City Council
MEETING DATE: 5/10/2017
TITLE:
Title
Discussion on the Proposed Formation of an Underground Utility District
End
FROM:
John A. Corella, P.E. - City Engineer
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Receive the Presentation on the status of the proposed Ramon Road Bridge Widening Project, the proposed Underground Utility District, SCE and Rule 20(A) Funding and provide direction to Staff.
Body
BACKGROUND:
In 2009, the City entered an agreement to partner with the City of Palm Springs to widen the Ramon Road corridor from San Luis Rey Drive east to Candlewood Drive. The proposed improvements include widening the corridor from four lanes to six lanes, including widening the bridge over the Whitewater River. In addition, this Project will enhance pedestrian safety with new sidewalks along the north side of the road and a new multipurpose trail along the south side of the road.
Along the north side of Ramon Road between Crossley Road and San Luis Rey Drive, Southern California Edison (SCE) owns and maintains an overhead electric distribution line. Secondary to SCE, Spectrum owns and maintains an overhead cable distribution line hung on the same poles.
As a result of the proposed Ramon Road and Bridge Widening Project these overhead lines and respective poles will need to be relocated or undergrounded. Staff reviewed the cost of undergrounding vs. relocating and determined that undergrounding these lines in conjunction with the Project work is the most cost effective for the results. This will greatly improve the safety and appearance of Ramon Road in this area. Thus, Staff is recommending undergrounding the existing overhead utilities and removing the associated poles.
DISCUSSION:
SCE has established the Rule 20(A) Tariff to provide funding to the City each year to pay for undergrounding existing overhead SCE utilities. The City has banked several years of allocations ($314,000) and, under the rules of the Tariff, can mortgage up to ...
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