BACKGROUND:
In April of 2019, the City of Cathedral City (City) received the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Active Transportation Plan (ATP) Grant under the 2018 call for applications under the Sustainable Communities Program (SCP). The Grant consists of preparing an ATP that will establish a community-wide pedestrian and bike network and target infrastructure improvements for pedestrians and bicyclists.
The City has limited active transportation infrastructure and is currently working in earnest to develop this type of infrastructure. Development that occurred prior to the City’s incorporation in 1981 includes areas where sidewalks are non-existent or discontinuous, limiting their usefulness as safe alternatives to vehicle travel.
To resolve challenges related to active transportation, the City actively pursues grants that improve pedestrian/bike safety. The City has used Safe Routes to School (SRTS) grants to help eliminate safety hazards for students walking to school; however, there are still areas that need curb and gutter and improved drainage to stop puddling and mud in the streets that make it difficult for students to walk to school.
The City uses Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to improve sidewalks, curb ramps, and curb and gutter, in low-to-moderate income neighborhoods.
The City recently completed the Gerald Ford Bicycle Lane Project funded by SB-821.
Additionally, the City is currently designing a Downtown Gap Connectors Project through Coachella Valley Association of Government’s (CVAG) Active Transportation Program and constructing the Project with SB-821 and ATP Cycle 5 funding. This Project will improve pedestrian and bicycle safety on East Palm Canyon Drive, Cathedral Canyon Drive, and Date Palm Drive by improving sidewalk and bike infrastructure.
The goal for this SCAG ATP is to improve the safety and comfort of the active transportation network, identify gaps and opportunities for improvement, acknowledge unique challenges in Cathedral City, and aim to implement innovative strategies for the mobility needs of Cathedral City. This project includes:
•Inventory of existing conditions of sidewalks, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, and wayfinding signage
•In-person and virtual public engagement activities
•Creation of the Discover Cathedral City ATP Webpage
•Strategies and priority projects to be completed over a 20-year time horizon DISCUSSION:
IBI Group, a California Partnership (IBI), was awarded an Agreement on September 9, 2021, with SCAG to provide the City with the ATP as outlined in the request for proposal (RFP).
IBI have been working with City Staff on the necessary components of the ATP. To date, the team:
•Finalized the Existing Conditions Plan
•Held Walking and Bicycle Audits
•Conducted Extensive Public Engagement
o8 Outreach Events
▪Active Transportation Survey in October 2021
▪Wayfinding Survey in January 2022
▪Taste of Jalisco on February 12, 2022
•Activity Boards/ Surveys
▪Butterfly Festival on March 12, 2022
•Activity Boards/ Surveys
•Traffic Calming Activity
•Safety Demonstration
▪Earth Day on April 30, 2022
•Activity Boards/ Surveys
•Traffic Calming Activity
▪3 Stakeholder Meetings held via Zoom
•1 st Meeting: December 9, 2021
•2 nd Meeting: April 6, 2022
•3 rd Meeting: September 14, 2022
•Progress of Draft ATP
oProject Lists/ Maps
oSignage and Wayfinding
To discuss the results of our public and passive engagement and to provide an update on Cathedral City’s Active Transportation Plan, IBI has prepared a PowerPoint presentation that outlines the data gathered from stakeholder meetings, engagement events, and online surveys. The update presentation will also provide City Council an opportunity to provide input on the proposed project list and maps, which are attached to this Staff Report. IBI Group and City Staff will present options for wayfinding signage.
The team is on schedule to complete the final draft by January 2023. The final Active Transportation Plan will be presented at a future City Council meeting.
This presentation by IBI to the City Council is for an update on the steps and community participation that will be performed by IBI to complete the SCAG ATP Grant for the Council’s discussion, information and comment.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No current fiscal impact for the City, as this is a 100% SCAG SCP (Sustainable Communities Program) funded Grant.