Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 6.E
Meeting
Date:
August 13, 2025
From: John A. Corella, Director of Public Works
Title: Construction Contract Award to Granite Construction Company for the Whispering Palms Trail Class III Bike Route Project (C08672).
RECOMMENDATION:
To award a construction contract to Granite Construction Company in the amount of $672,000.00 for the SB 821 Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities program for Whispering Palms Trail Class III Bike Route project (C08672); approve a twenty percent (20%) contingency in the amount of $134,400.00 for unforeseeable construction costs, thereby bringing the total project budget to the amount of $806,400.00; and, authorize the City Manager to execute the required contract documents; and, authorize the City Engineer to request bonds and insurance for the project, and issue the notice to proceed.
BACKGROUND:
On February 8, 2023, the City Council formally accepted the Cathedral City Active Transportation Plan (ATP), developed with funding support from the Southern California Association of Governments’ (SCAG) sustainability program. The ATP is intended to help cities across Southern California implement actionable strategies to enhance mobility options for all users, particularly pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit riders. The plan establishes a citywide pedestrian and bicycle network, outlines safe connections between key destinations, and identifies specific infrastructure improvements to support alternative transportation modes.
On February 6, 2023, the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) issued a call for projects under the FY 2023-24 SB 821 Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities program. In response, engineering staff identified two projects from the ATP that would significantly improve safety for both bicyclists and pedestrians, and which met the program’s eligibility criteria. The selected projects were:
Whispering Palms Trail from 30th Avenue to Dinah Shore Drive (Class III Bike Route). Perez Road from Cathedral Canyon Drive to Date Palm Drive (Class IV Separated Bikeway).
In April 2023, the city submitted individual funding applications for each of the identified projects, both of which were approved by RCTC in July 2023. Following the approvals, the City Council, in August 2023, authorized funding agreements for both projects under the FY 2023-24 SB 821 Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities program. These agreements formalized the commitments and financial responsibilities of both RCTC and the city, based on the total estimated project costs outlined in the grant applications.
For the Whispering Palms Trail Class III Bike Routes project, the total estimated project cost was $1,062,000. Of this amount, the city was awarded $690,000 (65%) in SB 821 grant funding, with the remaining $372,000 (35%) to be provided through a required local match.
The eligible reimbursable expenses under the SB 821 program include project administration, design, environmental review, and construction.
On December 11, 2024, the City Council awarded a contract in the amount of $35,000 to STC Traffic, Inc. for engineering professional services related to the design of the Whispering Palms Trail Class III Bike Route project. STC Traffic Inc., completed the plans, specifications and estimates for the project on July 3, 2025.
The Whispering Palms Trail Class III Bike Route project proposes a designated on-street route where bicycles and vehicles share the same travel lane. The project spans approximately two miles along Whispering Palms Trail between 30th Avenue and Dinah Shore Drive. Planned improvements include shared lane (“sharrow”) markings, bicycle route signage, speed feedback radar signs, and other striping and signing enhancements to improve safety and visibility. The project also includes pavement rehabilitation based on the current road conditions, ranging from Rubberized Emulsion Aggregate Slurry (REAS) treatment in areas with an average Pavement Condition Index (PCI) of 60, to full removal and reconstruction in deteriorated segments between Vega Road and Baristo Road with an average PCI of 46.
DISCUSSION:
On Sunday, July 6, 2025, the city advertised the invitation to bid, requesting qualified contractors to perform the scope of work described in Bid No. B25-100E, which includes the plans and specifications for this project. The bid specifications include an additive alternate for lowering and raising to grade Coachella Valley Water District’s (CVWD) facilities.
The bid solicitation was made available to contractors for seventeen (17) calendar days and advertised in the following locations:
Desert Sun- published on July 6, 2025
PlanIt Print Works- from July 7, 2025, until July 24, 2025 City’s Website- from July 7, 2025, until July 24, 2025 On July 24, 2025, the city received six (6) bid proposals for this project. The following table ranks each qualified bidder by the total base bid amount.
RANK CONTRACTOR AMOUNT
1 Granite Construction Company – Indio, CA $ 672,000.00 2 Matich Corporation – San Bernardino, CA $ 717,638.00
3 The R.J. Noble Company – Orange, CA $ 732,300.00
4 Onyx Paving Company, Inc. – Anaheim, CA $ 753,717.17
5 Hardy & Harper, Inc. – Lake Forest, CA $ 790,000.00
6 LCR Earthwork & Engineering Corp. – Jurupa Valley, CA $ 826,522.50 The bid tabulation prepared by the Engineering Division is attached to this report for reference.
CVWD rejected the cost for the water facility adjustments proposed by the lowest bidder, therefore, the city will not proceed with the additive alternate of the project. CVWD opted to perform their portion of the work with their own on-call contractor at the time of construction.
Based on the bids received and CVWD’s decision to reject the additive alternate, the lowest responsive and responsible bidder who yields the lowest contract price is Granite Construction Company, from Indio, CA.
Staff are recommending the City Council award a construction contract to Granite Construction Company in the amount of $672,000.00 for the SB 821 Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities program for Whispering Palms Trail Class III Bike Route project (C08672); approve a twenty percent (20%) contingency in the amount of $134,400.00 for unforeseeable construction costs, thereby bringing the total project budget to the amount of $806,400.00; authorize the City Manager to execute the required contract documents; and, authorize the City Engineer to request bonds and insurance for the project, and issue the notice to proceed.
All work will be performed within the existing city right-of-way. Construction is expected to start in October 2025 and is estimated to be completed by December 2025.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
These projects are categorically excluded under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process for federally funded projects per 24CFR58.35 (a)(1) and categorically exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Section 15301 for existing facilities.
FISCAL IMPACT:
FY 2025-2026 CIP BUDGET
The project is listed in the FY 2025-26 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) with an estimated total programmed budget for construction in the amount of $1,017,000.00 as shown below:
TDA - SB 821 Fund (RCTC) $661,050.00
Measure A (Local Match) $ 75,950.00
Assessment District 85-1 (Local Match) $280,000.00
Total Programmed Construction Budget $1,017,000.00
CONSTRUCTION BUDGET
Granite Construction Company’s base bid was in the amount of $672,000.00. The budget required for the construction of the project will include the base bid amount and a 20% contingency, in the amount of $134,400.00, thereby bringing the total construction budget to $806,400.00, as shown below.
Granite Construction Company $672,000.00
20% Contingency $134,400.00
Construction Total $806,400.00
The following table summarizes the budget allocations for the construction of the project.
FISCAL
YEAR
DESCRIPTION GENERAL LEDGER
ACCOUNT CODES
PROJECT
CODE
AMOUNT ONE TIME
or
ONGOING
2025-2026 TDA -SB 821 Fund 240-100-150-156-
8800-8802 C08672 $524,160.00 One Time
2025-2026 Assessment District 85-1 243-100-150-156-
8800-8802 C08672 $282,240.00 One Time
2025-2026 Total $806,400.00
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. SB 821 Whispering Palms Trail Class III Bike Route Project – Project Vicinity Map
2. SB 821 Whispering Palms Trail Class III Bike Route Project – Bid Tabulation
3. SB 821 Whispering Palms Trail Class III Bike Route Project – Contract