City Council
MEETING DATE: 8/23/2017
TITLE:
Title
Agency Reimbursement Agreements for CVAG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Grants
End
FROM:
John A. Corella, P.E. - City Engineer
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council authorize the required participation funding for the two upcoming CVAG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Grant awards; and authorize the City Manager to sign the respective CVAG Grant Agency Reimbursement Agreements.
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BACKGROUND:
In 2016, 28 pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities occurred in the Coachella Valley resulting from being hit by vehicles. In response to the high number of fatalities, CVAG developed a $10 million Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Grant Program and called for proposals. The Program proposed funding at a ratio of 75% regional (CVAG) and 25% local (Grant recipient).
As a result of this call for proposals, City Staff reviewed areas of need that would qualify for the Grant solicitation and submitted 7 projects for consideration.
DISCUSSION:
Cathedral City had two projects selected for funding under this $10 million Grant Program. First was the Date Palm Drive and Gerald Ford Drive Sidewalk Gap Closure Project that will construct missing sidewalk segments where sufficient right of way exists between Vista Chino and Perez Road along Date Palm Drive and along the south side of Gerald Ford east of Date Palm Drive. The submitted justification for this Grant Award detailed that currently students that attend five different Palm Springs Unified School District schools walk along and/or cross Date Palm Drive to get to school. The schools, James Workman Middle School, Sunny Sands Elementary School, Cathedral City High School, Nellie Coffman Middle School and Cathedral City Elementary School all have significant numbers of students who walk to and from school. Because Date Palm Drive does not have sidewalks along the entire alignment, students are forced to either walk in the street or walk on unpaved walkways.
Some sections of Date Palm Drive have curb and gutter, but no sidewalk and other sections have neither curb and gutter or sidewalk. This project will close the gaps of missing sidewalk by constructing new curb adjacent concrete walks or constructing both new curb and gutter and curb adjacent walks.
Traffic Safety records showed five pedestrian accidents on Date Palm Drive between January 1, 2014 and December 31 2016, including one fatality.
The second Project will construct a mid-block pedestrian crossing on Dinah Shore Drive at Vaquero Road using a pedestrian hybrid beacon technology. The pedestrian hybrid beacon is an option between the operational requirements and effects of a rectangular rapid flash beacon and a full pedestrian signal because it provides a positive stop control in areas without the high pedestrian traffic volumes that typically warrant the installation of a signal. In addition, the alternating red signal heads allows vehicles to proceed once the pedestrian has cleared their side of the travel lane, thus improving vehicle traffic flow.
This location for the Grant Awarded Project is directly south of Cathedral City High School. Currently, students cross Dinah Shore at this location to avoid walking the extra two blocks to cross at the traffic signal at Plumley Road at the east end of the School. The speed limit on Dinah Shore is 45 mph and depending on the timing of the signals at Plumley and Date Palm, students run across the road, or take refuge in the median. Students also attempt to cross Dinah Shore after dark, to attend football games and other events. Installation of a mid-block crossing beacon will provide a safer crossing for students attending school and/or special events.
Traffic Safety records show one pedestrian injured at this intersection in 2016.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The estimated cost of the Date Palm Drive/Gerald Ford Drive Sidewalk Gap Closure Project is $602,000. The CVAG Grant will provide $451,500 and Cathedral City's 25% share is $159,500, which would be funded from the 331 CIP Fund.
The estimated cost of the Mid-Block Pedestrian Crossing on Dinah Shore Drive Project is $240,000. The CVAG Grant will provide $180,000 and Cathedral City's 25% share is $60,000, which would be funded by Fund 233, Traffic Safety.
ATTACHMENTS:
Agency Reimbursement Agreement Date Palm Drive and Gerald Ford Drive Sidewalk Gap Closure
Agency Reimbursement Agreement Dinah Shore Drive at Vaquero Road Mid Block Crossing