HomeMy WebLinkAboutInfor Item - Fred Waring Widening 11'4
CITY OF PALM DESERT
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
REQUEST: Fred Waring Widening Informational Item
SUBMITTED BY: Joseph S. Gaugush, Director of Public Works/City Engineer
DATE: December 12, 2002
Executive Summary:
In November 2001, the engineering firm Wildan and Associates completed a widening
report regarding the impacts of the proposed Fred Waring widening, within the City of
Indian Wells and the City of Palm Desert. The analysis was for the proposed Fred
Waring Drive road widening that would occur in the City of Indian Wells and in the City
Palm Desert, between Phyllis Jackson and Washington Street. The study analyzed four
key intersections: Cooks Street, El Dorado Drive, Warner Trail, and Washington Street.
This widening study recommended a six-lane arterial from Phyllis Jackson to
Washington Street. Subsequently, the City of Indian Wells has requested proposals
from engineering design firms for design services for the widening of Fred Waring Drive
to six lanes from Phyllis Jackson to Washington Street. On September 5, 2002, Indian
Wells City Council approved awarding the engineering design contract to Tetra Tech,
for the Fred Waring Drive widening. While the City of Indian Wells will be the lead
agency, the City of Palm Desert's engineering staff has been involved from the initial
project scope to engineering design firm selection processes for this project. We intend
to work very closely with the City of Indian Wells to implement the City of Palm Deserts'
goals to this project.
The recommended six-lane optimum design differs from the previously proposed
preliminary design envisioned by the City of Palm Desert. The City of Palm Desert's
preliminary design included the following features that were not part of the Wildan study:
• Sidewalks
• Bicycle/Golf Cart Lanes
• 12 foot travel lanes
• Emergency parking lanes
• Wide landscaping medians
• Partial acquisition of more than 40 homes, Wildan's study had no right of way
acquisitions
Staff Report
Fred Waring Widening Informational Item
December 12,2 002
Page 2 of 2
Both the City of Indian Wells and the City of Palm Desert have designated Fred Waring
Drive as major arterial street, which at time includes feature such as a six-lane cross
section, intersection turn pockets, sidewalks, raised landscaping medians, and bicycle
lanes. Currently we are reviewing our preliminary design along with City of Indian
Wells' preliminary design. While both cities recognize the importance of a six-lane
major arterial on Fred Waring Drive, we currently differ in some key features, as listed
above. We and the City of Indian Wells are proactively assessing the physical
constraints of a limited right of way versus the prohibitive costs associated in
implementing sidewalks, bicycle lanes, wide landscaping medians, emergency parking
lanes and 12-foot travel lanes. In particular, we are assessing the future impacts of a
road widening to the private properties between California and Elkhorn Trail, which have
improvements within the street right of way.
The Fred Waring Drive widening conceptual plans will be brought before Council in
open session on January 09, 2003.
Submitted By: Department Head:
Michael Errante, P.E. oseph S. Gauguss ,, P.E.
Engineering Manager Director of Public Works/City Engineer
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