BACKGROUND:
On February 8, 2023, the City Council accepted the Active Transportation Plan (ATP) establishing a community-wide pedestrian and bike network and identified specific target infrastructure improvements for pedestrians and bicyclists. The ATP identified the Perez Road Class IV Separated Bikeways and the Whispering Palms Trail Class III Bike Routes as high-scoring priority Projects to be considered first when opportunities arose.
On April 2023, the Engineering Staff submitted two SB 821 Grant applications for the Perez Road Class IV Separated Bikeways and Whispering Palms Trail Class III Bike Routes to the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC).
The Project descriptions and characteristics were as follows:
Perez Road Class IV Separated Bikeways
Per the City’s General Plan, Perez Road is a 4-lane major highway (76 feet curb-to- curb) with an 8-foot right of way on each side. There are curbs, gutters, sidewalks, and pedestrian curb ramps along both sides of the roadway. Perez Road from Cathedral Canyon Drive to Date Palm Drive is a truck route in a light industrial zoning area. The adjacent land uses include commercial, mixed use, residential, and open space. There are thirty-six (36) community destinations within a two-mile radius including eight (8) art/tourist attraction destinations, two (2) medical facilities, six (6) open space destinations, seven (7) public facility/civic destinations, four (4) schools, and nine (9) shopping center destinations.
The ATP identifies Perez Road as having the highest employment density in the City, estimating over 3,000 jobs per square mile. Bicycles and vehicular traffic currently share the road along Perez Road from Cathedral Canyon Drive to Date Palm Drive, which does not have striping for bike lanes. For bicyclists, this is not optimal and presents an exposed mode of travel with the adjacent vehicular traffic driving at posted speeds of 40 miles per hour (MPH).
The average daily traffic (ADT) on Perez Road from Cathedral Canyon Drive to Date Palm Drive is 12,000 vehicles per day.
The Perez Road Class IV Separated Bikeways Project proposes to install a 7-foot bike lane adjacent to existing curb and a 4-foot horizontal buffer zone with vertical flexible post delineators spaced 10-feet apart on both sides of the road. If funding allows, a six- inch curb may also be installed. The Project will include dashed green colored pavement markings at conflict points with intersection crossings and driveways, a bicycle box for the westbound approach at Cathedral Canyon Drive, bicycle detection and vehicle loop detection at the signalized intersections, pavement improvements to ensure a smooth and level surface for bicyclists, and new roadway signage and striping.
The proposed Project will provide pedestrians with a critically needed east-west bicycle facility providing a connection to major local roadways, transit and adjacent key community destinations. These improvements will increase the active transportation network connectivity by providing access to alternative modes of travel. These goals are consistent with the focus of the SB 821 Grant Program.
Whispering Palms Trail Class III Bike Routes
Per the City’s General Plan, Whispering Palms Trail is a 2-lane undivided local roadway (40 feet curb-to-curb) with a 10-foot right of way on each side. There are curbs, gutters, and intermittent sidewalks and pedestrian curb ramps along both sides of the roadway.
Whispering Palms Trail from 30 th Avenue to Dinah Shore Drive is predominantly a residential zone except near the intersection with Ramon Road, which is a commercial area. There are fifty-three (53) community destinations within a two-mile radius including eleven (11) art/tourist attraction destinations, four (4) medical facilities, eight (8) open space destinations, eight (8) public facility/civic destinations, ten (10) schools, and twelve (12) shopping center destinations.
The ATP identifies Whispering Palms Trail as having the highest population density, indicating between 4,000 and 13,800 people per square mile. Bicycles and vehicular traffic currently share the road along Whispering Palms Trail from 30 th Avenue to Dinah Shore Drive, which does not have striping for bike lanes. For bicyclists, this is not optimal and presents an exposed mode of travel with adjacent vehicular traffic driving at posted speeds of 25 MPH.
Community outreach feedback and bicycle audits conducted found that many residents utilize Whispering Palms Trail as an alternative to walking and bicycling on Landau Boulevard due to lower vehicular volumes and speeds. The ADT on Landau Boulevard is 19,000 vehicles per day.
The Whispering Palms Trail Class III Bike Routes Project proposes to install a shared lane/sharrow pavement markings, bicycle route and wayfinding signage, and bicycle boxes and bicycle detection for the northbound and southbound approaches of Whispering Palms Trail at Ramon Road. Leveraging the FY 2023-2024 Capital Improvement Project (CIP) Plan, pavement improvements on Whispering Palms will ensure a smooth and level surface for bicyclists with new roadway signage and striping.
The proposed Project will provide pedestrians with a critically needed north-south bicycle facility connecting residential areas to local schools, transit, and adjacent key community destinations. These improvements will increase the active transportation network connectivity and provide enhanced safety for residents that walk and bike on the Project corridor to reach key local and regional community destinations. These goals are consistent with the focus of the SB 821 Grant Program.
DISCUSSION:
In July 2023, RCTC informed the City that both Projects were awarded SB 821 funding.
RCTC and the City’s commitments under these Agreements are as follows:
Project Name
City's
Local
Match
SB 821
Grant
Funding
Project
Estimated
Cost
Perez Road - Class IV Separated Bikeways $170,000 $510,000 $680,000 Whispering Palms Trail - Class III Bike Routes $372,000 $690,000 $1,062,000 The grant funding awarded for each project is based on the total Project cost estimated for the City’s SB 821 grant application. The costs eligible for reimbursement through the SB 821 Grant include administration, design, environmental, and construction. If Project costs increase, RCTC may approve an increase in proportional funding. If Project costs decrease, RCTC will reduce participation by a proportional amount. The City has 36 months to complete both Projects.
Attached to this report are both RCTC Agreements for Funding under the FY 2023-2024 SB 821 Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Program.
Following the approval of the two Agreements for Funding, City Staff and Consultants will prepare plans and specifications for each Project. Once the design is completed, City Staff will solicit construction bids. The award of the construction contract will be presented to the City Council for approval.
City Staff is requesting the City Council approve Agreements with the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) for Funding under Senate Bill 821 Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Program, for the design and construction of: (i) Class IV separated bicycle lanes on Perez Road; and (ii) Class III bicycle lanes on Whispering Palms Trail; authorize the City Manager to execute the Agreements; and authorize the amendment of the CIP Plan to show the amounts of $680,000 and $1,062,000 for Class IV separated bicycle lanes on Perez Road Project and Class III bicycle lanes on Whispering Palms Trail Project, respectively.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The execution of these agreements represents the City’s commitment to fund the Projects and provide local matching funds to receive the grant reimbursement.
For each project, funding sources will be identified and presented to the City Council when the design and construction contract awards are presented to City Council for review and approval.
The City has 36 months to complete the Projects from the date of these agreements.
Perez Road Class IV Separated Bikeways
The total Project cost estimate for this SB 821 grant application was $680,000. The Grant award is for $510,000 (75%) thus leaving $170,000 (25%) as the City’s participation amount. It is anticipated the City match will utilize General Fund Maintenance of Effort (MOE) funds.
Whispering Palms Trail Class III Bike Routes
City Staff is proposing to complete a pavement rehabilitation Capital Improvement Project on Whispering Palms Trail from Baristo Road to Vega Road prior to constructing the Whispering Palms Trail Class III Bike Routes Project. The cost of the pavement rehabilitation Project will be used as leverage towards the SB 821 Whispering Palms Trail Class III Bike Routes Project. The award of construction contracts will be presented for approval at a future City Council meeting.
The total Project cost estimate for this SB 821 grant application was estimated at $1,062,000. The Grant award is for $690,000 (65%) thus leaving $372,000 (35%) as the City’s participation amount. It is anticipated the City match will first utilize remaining Assessment District funds (approximately $270,000) and the remaining match will be from General Fund MOE.
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
This agenda item aligns with Goal B: Community Investment of the Strategic Plan.