Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 5.B
Meeting Date: January 14, 2026
From: John A. Corella, Director of Public Works
Title: Award a Professional Services Agreement to Iteris, Inc. to Update and Revalidate the Local Roadway Safety Plan
RECOMMENDATION:
Award a Professional Services Agreement to Iteris, Inc. in a not-to-exceed amount of $49,908.07 for the update and revalidation of the city’s Local Roadway Safety Plan (LRSP), as required by the California Department of Transportation, and approve a 10% contingency for unforeseeable costs totaling $4,990.80, thereby, bringing the total Project budget to $54,898.87, and authorize the City Manager to execute the Agreement and required contract documents.
BACKGROUND:
A Local Roadway Safety Plan (LRSP) provides a structured approach for identifying, analyzing, and prioritizing roadway safety improvements on local streets. While California’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) addresses traffic safety at a statewide level, LRSPs allow local agencies to focus on the unique safety needs of their communities while contributing to the overall goals of the SHSP. LRSPs also support a city’s eligibility for Federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funding.
Cathedral City last adopted its LRSP in June 2021, which is included as Attachment 1 to this staff report. Per the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) requirements, LRSPs must be updated and revalidated at least every five (5) years to remain eligible for HSIP funding.
Cathedral City has a strong track record of securing HSIP funding, totaling nearly $9 million across multiple funding cycles, including Cycles 8 through 12. With HSIP Cycle 12 funding recently awarded in February 2025, it is critical the city update and adopt a validated LRSP by June 2026. Updating and revalidating the LRSP will ensure continued eligibility for future HSIP funding while providing a data-driven, evidence-based framework to reduce fatal and severe injury collisions throughout the city.
The LRSP update was originally included as part of the city’s broader Comprehensive Safety Action Plan project, funded through the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant, which was awarded to the city in November 2024.
The Comprehensive Safety Action Plan (CSAP) encompasses the development of the LRSP, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan, and the Safe Routes to School Plan, utilizing data analysis, public outreach, and collaboration with key stakeholders, including city departments, schools, and public safety agencies such as the Police and Fire Departments.
Since the FHWA award, the city has been awaiting execution of the SS4A grant agreement.
Due to the delay in execution and the approaching LRSP deadline, staff determined it was necessary to move forward with the LRSP as a standalone project, independent of the Comprehensive Safety Action Plan, to ensure compliance with Caltrans and HSIP requirements.
DISCUSSION:
The city issued a Request for Qualifications and Proposals (RFQ/P) for the update and revalidation of the LRSP, seeking a qualified consultant with experience in local roadway safety planning, crash data analysis, countermeasure development, and public outreach. The LRSP update will include:
Project management and coordination with city staff and stakeholders. Development of goals and objectives tailored to Cathedral City’s traffic safety needs. Identification and engagement of key stakeholders, including city departments, advocacy groups, schools, transit providers, and the community. Analysis of five (5) years of collision data to identify high-risk intersections and corridors.
Field visits to priority locations to assess contributing factors to crashes. Development of safety countermeasures addressing engineering, enforcement, education, and emergency services.
Preparation of a Draft LRSP and Final LRSP incorporating city and stakeholder input.
The RFQ/P was published on the city website on November 16, 2025, and advertised in The Desert Sun on November 16, 2025, and December 1, 2025. Proposals were due to the city by December 16, 2025.
The city received proposals from the following companies:
Iteris, Inc. Santa Ana, CA
STC Traffic, Inc. Carlsbad, CA
Interwest Consulting Group, Inc. Irvine, CA
Minagar & Associates, Inc. Laguna Hills, CA
Proposals were evaluated following the selection process outlined in the RFQ/P. The proposals were reviewed by a panel consisting of three (3) Engineering Division staff members and a staff member from the Planning Division. The panel found all companies provided proposals that were responsive, qualified, and knowledgeable about the requirements for the project. The rating summary of the panel’s review is included in this staff report as Attachment 2.
After a thorough review of the proposals, Iteris, Inc. (Iteris) was determined to be the most qualified and responsive firm based on experience, knowledge of Cathedral City roadways, and demonstrated ability to deliver a comprehensive LRSP.
Following the evaluation and scoring of the consultant companies, the cost proposal submitted by Iteris was opened and reviewed in accordance with state and federal procurement requirements to complete the RFQ/P evaluation process. Iteris submitted a cost proposal that aligns with the city’s expectations for the scope of services and current market rates.
Staff are recommending that City Council award a Professional Services Agreement to Iteris, Inc. in a not-to-exceed amount of $49,908.07 for the update and revalidation of the city’s LRSP, (City Project No. C06516) as required by Caltrans, and approve a 10% contingency for unforeseeable costs totaling $4,990.80, thereby, bringing the total Project budget to $54,898.87, and authorize the City Manager to execute the Agreement and required contract documents. The Agreement is attached to this staff report as Attachment 3.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The FHWA SS4A grant was awarded to the city in November 2024, and the city has been awaiting execution of the grant agreement since that time. On December 18, 2025, FHWA transmitted the final draft of the grant agreement to the city for review. While the city has no exceptions or concerns with the draft, the agreement must still undergo final processing and approval by FHWA Headquarters, and there is no established timeline for completion of that process. Given these circumstances, and the possibility that the agreement could be executed before the LRSP Update project is completed, a portion of the LRSP project costs may ultimately be eligible for reimbursement.
Notwithstanding this potential, any costs incurred prior to execution of the FHWA SS4A grant agreement are not eligible for reimbursement and must be fully funded by the city. Due to the requirement to adopt a validated LRSP by June 2026 to maintain eligibility for HSIP funding, staff recommend proceeding with the LRSP update at this time. Upon execution of the SS4A grant agreement, any remaining eligible LRSP project costs would be funded at an 80 percent federal share through the SS4A grant program, with the remaining 20 percent local match funded by Measure A, as outlined in the 5-Year Capital Improvement Plan.
Programmed Funding - 5-Year Capital Improvements Plan
The Comprehensive Safety Action Plan project, which includes the Local Road Safety Plan (LRSP) update as a project component, is programmed in the City’s Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan to be funded 80 percent with FHWA Street Safe for All (SS4A) grant funds and 20 percent with Measure A funds as the local match, as follows.
FHWA SS4A Grant Funding (80%) $399,760.00
Measure A (20% Local Match) $99,940.00
Total Comprehensive Safety Action Plan Project Cost $499,700.00 LRSP Update Project - Cost Summary
The not-to-exceed cost for the Professional Services Agreement with Iteris, Inc. to update and revalidate the Local Road Safety Plan (LRSP) is $49,908.07. Staff are proposing a 10 percent contingency to address unforeseen costs, bringing the total project budget to $54,898.87.
Iteris, Inc. (Selected Consultant) Cost $49,908.07
10% Contingency $4,990.80
Total LRSP Update Project Cost $54,898.87
Staff are proposing to fund the LRSP Update project using the Measure A funds programmed as the local match for the SS4A grant funding. Measure A funding in the amount of $45,041.13 will remain available to support the other components to complete the SS4A - Comprehensive Safety Action Plan project (CSAP).
Measure A Funds (20% Local Match) $99,940.00
LRSP Update Project Budget ($54,898.87)
Measure A Fund Balance for SS4A Project $45,041.13
Funding Scenarios for the LRSP Update Project
Scenario 1
If the FHWA SS4A grant agreement is not executed during the LRSP project timeline, the full cost of the LRSP Update project in the amount of $54,898.87 will be funded entirely with Measure A funds.
Scenario 2
If the FHWA SS4A grant agreement is executed during the LRSP project timeline, the costs incurred prior to grant agreement execution would remain ineligible for reimbursement and would be fully funded by the city. Any remaining project costs would be reimbursed at an 80% federal share, with a 20% local match.
Scenario 3
If the FHWA SS4A grant agreement is executed before any LRSP project costs are incurred, the entire project would be eligible for the 80/20 federal-to-local funding split, as shown below.
LRSP Total Project Cost $54,898.87
FHWA-SS4A Grant Reimbursement (80%) ($43,919.09)
Measure A – (20% Local Match) $10,979.78
Accordingly, the city’s financial responsibility for the LRSP Update project may range from $10,979.78 to $54,898.87, depending on the timing of execution of the FHWA SS4A grant agreement. For purposes of this staff report and budget authorization, staff are presenting the most conservative estimate and assume the full project cost will be funded using Measure A funds. If the grant agreement is approved during the Iteris engagement, Finaicial Services will make the appropriate adjustments to reduce Measure A (Fund 243) costs and increase Capital Improvement Project (CIP) grant funding (Fund 331).
FISCAL YEAR DESCRIPTION
GENERAL
LEDGER
ACCOUNT
CODES
PROJECT
CODE AMOUNT ONE TIME or
ONGOING
2025-2026 Measure A
Funds
243-100-150-
156-8600-8601 C0XXXX $54,898.87 ONE TIME
2025-2026 Total $54,898.87
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
Goal B- Community Investment
Objective: Cathedral City roads, gateways, public spaces, and other infrastructure are well planned, designed, constructed and maintained.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: June 2021 Local Roadway Safety Plan
Attachment 2: Proposal Evaluation Summary
Attachment 3: PSA with Iteris, Inc.