading the bike lanes will encourage bicyclists to use the dedicated lanes and provide ample space for pedestrians and motorists to share the road. The goal of these improvements is to provide a safer, viable, and continuous pathway for pedestrians and bicyclists from Canyon Shores Drive to Dinah Shore Drive to access local schools, parks, and businesses. These goals are consistent with the focus of the SB 821 Grant Program.
DISCUSSION:
In April 2019, the City submitted a SB 821 Grant application for a Project to construct sidewalks, curb ramps, and widen bike lanes along Cathedral Canyon Drive between Canyon Shores Drive and Dinah Shore Drive to the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC). In July 2019, the City was advised by RCTC that the City’s proposed Project did not make the “initial cut” for the Grant.
This same Project was resurrected in December 2019 with the City’s participation in CVAG’s 2019 Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Program - ATP Cycle 5 Preparation Grant.
This Grant consists of three (3) downtown linking ATP Projects on Cathedral Canyon Drive, Date Palm Drive and East Palm Canyon Drive of the Project. The design and right of way acquisition portion of the CVAG Grant is currently nearing completion.
In late December 2019, Staff was informed by RCTC Staff that the two of the three Projects originally submitted for the 2019 SB 821 Grant, Cathedral Canyon Sidewalk Gap Closure being one of these, were being recommended for “second cut” SB821 Grant funding as a result of available funding. In January 2020, RCTC confirmed the award of the Grant to the City.
The City Staff reviewed this opportunity, in conjunction with the design work that the CVAG ATP Cycle 5 Grant is currently funding on Cathedral Canyon Drive and concluded that this 2019 SB 821 Grant should be utilized as a supplement for the ATP Cycle 5 Grant improvements funding to further improve pedestrian connectivity throughout the proposed Project limits. These improvements included the addition of a HAWK (High Intensity Activated Crosswalk) and an overall supplement to the overall ATP Grant funding budget for construction. RCTC Staff concurred that this supplemental use of the 2019 SB 821 Grant was still in conformance with the Grant requirements and supported the effort to merge the Grants.
Before the City Council today is the RCTC Agreement for Funding under the 2019 SB821 Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Program (Agreement). RCTC and the City’s commitments under the Agreement are as follows:
•Participation is 75% RCTC/25% City.
•Original Project estimate $451,000.00.
•RCTC’s share of the participation for the Project is $338,400.00*. •The SB821 grant will be used as a supplement for the larger ATP Cycle 5 Grant.
As such, the City’s 25% match will be covered by the ATP Grant. •Eligible costs are for construction and related engineering. •The City has 24 months to complete the Project.
•If project costs increase, RCTC may approve an increase in proportional funding. •If project costs decrease, RCTC will reduce participation by proportional amount. *Based on original Project estimate.
City Staff and Consultants are finalizing the plans for the ATP Cycle 5 Grant and approval of this 2019 SB 821 Grant Agreement is required in order to confirm this additional funding through RCTC. Once the design and right of way components for the Grants are completed, the Project will be offered for bids. When bids are received, these will be evaluated and if acceptable, the construction of the Project will be presented to City Council for approval.
Staff is requesting that the City Council approve an Agreement with Riverside County Transportation Commission for Funding Under Senate Bill 821 (SB 821) Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Program for installing sidewalks, ADA curb ramps and widening bicycle lanes on Cathedral Canyon Drive between Canyon Shore Drive and Dinah Shore Drive; and, authorize the City Manager to execute the Agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No funding is required to execute and/or participate in this Agreement.
The total Project cost estimate for this 2019 SB 821 Grant work was estimated at $451,000.00. The Grant award is for $338,400 (75%) thus leaving a $112,600 (25%) 2019 SB 821 Grant participation amount.
The ATP Cycle 5 Grant award is $4,383,000 based on a $5,556,000 overall Project estimate thus leaving a $1,173,000 ATP Cycle 5 (21.11%) Grant participation amount The City’s participation in the design costs with CVAG and all other costs incurred for this Project, e.g., consultants support, right of way cost, etc., will count as leveraging toward both grant participation amounts.