BACKGROUND:
In April of 2019, the City of Cathedral City (City) was awarded a grant through the Southern California Association of Government’s (SCAG) Sustainable Communities Program (SCP) to complete the City’s Active Transportation Program (ATP). The Grant consists of preparing an ATP establishing 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 uses various funding sources. The City has used Safe Routes to School (SRTS) grants in the past to help eliminate safety hazards for students walking to school. The City recently completed the Gerald Ford Bicycle Lane Project funded by Senate Bill (SB) 821. The City also uses Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to improve sidewalks, curb ramps, and curb and gutter, in low-to-moderate income neighborhoods.
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 California Transportation Commission’s Active Transportation Program Cycle 5 funding. This Project will increase pedestrian and bicycle safety by improving sidewalk and bicycle infrastructure on East Palm Canyon Drive, Cathedral Canyon Drive, and Date Palm Drive.
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 proposals (RFP). At the October 13, 2021, City Council Study Session meeting, IBI presented to City Council the details of the ATP, main objectives, the challenges with network connectivity in the City, and countermeasures to improve such issues.
At the October 12, 2022, City Council Study Session meeting, IBI presented to City Council the results of the public and passive engagement and an update on Cathedral City’s ATP.
DISCUSSION:
The City’s ATP is a plan to improve the safety and comfort of the City’s active transportation network, identify gaps and opportunities for improvement, acknowledge unique challenges, and aim to implement innovative strategies for mobility needs. The ATP 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.
The final stakeholder meeting was held on January 18, 2023, via Zoom to review the final draft of the ATP. The final draft of the Cathedral City’s Active Transportation Plan document has been completed and was posted on the Discover Cathedral City website from January 18 to January 31, 2023, for public and stakeholders’ review. Staff received one comment during this period and confirmed the concern was already addressed in the document.
IBI will be presenting the final draft of the Cathedral City’s Active Transportation Plan to the City Council tonight.
City Staff recommends City Council accept the final draft of the Active Transportation Plan funded by the Southern California Association of Governments 2019 Sustainability Communities Program.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact for the City on the Project as this is a 100% SCAG SCP funded Grant.