Staff Report
City Council
Item No. {{section.number}}.C
Meeting Date: December 11, 2024
From: John A. Corella, Director of Public Works
Title: Amendment Number Two to the Reimbursement Agreement with the Coachella Valley Association of Governments for the Cathedral Canyon Bridge Project to Provide for Traffic Signal Improvements at the Intersection Between Canyon Shores Drive and Cathedral Canyon Drive.
RECOMMENDATION:
To authorize the Mayor and the City Manager to execute Amendment Number Two to the reimbursement agreement between the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) and the City of Cathedral City for the construction of Cathedral Canyon Bridge project in an amount not-to-exceed $700,000 to provide engineering design and construction of traffic signal improvements at the intersection between Canyon Shores Drive and Cathedral Canyon Drive; and, approve a budget adjustment for the same amount.
BACKGROUND:
On October 26, 2009, the CVAG Executive Committee approved a Reimbursement Agreement with the City of Cathedral City to provide 75 percent of the local share for the Cathedral Canyon Bridge Project (Ofelia Bringas Memorial Bridge) over the Whitewater River Stormwater Channel. At that time, the City of Cathedral City successfully acquired a Highway Bridge Program (HBP) grant to construct the new bridge, which was estimated at a cost of $22,038,000. The HBP grant provided 88.53 percent of the funding, leaving the remaining
11.47 percent of project costs, $2,527,759, as the local share. Per CVAG’s policy, the remaining local share is divided 75-25 percent, with CVAG paying 75 percent of the remaining costs and Cathedral City paying 25 percent. The city’s regional share was $631,940 toward the project.
On February 24, 2020, the city and CVAG Executive Committee executed Amendment Number One to the reimbursement agreement for the Cathedral Canyon Bridge Project in an amount not-to-exceed $681,272.58. This amendment provided additional funding for the construction of the bridge in the amount of $402,875, and $278,397.58 related to the design and construction of the CV Link bicycle and pedestrian pathway on the bridge. CVAG reimbursed the city 100 percent of the costs related to the CV Link portion.
On June 28, 2023, the City Council accepted the Ofelia Bringas Memorial Bridge project (C08919) as complete, and on March 12, 2024, Caltrans accepted the final invoice and closed out the project.
Notwithstanding the above, the agency reimbursement agreement between CVAG and the City of Cathedral City for the Cathedral Canyon Bridge Project was not closed/completed.
City staff have been working with CVAG staff to incorporate a safety protected crossing at Cathedral Canyon Drive and CV Link/Canyon Shores Drive intersection. Funding this additional project was always proposed to be affected by amending the currently still open reimbursement agreement.
This past year, CVAG completed the acquisition of the right-of-way from adjacent tribal allottee landowners near and adjacent to the Cathedral Canyon Bridge. This has allowed the construction of CV Link to move forward within the Cathedral City and Palm Springs areas in September 2024.
On October 28, 2024, city staff requested Amendment Number Two to the reimbursement agreement between CVAG and the City of Cathedral City for the Cathedral Canyon Bridge Project to increase CVAG’s regional share of the project costs to accommodate a new traffic signal at the intersection of Cathedral Canyon Drive and CV Link/Canyon Shores Drive.
Amendment Number Two to the reimbursement agreement authorizing CVAG funds for the design and construction of a new traffic signal was approved at the CVAG’s Transportation Committee meeting on November 4, 2024, and subsequently approved at CVAG’s Executive Committee meeting on December 2, 2024.
DISCUSSION:
CV Link is now under construction along the northern embankment of the Whitewater River Channel, west of Cathedral Canyon Drive. Once completed, CV Link will continue to the east side of Cathedral Canyon Drive by crossing Cathedral Canyon at grade, where it will connect to the Ofelia Bringas Memorial Bridge (aka Cathedral Canyon Bridge). This bridge includes a CVAG funded CV Link deck expansion which allows CV Link users to cross over to the southern embankment of the Whitewater River Channel and continue east.
With CV Link under construction on both sides (west and east) of Cathedral Canyon Drive, the timing of incorporating a safety protected crossing is crucial to provide the safety improvements necessary for users cross the roadway and the Whitewater River Stormwater Channel.
The CV Link project would usually fund 100 percent of the cost to install a safety crossing in the form of rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFB). However, because of the proximity of Canyon Shores Drive to the CV Link crossing, a fully protected crossing with a traffic signal installation is necessary and warranted. In discussions between CVAG and city staff, it was agreed CVAG will fund 75 percent and the city will fund the remaining 25 percent of the traffic signal costs.
The proposed traffic signal work would be incorporated into the completed city work of adding a multi-use path and sidewalk/bicycle lanes on respective sides of Cathedral Canyon Drive from Canyon Shores Drive north to Dinah Shore. With the addition of the multi-use path and sidewalks and bicycle lanes, the signalized intersection will add improvements to allow users to safely cross Cathedral Canyon Drive and access CV Link westward and eastward.
Amendment Number Two to the reimbursement agreement for the Cathedral Canyon Bridge Project provides for a 75-25 percent cost-sharing agreement between CVAG and the city.
CVAG will fund 75 percent of the costs to design and construct a full traffic signal and the city will be responsible for the remaining 25 percent of the project costs. The city will be the lead agency on this project and is proposing to initiate the design and construction which will be reimbursed by CVAG as project costs are incurred.
Staff is recommending the City Council to authorize the Mayor and the City Manager to execute Amendment Number Two to the reimbursement agreement between the CVAG and the City of Cathedral City for the construction of Cathedral Canyon Bridge project in an amount not-to-exceed $700,000 to provide for engineering design and construction of traffic signal improvements at the intersection between Canyon Shores Drive and Cathedral Canyon Drive; and, approve a budget adjustment for the same amount. If approved, staff will immediately solicit proposals for the design of the traffic signal and bring the request for design engineering back to the City Council for approval of funding.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The traffic signal at Cathedral Canyon Drive and Canyon Shores Drive Project is currently identified as unfunded in the 5-Year Capital Improvement Program presented with the current FY 2023/2024 & 2024/2025 biennial budget.
The preliminary cost estimate for the design and construction of the traffic signal is estimated in the amount of $700,000, comprised of $100,000 design and $600,000 construction. The City’s portion of the funding ($175,000) will be funded by Measure A funds.
A budget adjustment in the amount of $700,000 is required to initiate and complete the project.
FISCAL
YEAR DESCRIPTION
GENERAL
LEDGER
ACCOUNT
CODES
PROJECT
CODE AMOUNT
ONE TIME
or
ONGOING
2024-2025 Measure A Fund (25 %) 243-100-150-
156-8XXX-8XXX TBD $175,000 One Time
2024-2025 CVAG (75%) 331-100-150-
156-8XXX-8XXX TBD $525,000 One Time
2024-2025 Total $700,000
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
Goal B: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
Objective: Cathedral City roads, gateways, public spaces, and other city infrastructure are well planned, designed, constructed, and maintained.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Project Vicinity Map
2. Reimbursement Agreement Amendment Number Two
3. CVAG Staff Report – Transportation Committee 11/4/2024