Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 5.A
Meeting Date: April 8, 2026
From: John A. Corella, Director of Public Works
Title: Award Agreement for Design Professional Services for the Highway Safety Improvement Program Cycle 12 Projects (C02602 and C02603) RECOMMENDATION:
To award a Professional Services Agreement to TKE Engineering, Inc., in the amount of $75,556.36, to prepare the plans, specifications, right-of-way and environmental documents for the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Cycle 12 Projects (CIP C02602 and C02603); and, approve a 10% contingency in the amount of $7,555.64 for unforeseen design related expenses, thereby bringing the total design cost to $83,112.00; and, authorize the City Manager to execute the contract.
BACKGROUND:
The Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) is a core Federal-aid program with the purpose of achieving significant reduction in traffic fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads, including non-State-owned public roads and roads on tribal land. HSIP is one of the programs established under the Federal Surface Transportation Act in August 2005.
The California local HSIP program funds local highway safety improvement projects on a two- year Call-for-Projects cycle. The timing and size of the call is determined by the program apportionments, current HSIP Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP) capacity and delivery of the existing HSIP Projects.
The Division of Local Assistance (DLA) manages California’s local agency share of HSIP funds. California’s Local HSIP prioritizes infrastructure projects with nationally recognized crash reduction factors (CRF). Local HSIP projects are ranked on the basis of crash severity, crash potential, crash rate, or other data-supported means.
On June 25, 2021, the city completed the final Local Roadway Safety Plan (LRSP) which provides a framework for identifying, analyzing, and prioritizing roadway safety improvements on local roads. LRSP is the basis for HSIP grant application requests.
On August 14, 2024, the City Council approved a task order with the city’s on-call traffic engineering consultant, STC Traffic Inc, to prepare two (2) grant applications for the HSIP Cycle 12 Call-For-Projects. In September 2024, the applications were completed and submitted to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).
The HSIP Cycle 12 grant follows a 90/10 reimbursement structure, whereby ninety percent (90%) of eligible project costs are funded by HSIP, and the remaining ten percent (10%) is required as a local match.
In February 2025, Cathedral City was awarded HSIP funds for the following projects:
Three Pedestrian Crossing Enhancements Project (HSIP Cycle 12A, C02602) The proposed project includes pedestrian crossing enhancements at three locations, consisting of the installation of ADA-compliant curb ramps, rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs), high-visibility continental crosswalks, and related signing and striping improvements.
The total project cost was estimated and approved in the amount of $349,920 as part of the HSIP Cycle 12 application. Of this amount, $314,928 (90%) is funded through the HSIP Cycle 12 program, while the remaining $34,992 (10%) is provided by the city as required local match.
The grant funding covers both the preliminary engineering (PE) and construction (CON) phases of the project.
The proposed improvements will be implemented at the following locations:
1. Ortega Road and Via De Anza
2. Bella Vista Road and Calada Road
3. Century Park Drive and Foxborough Drive
Six Pedestrian Crossing Installations Project (HSIP Cycle 12B, C02603) The proposed project includes the installation of pedestrian crossings at six uncontrolled locations, consisting of signing and striping improvements and ADA curb ramp upgrades.
The total project cost was estimated and approved in the amount of $272,160 as part of the HSIP Cycle 12 application. Of this amount, $244,944 (90%) is funded through the HSIP Cycle 12 program, while the remaining $27,216 (10%) is provided by the city as required local match.
The grant funding covers both the preliminary engineering (PE) and construction (CON) phases of the project.
The proposed improvements will be implemented at the following locations:
1. San Eljay Avenue and Doral Way
2. Dinah Shore Drive and Corregidor Drive
3. San Luis Rey Drive N. and San Gabriel Circle E.
4. San Luis Rey Drive S. and San Gabriel Circle E.
5. Ramon Road and Neuma Drive
6. Ramon Road and Avenida Alvera / Canyon Vista Road
Following receipt of the grant award notification from Caltrans, staff requested authorization to allocate PE funds to initiate the design of both HSIP Cycle 12 projects. Caltrans approved the funding allocation on January 2, 2026.
The proposed professional design services agreement will allow the city to proceed with the PE phase, including environmental clearance and preparation of final design plans.
DISCUSSION:
City staff issued a Request for Qualifications/Proposals (RFQ/P) for professional design services for these HSIP Cycle 12 projects. The RFQ/P was advertised in the Desert Sun on March 1, 2026, and posted on the city’s website from March 1 through March 17, 2026.
Through the RFQ/P process, engineering consultants with relevant experience were invited to submit their qualifications to perform the work. In accordance with HSIP Cycle 12 requirements for consultant selection, cost proposals were required to be submitted in a separate sealed envelope. All proposals were received by the city on March 17, 2026.
Four (4) firms responded to the RFQ/P and are listed below:
Ardurra Group, Inc. Temecula, CA
STC Traffic, Inc. Carlsbad, CA
TKE Engineering, Inc. Palm Desert, CA
West & Associates Engineering, Inc. Foothill Ranch, CA
Proposals were reviewed, evaluated, and scored by Engineering Department staff using Federal and State evaluation protocols. Based on their evaluations, TKE Engineering, Inc. (TKE), was determined to be the most qualified consultant. Staff reviewed TKE’s cost proposal and determined that the cost proposal is within the amount allocated by the HSIP grant for the services to be provided and aligns with the scope and complexity of both projects.
Staff are requesting the City Council award a Professional Services Agreement to TKE Engineering, Inc., in the amount of $75,556.36, to prepare the plans, specifications, right-of- way and environmental documents for the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Cycle 12 Projects (CIP C02602 and C02603); and, approve a 10% contingency in the amount of $7,555.64 for unforeseen design related expenses, thereby bringing the total design cost to $83,112.00; and, authorize the City Manager to execute the contract.
FISCAL IMPACT:
5-Year Capital Improvement Program
The HSIP Cycle 12A and 12B projects are included in the FY 2025–2026 and FY 2026–2027 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Their estimated programmed design budgets are $55,970 and $54,000, respectively.
Design Budget
a. Three Pedestrian Crossing Enhancements Project (HSIP Cycle 12A, C02602)
TKE Engineering’s proposal for the PE phase of the Three Pedestrian Crossing Enhancements Project (HSIP Cycle 12A, C02602) is in the amount of $40,813.90.
Staff recommend including a 10% contingency for unforeseen design-related expenses in the amount of $4,081.39, for a total design cost of $44,895.29, as shown below:
Description Amount
TKE Engineering PE Proposal for HSIP 12A $40,813.90
10% Contingency $4,081.39
Total HSIP 12A Design Budget $44,895.29
b. Six Pedestrian Crossing Installations Project (HSIP Cycle 12B, C02603)
TKE Engineering’s proposal for the PE phase of the Six Pedestrian Crossing Installations Project (HSIP Cycle 12B, C02603) is in the amount of $34,742.46.
Staff recommend including a 10% contingency for unforeseen design-related expenses in the amount of $3,474.24, for a total design cost of $38,212.70, as shown below:
Description Amount
TKE Engineering PE Proposal for HSIP 12B $34,742.46
10% Contingency $3,474.25
Total HSIP 12B Design Budget $38,216.71
c. Combined Budget
TKE Engineering’s proposal for the PE phase of both projects totals $75,556.36, and the total contingency is in the amount of $7,555.64. Therefore, the combined budget for the PE phase of HSIP 12 projects is $83,112.00.
Description Amount
TKE Engineering PE Proposal $75,556.36
10% Contingency $7,555.64
Combined Budget $83,112.00
Funding Sources
The PE phase will be funded through a combination of HSIP grant funds and local match funds. Of the total design budget, $74,800.80 (90%) will be funded through HSIP grant funds (Capital Improvement Program Fund 331), and $8,311.20 (10%) will be funded by the city using Measure A funds (Fund 243), as shown in the table below:
Funding Source Amount
HSIP Cycle 12 Grant (CIP - Fund 331) $74,800.80
Measure A funds (Fund 243) $8,311.20
Total $83,112.00
The following table summarizes the budget allocations for the design phase of these projects:
DESCRIPTION GENERAL
LEDGER
ACCOUNT
CODES
PROJECT
CODE
AMOUNT ONE TIME or
ONGOING
2025-2026 HSIP 12A 331-100-150- C02602 $40,405.76 ONE TIME Grant Funds 156-8600-8601
2025-2026 Measure A
Funds
243-100-150-
156-8600-8601 C02602 $ 4,489.53 ONE TIME
2025-2026 HSIP 12B
Grant Funds
331-100-150-
156-8600-8601 C02603 $34,395.04 ONE TIME
2025-2026 Measure A
Funds
243-100-150-
156-8600-8601 C02603 $ 3,821.67 ONE TIME
2025-2026 Total $83,112.00
Staff are requesting expenditure authorization from the CIP Fund (331) in the amount of $74,800.80 and Measure A Fund (243) in the amount of $8,311.20 to complete the preliminary engineering phase for the Three Pedestrian Crossing Enhancements Project (HSIP Cycle 12A, C02602) and the Six Pedestrian Crossing Installations Project (HSIP Cycle 12B, C02603).
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
GOAL B: COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS
Objective: Cathedral City roads, gateways, public spaces, and other city infrastructure are well planned, designed, constructed and maintained.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. HSIP 12 – VICINITY MAP
2. PROPOSAL EVALUATION AND RANKING
3. TKE ENGINEERING – PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT
4. TKE ENGINEERING – WORK PROPOSAL
5. TKE ENGINEERING – COST PROPOSAL REV