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Home My WebLink AboutInformational Item - SB821 Program Application CITY OF PALM DESERT INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM TO: City Council and City Manager FROM: Richard J. Folkers,Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director SUBJECT: INFORMATIONAL ITEM-- SB 821 PROGRAM APPLICATION DATE: May 8, 1997 The Public Works Department is in the process of applying for SB 821 Program Funds. The grant would provide the City with funds to extend the bicycle/pedestrian path from the Sports Complex eastward to join the existing bike lane on Cook Street adjacent to Palm Desert High School. The improvements will consist of a 12-foot wide concrete pathway approximately one-quarter of a mile in length. The bike path presently terminates at the Sports Complex. The cost of the project is estimated to be approximately $120,000. The City will be committing to 50%of the cost,which will be approximately$60,000 for the improvements. This uncompleted segment is shown on the City of Palm Desert Bikeway Plan and the City has the opportunity to complete this bikeway segment through this SB 821 Program application process. When completed, the path will allow bicycle/pedestrian access from Cook Street to Monterey Avenue without using arterial streets. RICHARD J. FO RS, P.E. ,4*"7 . REVIEWED AND CONC R CITY MANAGER RJF:SJ/cm C " COUNCIL ACTION: +ED DENIED v ED OTHEIR( AIM: ED TI :ina1 on File with City Clerk's Office ,F4 ' 115' Ci[n .)soarcR 73-510 FRED WARING DRIVE, PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA 92260-2578 TELEPHONE (619) 346-0611 FAX (619)341-7098 April 23, 1997 Mr. Jerry Rivera, Program Manager Riverside County Transportation Commission 3560 University Avenue, Suite 100 Riverside, CA 92501 Subject: Application for FY 1997-98 SB 821 Funds - Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Dear Mr. Rivera, This application for FY 1997-98 SB 821 funds is submitted in response to your notice of April 15 1997. PROJECT DESCRIPTION The project includes construction of a 12' wide concrete pedestrian/bicycle path along the south side of the Whitewater Channel for a distance of approximately 1320'. This pedestrian/bicycle path will be constructed within existing public right-of-way and will connect the existing path, which terminates at the Sports Complex, to Cook Street. This will provide a continuous path for approximately IA mile, while joining existing sidewalks and bike lanes to Portola Avenue and throughout the city. TRANSPORTATION PURPOSE The path will provide access to pedestrians, bicycles, those using mobility assistance devices and other alternative transportation modes, providing an east/west corridor joining arterial streets (Cook Street, Portola Avenue, and Monterey Avenue) while providing access to the Cook Street Sports Complex, Palm Desert High School and improving access to the elementary and middle schools. This path is the final link in an alternative transportation system which also connects to the Civic Center and College of the Desert, while avoiding travel on arterial streets. The uses and facilities which are served by this path are the highest generators of pedestrian and bicycle traffic within the city and surrounding areas. Recycled Paper DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS The path will be located at the top of the Whitewater Channel slope and will therefore require specific attention to erosion control and slope stability. These concerns have been included in the cost estimate for the project. The pedestrian/bicycle path will be designed to meet ADA requirements. BIKEWAY PLAN This pedestrian/bicycle path is included in the City of Palm Desert Bikeway Plan (attached). The city does require new developments to provide reasonable pedestrian/bicycle facilities, however the proposed path is beyond these requirements. EVALUATION FACTORS USE The proposed path will provide direct access from Cook Street to Palm Desert High School and the Cook Street Sports Complex, which generate substantial pedestrian and bicycle activity. This path is the final link in the pedestrian/bicycle system which connects Cook Street and Monterey Avenue, over a distance of two miles, while providing direct access to elementary and middle schools, parks, Civic Center and College of the Desert. SAFETY Completion of the proposed path will provide a safer route for alternative transportation modes than competing with vehicles for space on arterial streets. Currently, Fred Waring Drive is the only continuous east/west route for vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists within over one mile of the proposed path. Fred Waring Drive currently has 5' sidewalk adjacent to mountable curb, 14' wide curb lane, with an ADT over 20,000 vehicles per day and a speed limit of 40 MPH. There are several portions of Fred Waring Drive where sidewalk cannot be provided due to adjacent development. These factors create a concern for the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists who must currently use Fred Waring Drive. ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION The safety concerns identified above, combined with the inconvenience of the circuitous routing which is currently necessary to travel to facilities throughout the city, suppress any desire to use alternatives to the automobile for transportation. Many of the uses along the pedestrian/bicycle path such as schools, parks and the college, attract youth and young adults, who are most likely to use alternative transportation. Safer access to the schools is expected to cause parents who currently drive their children to school to allow the children to ride or walk to school. These factors, and observations of the existing pedestrian/bicycle path, indicate that there is substantial demand for the proposed path. • CONNECTIVITY The proposed pedestrian/bicycle path is an extension of the existing path from Magnesia Falls Drive to the Cook Street Sports Complex. Completion of this last portion of the path will allow pedestrian/bicycle transportation from Cook street to Monterey avenue, over a distance of two miles, without using arterial streets. MATCHING FUNDS The City of Palm Desert proposes to provide funds for fifty percent of the project costs. EQ UITY QUITY The city of Palm Desert has not utilized SB 821 funds to complete any projects in the past several years. PHYSICAL ACCESSIBILITY ENHANCEMENT The proposed pedestrian/bicycle path will improve access by connecting existing facilities in the eastern and western portions of the city. This missing link serves as a barrier to facilities throughout the city. All construction will conform to ADA requirements. Thank you for the opportunity to submit this application for SB 821 funds. If there are any questions, please contact Mark Greenwood of my staff. Very truly yours, RICHARD 'OLKERS ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER/DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS RJF/MG attachments cc: Ramon A. Diaz, City Manager Mayor and City Council Joseph S. Gaugush, Engineering Manager Mark Greenwood, Transportation Engineer FY 1997-98 PROJECT INFORMATION (SB 821 Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects Only) 1. AGENCY: CITY OF PALM DESERT 2. PROJECT NAME: WHITEGRAR PEDESTRIAN/BICYCLE PATH 3. CONTACT PERSON: RICHARD J. FOLKERS, P.E P.E. 4 AC M/DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS 4. PHONE NUMBER: (760) 346-0611 5. PROJECT BUDGET: • REVENUE: TDA ARTICLE 3 (SB 821) $ 60,000. OTHER LOCAL FUNDS $ 60,000 TOTAL $ 120,000 EXPENSES: CONSTRUCTION $ 85,000 ENGINEERING/ADMIN. $ 25,000 CLEARING AND GRUBBING $ 10,000 RIGHT-OF-WAY $ -0- OTHER(Specify) $ -0- TOTAL $ 120,000 6. ESTIMATED STARTING DATE (MONTH/YR.): 7/97 7. ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE (MONTH/YR.) 12/97 RCTC: 4/97 • VICI \ ITY VVA� (NOT TO SCALE) COUNTRY CLUB DRIVE cr 0 0 z w z � z a w 0 0 d U MAGNESIA FALLS DRIVE o SPORTS LOCATION O COMPLEX cr z Q HIGH a SCHOOL U a w w a FRED WARING DRIVE • r 67,, ' , "� CITY OF PALM DESERT i -v Lk'� BIKE WAY ,•1.•. 1. �� SCALE1'::IIXIU• 1C 499999 t•NO Hn 1 J ..: '\h:s....7 A • ( I n;7 Ui ,n Putl ***** • I I �'V 6 . I ► . _ .1t �� C,t tilt, F— I I * CO..?,, CItlY Oil 1 OM *****y • .st - :INIE ' . . , • Lim ,J • s '' ilia'.... • .a: 'I -�� **STATE HIGHWAY 111 uy■ MI * . • ........1. ... L_ LEGEND: • f .. -_- - - - - . - CLASS I RITURE SEPARATED BKEPATH . �� SEPARATE BKEPATH i ......1.. ...., / CLASS 1 ##**M STRPED BIKE LANE N STREET l * / 'i • CLASS III ® Pi STREET SIGH ONLY • �'******** �! .•.1uc. .o•o ... U *#J ` .. Y * ]Y •f ** / I l . • ri •