HomeMy WebLinkAboutPalmDesertSRTSPlan_AC_03.20.25ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
City of Palm Desert
»Chris Gerry
Senior Project Manager
Public Works
»Thomas Soule
Public Affairs Manager
Economic Development
Project Consultants
»Sam Corbett
Principal-in-Charge
Alta Planning + Design
»Les Brown
Palm Desert SRTS Project Manager
Alta Planning + Design
»Kristin Haukom
Palm Desert SRTS Lead
Alta Planning + Design
»Eric Purcell
Planner
Alta Planning + Design
»Nora Hastings
Graphic Designer
Alta Planning + Design
Advisory Committee
»Brenda Nutcher
Desert Recreation District
»Dina Purvis
City of Indian Wells
»Don Olson
Riverside County Sheriff’s Office
»Jack Newby
The Joslyn Center
»Jessica Gonzales
City of Palm Desert Finance
»Maureen Archuleta
Desert Recreation District
»Randy Bowman
Coachella Valley Association of Governments
»Steve Libring
City of La Quinta
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Vision for Safe Routes to School in Palm Desert 5
Introduction & Background 6
What Is SRTS? 8
How to Use This Plan 9
Palm Desert Today 10
Introduction 11
School Community
Socioeconomic Profile 12
Land Use 18
Climate 20
Existing Pedestrian
and Bicycle Facilities 22
Network Gap Analysis 30
School Area Collision Analysis 46
High-Injury Network 50
Outreach & Engagement 52
Outreach and
Engagement Overview 53
Summary of Outreach Activities 54
Summary of Outreach Findings 56
Improving Safe Routes to School in Palm Desert 58
Recommendations Overview 59
Bicycle Facility Types 60
Pedestrian Facility Types 62
Supporting Infrastructure 64
Palm Desert Safe Routes to School
Infrastructure Recommendations 66
Encouraging Safe Routes to School in Palm Desert 152
Programmatic SRTS
Recommendations 153
Implementing Safe Routes to School in Palm Desert 162
Funding 163
Appendices 166
A. Complete Existing Conditions Report
B. Complete High-Injury Network
Analysis
C. Complete Outreach
and Engagement Report
D. Crossing Guard Promotional Social
Media Posts in English and Spanish
E. Please Pull Forward Signage in
English and Spanish
F. Safe Routes to School Banner in
English and Spanish
G. Suggested Routes to School Maps for
Palm Desert Schools
H. Sample Student Tally Survey
I. Sample Parent/Caregiver Survey
01
04
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06
A
02
03
ACRONYMS
ADA Americans with Disabilities Act
CA AB 1550 California Assembly Bill 1550
CA AB 413 California Assembly Bill 413
CA AB 43 California Assembly Bill 43
Caltrans ATP Caltrans Active Transportation
Program
CAMUTCD California Manual on Uniform
Traffic Control Devices
DSUSD Desert Sands Unified School
District
FRPM Free and Reduced Price Meals
HIN High-Injury Network
KSI Killed or Seriously Injured
LPI Leading Pedestrian Interval
LTS Level of Traffic Stress
REAP Regional Early Action Planning
RRFB Rectangular Rapid Flashing
Beacon
SRTS Safe Routes to School
SS4A Safe Streets and Roads for All
TAP SunLine Transit Ambassador
Program
USDOT United States Department of
Transportation
USDOT ETC USDOT Equitable
Transportation Community
01.
The Vision
for Safe
Routes to
School in
Palm Desert
INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND
Table 1: Palm Desert SRTS Schools Details
School Name City*Level
Abraham Lincoln Elementary School Palm Desert Elementary
George Washington Charter School Palm Desert Elementary
James Earl Carter Elementary School Palm Desert Elementary
Palm Desert Charter Middle School Palm Desert Middle
Palm Desert High School Palm Desert High
Ronald Reagan Elementary School Palm Desert Elementary
Gerald R. Ford Elementary School Indian Wells Elementary
Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle School La Quinta Middle
*Two schools located just outside of Palm Desert are included in this SRTS Plan because their enrollment boundaries
serve students located within City limits.
The Palm Desert Safe Routes to School (SRTS)
Plan is the culmination of extensive outreach,
engagement, and data collection and analysis
that envisions a Palm Desert where all students
and their families have access to safe, convenient,
and healthy modes of transportation to and from
school. The SRTS Plan is a component of the City
of Palm Desert’s larger Vision Zero Strategy.
With funding from the United States Department
of Transportation (USDOT) Safe Streets and
Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program, the City
of Palm Desert (City) and the SRTS Plan Project
Team (Project Team) developed this SRTS Plan
through a comprehensive review of walking and
biking conditions around eight public elementary,
middle, and high schools in the Desert Sands
Unified School District (DSUSD). The City and
the Project Team also engaged with school staff,
parents and caregivers, residents, and students
to understand mobility challenges around each
school.
Table 1 lists the schools included in the SRTS
Plan, and Figure 1 shows the overall city and the
location of each participating school.
PALM DESERT6SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Santa RosaWildlife Area
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PROJECT SCHOOLS
CITY OF PALM DESERT SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
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Schools
Transit Stops
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Figure 1: Palm Desert SRTS School Locations
VISION ZERO STRATEGY7SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
SRTS is a strategy that improves pedestrian
and bicycle travel conditions around schools
to increase opportunities for students and their
families to use active modes of transportation
to get to and from school. Successful SRTS
programs commonly include elements of
each of the six Es: Education, Encouragement,
Enforcement, Equity, Engineering, and
Evaluation. Each E is meant to remove barriers
that prevent students from walking and bicycling
to school.
SRTS is typically divided into two categories:
infrastructure and non-infrastructure.
Infrastructure, also called
engineering, focuses on
improving the built environment
to make active modes of travel
safer, more convenient, and comfortable
for people of all ages and abilities. This is
a key component of SRTS, which prioritizes
infrastructure improvements that specifically
address the needs of students, while also
ensuring sidewalks, paths, crossings, and streets
are safer and more accessible for everyone.
These physical improvements help to foster
environments that are conducive to the use of
active transportation for all, regardless of age
or mobility.
Non-infrastructure, also called
encouragement and education,
complements infrastructure by
promoting activities that make
active modes of travel to school more attractive,
fun, and interesting while also teaching skills to
do so safely.
SRTS is a critical part of building
healthier, safer, and more equitable
communities. SRTS has myriad
benefits including:
Improved safety
for pedestrians and
bicyclists
Reduced traffic
congestion
Improved air quality
Improved health
Improved academic
achievement
Fundamental and lifelong
pedestrian skills learned
Benefit to the local
economy
Stronger sense of
community
More transportation
options for everyone
Strengthened family
bonds
WHAT IS SRTS?
PALM DESERT8SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
HOW TO USE THIS PLAN
This SRTS Plan documents the activities, data collection, and analyses for
the City of Palm Desert that resulted in actionable infrastructure and non-
infrastructure recommendations. Various community members can use the
SRTS Plan to identify the content that is important and relevant to them.
The following are some examples:
Parents/caregivers can use
the SRTS Plan to understand
the conditions at their students’
school and to become familiar
with suggested routes for
walking and biking to school.
DSUSD staff can use the SRTS
Plan to continue or develop
programs that educate and
encourage students and
parents/caregivers to seek
alternatives to automobile trips
to school and identify ways to
improve on-campus circulation.
They can also use the findings
in the SRTS Plan to obtain grant
funding or achievement awards.
City of Palm Desert staff can
use the SRTS Plan to identify
issues and opportunities
related to suggested routes for
walking and bicycling and to
prioritize potential short-term
and long-term infrastructure
improvements. Staff can also
use this SRTS Plan to pursue
SRTS funding opportunities.
VISION ZERO STRATEGY9SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Palm Desert
Today
02.
Palm Desert is located in the center of the
Coachella Valley in Riverside County, California.
With year-round sunshine, a growing network
of sidewalks and bicycle facilities, and the City’s
increased efforts to expand active transportation
facilities across the city, Palm Desert is equipped
to become a city where walking and bicycling as
daily modes of transportation for children, families,
and residents is comfortable, safe, and accessible.
Palm Desert has a population of approximately
53,000 permanent residents and 32,000
seasonal residents. Palm Desert’s residents are
70.8% White, 24% Hispanic or Latino, 4.3%
Asian, 2.9% African American, 0.7% Native
American and Alaska Native, 0.3% Native
Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, and 7.6% Other.*
Palm Desert has a median household income of
$64,295, with 12.9% of the population living
below the federal poverty line (Source: Census,
2022). Figure 2 shows the different population
demographics in the city of Palm Desert.
INTRODUCTION
Figure 2: Palm Desert Demographics
*Total exceeds 100% as these categories are
not mutually exclusive (i.e., some individuals may
identify with more than one group).
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4.3%2.9%0.7%0.3%
7.6
53,000
permanent residents
32,000
seasonal residents
Palm Desert is home to
VISION ZERO STRATEGY11SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
The following presents a socioeconomic profile of
Palm Desert’s school community using Free and
Reduced Price Meals (FRPM) eligibility, Assembly
Bill (AB) 1550 Low-Income Community status,
and USDOT Equitable Transportation Community
(ETC) status.
Free and Reduced
Price Meals
The National School Lunch Program is a federally
funded program that assists schools in providing
free or reduced-price lunches to students based
on household income. FRPM eligibility serves
as an indicator of socioeconomic vulnerability,
highlighting areas where families may face financial
challenges that affect access to transportation.
Table 2 and Figure 3 show the Palm Desert SRTS
schools and their percentage of students eligible for
FRPM during the 2022–2023 school year.
Table 2: K–12 Free or Reduced-Price Meals Data (2022–2023)
SCHOOL COMMUNITY
SOCIOECONOMIC PROFILE
School Name Enrollment Percentage (%) Eligible for
Free Meals*
Percentage (%) Eligible for Free
or Reduced-Price Meals**
Abraham Lincoln
Elementary School 585 68.7%79.5%
Colonel Mitchell Paige
Middle School 436 63.1%74.3%
George Washington
Charter School 755 35.2%49.0%
Gerald R. Ford
Elementary School 603 46.3%58.7%
James Earl Carter
Elementary School 516 41.7%53.1%
Palm Desert Charter
Middle School 1,347 45.6%60.3%
Palm Desert High
School 2,050 42.1%57.3%
Ronald Reagan
Elementary School 834 40.9%53.2%
*“Eligible for Free Meals” represents students from families whose income qualify for meals at no cost (at or below
130% of the federal poverty level).
**“Eligible for Free or Reduced-Price Meals” is an expanded criteria that represents students whose family meet the
income threshold for either free meals or reduced-price meals (130% to 185% of the federal poverty level).
PALM DESERT12SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
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Palm Desert High
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FREE AND REDUCED
PRICE MEALS (FRPM)ELIGIBILITY
CITY OF PALM DESERT SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
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Above 60% (Most Eligible)
50% - 60%
35% - 50%
Below 35% (Least Eligible)
Figure 3: K–12 Free or Reduced Price Meals Eligibility in Palm Desert (2022–2023)
VISION ZERO STRATEGY13SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Low-Income Communities
Identified by AB 1550, Low-Income Communities
(Figure 4) are defined by the State of California
as the census tracts that are either at or below
80% of the statewide median income or state-
designated threshold. Identifying these areas
helps to pinpoint neighborhoods that experience
a disproportionate burden of economic or
environmental disadvantages, which can affect
students’ ability to walk or bike to school.
In Palm Desert, George Washington Charter
School is located within a Low-Income Community
under the definition of AB 1550. Additionally,
there are multiple schools that are located
just outside a Low-Income Community, with
some students likely living within these census
tracts. These schools include Abraham Lincoln
Elementary School, Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle
School, Gerald R. Ford Elementary School, and
Palm Desert Charter Middle School.
PALM DESERT14SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
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AB 1550 LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES
CITY OF PALM DESERT SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
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LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES
!Schools
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Low-Income Communities
Figure 4: Schools in Low-Income Communities
VISION ZERO STRATEGY15SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
USDOT ETC Disadvantaged
Communities
The USDOT ETC uses 2020 census tracts and
data (Figure 5) to explore the cumulative
burden communities experience, as a result of
underinvestment in the following five components:
Transportation Insecurity, Climate and Disaster
Risk Burden, Environmental Burden, Health
Vulnerability, and Social Vulnerability.* This helps
identify neighborhoods that may have historically
lacked investment in transportation infrastructure,
further contributing to differences in active
transportation opportunities.
In Palm Desert, George Washington Charter
School and James Earl Carter Elementary School
are located within a USDOT ETC Disadvantaged
Community. Gerald R. Ford Elementary
School in Indian Wells is also located within
SRTS Socioeconomic
Opportunities
By considering the above socioeconomic
profile and providing more opportunities to
safely and comfortably walk and bike, the
City can contribute to reducing transportation-
related costs for low-income households. In
disadvantaged communities, improving walking
and biking infrastructure can ease the existing
economic burden of transportation, reduce
reliance on vehicles, and promote healthier,
more sustainable transportation options.
Expanding opportunities in these areas can
also help address inequities stemming from
underinvestment in transportation infrastructure
by ensuring that all students have better and
more equal access to safe routes to school.
a Disadvantaged Community. Additionally,
all the other schools are located just outside a
Disadvantaged Community, with some students
likely living within Disadvantaged Communities.
For these communities, the average walk time to
elementary schools is 32 minutes, the average
drive time is 5 minutes, and the annual cost
of transportation averages $10,655, which
constitutes about 15% of household income.
*ETC data was originally downloaded via USDOT’s online ETC Explorer tool. As of
February 2025, the tool is no longer available for viewing or downloading data.
PALM DESERT16SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
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DISADVANTAGED
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USDOT ETC
DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES!Schools
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Parks
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Disadvantaged Communities
Figure 5: Schools in USDOT ETC Disadvantaged Communities
VISION ZERO STRATEGY17SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Existing land use surrounding schools in Palm
Desert is primarily residential (Figure 6). Most of
the residential areas around schools are single
family detached homes with some multi-family
parcels. George Washington Charter School is
surrounded by residential land uses but is located
two blocks away from the main commercial
corridor of Palm Desert, El Paseo. Additionally,
some schools are located next to open space
that could provide alternative transportation
and recreational opportunities for students. For
example, Ronald Reagan Elementary School is
bordered by Palm Desert Freedom Park to the
north.
LAND USE
This proximity to open space, along with the
surrounding residential areas, presents an
opportunity to increase walking and biking rates
for students and families. Improving and promoting
pedestrian and bicycle facilities between
these neighborhoods and the schools could
help increase the rates of active transportation
for students, reducing traffic congestion and
promoting healthier, more sustainable commuting
options. Enhanced infrastructure and safer routes
could encourage more students to walk or bike
to school, especially given the accessibility to
recreational areas like the nearby parks.
PALM DESERT18SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
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VISION ZERO STRATEGY19SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Climate plays a crucial role in the use of active
transportation. Palm Desert, with its desert climate,
experiences warm temperatures year-round and
intense heat during the summer months (Table 3). This
extreme heat can discourage students from walking
or biking to school, as it makes travel uncomfortable
and potentially unsafe, especially during the hottest
parts of the day. High temperatures can lead to
dehydration, heat exhaustion, or other heat-related
illnesses. Although a detailed climate analysis was not
included in the SRTS Plan, the Project Team carefully
considered the city’s climate when developing the
recommendations included in the plan.
CLIMATE
Table 3: Average Daily Temperature by Month in Palm Desert
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean Daily
Max. °F 70.3 73.3 79.9 85.8 93.1 101.7 105.8 105.2 100.8 90.5 78 68.8 87.8
Daily Mean °F 58.6 62.2 68.5 74.5 81.2 89.2 94.1 93.8 88.7 78.1 65.5 57 76
Mean Daily
Min. °F 46.8 51 57.2 63.1 69.3 76.6 82.5 82.5 76.5 65.8 53 45.3 64.1
Average
Precipitation
Inches
0.65 0.59 0.32 0.07 0.02 0 0.05 0.26 0.13 0.15 0.19 0.49 2.92
PALM DESERT20SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
VISION ZERO STRATEGY21SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Existing Pedestrian Facilities
The sidewalk network throughout Palm Desert is
relatively well-connected, especially on major
arterials and collector streets. However, many
residential streets lack sidewalks and other
pedestrian infrastructure like marked crossings. In
school areas, many streets have existing sidewalks
leading to the school. However, some schools lack
adequate pedestrian facilities. Portola Avenue,
Hovley Lane, Fred Waring Drive, Washington
Street, and Country Club Road are all major
arterials on which many schools are located.
Because of high traffic volume and speed, these
streets can serve as deterrents to students who
may potentially walk to school.
EXISTING PEDESTRIAN
AND BICYCLE FACILITIES
Existing Bicycle Facilities
As shown in Figure 7, Caltrans breaks down
bicycle facility types by classes that range from I
to IV. Bicycle facility types can be color coded by
level of traffic stress (LTS) with LTS 1 being most
comfortable and LTS 4 being least comfortable for
bicyclists with limited confidence, such as children.
Despite high posted speed limits and multiple lanes
of traffic, the existing local bicycle network in Palm
Desert consists primarily of Class II bike lanes and
Class IIB buffered bike lanes on major arterials
and Class III bicycle routes on lower volume roads.
Class II bike lanes and IIB buffered bike lanes are
suboptimal for such conditions, particularly for
children and less confident bicyclists. These facilities
may not provide sufficient safety or comfort for
inexperienced riders, highlighting a need for
infrastructure that better supports their needs,
especially on routes to school.
Palm Desert also has a Class IV separated bikeway
on San Pablo Avenue between Magnesia Falls
Drive and Fred Waring Drive. This facility, however,
changes to Class IIB buffered bike lanes between
Fred Waring Drive and Highway 111.
PALM DESERT22SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Figure 7: Traffic Stress Levels and Corresponding Facility Types
VISION ZERO STRATEGY23SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Regionally, the CV Link bicycle trail provides
bicycle connections through the Coachella Valley.
In Palm Desert, the CV Link primarily comprises
high-quality Class IV facilities that run in an
east-west direction connecting the Bump and
Grind Trail, College of the Desert, Civic Center
Park, Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, Palm
Desert Charter Middle School, Palm Desert High
School, and adjacent residential areas. There
was an existing half-mile Class I facility between
Magnesia Falls Drive and Cook Street that has
since been integrated into the CV Link network.
These existing Class I and IV bike facilities can
be a valuable base for further promoting student
active transportation. These facilities already
offer residents safe, direct routes that reduce the
need to navigate busy streets. Class IV bike lanes,
separated from traffic with physical barriers,
provide the most appropriate on-street facility
for student safety and comfort, particularly
for younger or less confident bicyclists, while
Class I facilities provide a low-stress, off-
road option. Together, these facilities create a
backbone network of low-stress connections
to neighborhoods and schools, and lay a solid
foundation for future improvements to enhance
safety and encourage more students to bike to
school.
Figure 8 shows the total mileage of each bikeway
class while Table 4 displays a list of existing
bicycle facilities in Palm Desert. The existing
bikeways are also mapped in Figure 9.
Note: The City of Palm Desert has an existing active
transportation program and has recently implemented
many of the proposed walking and biking projects
included in its 2016 General Plan. These previously
proposed projects were considered during the
development of recommendations for this SRTS Plan
and are listed in Appendix A.
Figure 8: Total Mileage by Bikeway Class
Class
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EXISTING BIKE FACILITIES
PALM DESERT24SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
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Figure 9: Existing Bikeways in Palm Desert
VISION ZERO STRATEGY25SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Table 4: Existing Bikeways by Class
Class Street Start Street End Street
Class I CV Link (off-street)Deep Canyon Road Cook Street
Class II Country Club Drive Monterey Avenue Washington Street
Class II Hovley Lane Monterey Avenue Portola Avenue
Class II Gerald Ford Drive Monterey Avenue Frank Sinatra Drive
Class II Frank Sinatra Drive Monterey Avenue 42nd Avenue
Class II Portola Avenue Dinah Shore Drive Magnesia Falls Drive
Class II Monterey Avenue Gerald Ford Drive Country Club Drive
Class II Dick Kelly Drive Monterey Avenue Dinah Shore Drive
Class II Dinah Shore Drive City Limit College Drive
Class II Cook Street I-10 Fred Waring Drive
Class II Eldorado Drive Frank Sinatra Drive 42nd Avenue
Class II 42nd Avenue Cook Street Washington Street
Class II College Drive Portola Avenue Frank Sinatra Drive
Class II University Park College Drive Cook Street
Class II A Street Monterey Avenue Gateway Drive
Class II Gateway Drive Dinah Shore Drive Gerald Ford Drive
Class II Dolce Avenue/
Cortesia Way Gateway Drive Dick Kelly Drive
Class II Highway 74 El Paseo S City Limit
Class II Highway 111 W City Limit E City Limit
Class II Painters Path Edgehill Drive El Paseo
Class IIB San Pablo Avenue Highway 111 San Gorgonio Way
Class II Fred Waring Drive San Pascual Avenue Deep Canyon Road
Class II Fred Waring Drive Monterey Avenue San Pablo Avenue
PALM DESERT26SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Class Street Start Street End Street
Class II Deep Canyon Road Magnesia Falls Drive Highway 111
Class II Portola Avenue Mesa View Drive Shadow Mountain Drive
Class II Mesa View Drive Highway 74 Portola Avenue
Class III California Drive Fred Waring Drive Warner Trail
Class III Warner Trail Fred Waring Drive 42nd Avenue
Class III Florida Avenue California Drive Fred Waring Drive
Class III Idaho Street 42nd Avenue Michigan Drive
Class III Avenue of the States Washington Street California Drive
Class III El Paseo Fred Waring Drive De Anza Way
Class III San Gorgonio Way Monterey Avenue Highway 111
Class III San Luis Rey Avenue Ironwoods Street De Anza Way
Class III Fairway Drive Portola Avenue E City Limit
Class III Deep Canyon Road Abronia Trail Old Prospector Trail
Class III Grapevine Street Highway 74 E City Limit
Class III Shadow Mountain
Drive Highway 74 Portola Avenue
Class III Ocotillo Drive Grapevine Street El Paseo
Class III Joshua Tree Street Grapevine Street San Luis Rey Avenue
Class III San Pablo Avenue Shadow Mountain Drive Highway 111
Class III Edgehill Drive Painters Path Tierra del Oro
Class III Calle De Los
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Bump and Grind Trailhead Deep Canyon Road
Class IV San Pablo Avenue Fred Waring Drive Magnesia Falls Drive
VISION ZERO STRATEGY27SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
End-of-Trip Facilities
Bike racks in Palm Desert are primarily
concentrated along El Paseo, San Pablo Avenue,
and Highway 111, areas that host many local
commercial destinations. While newer bike racks
tend to be the preferred post-and-ring style, most
bike parking in the city consists of wave-style
racks, which are less secure and less preferred.*
Several schools, including Palm Desert High
School, provide bike parking for students. Though
these racks are typically wave-style as well, they
are generally located on-campus, away from
public access.
*Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals, Essentials of Bike Parking, September 2015
https://www.apbp.org/assets/docs/EssentialsofBikeParking_FINA.pdf.
Other end-of-trip facilities, such as seating and
trash cans, are available near newer bike racks
along San Pablo Avenue. However, most bike
parking areas in Palm Desert lack additional
amenities, like bike tools, pumps, or shelter from
the elements.
Bike parking at the front entrance of Palm Desert High School
PALM DESERT28SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
VISION ZERO STRATEGY29SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
When assessing pedestrian and bicycle network connectivity, natural
and man-made elements are an important consideration, particularly
when physical barriers impact route directness. Palm Desert has few
natural barriers. However, expansive, private communities that are
gated and not open to the public make it significantly more tedious and
time consuming for pedestrians and bicyclists to travel to and from their
destinations. Furthermore, many of the streets in Palm Desert consist of
wide arterials with high posted speed limits, heavy traffic volumes, and
few pedestrian and bicyclist crossings. While some schools are located
on smaller streets in residential areas, many are located on these
arterial roads, such as Portola Avenue and Cook Street.
NETWORK GAP ANALYSIS
Bicycle Gaps
Bicycle network gaps can create additional stress
for students biking to school. A complete bicycle
network can encourage young bicyclists to ride
their bike to school more often and feel safe
throughout their travel. As shown in Figure 10,
the more significant gaps in the citywide bicycle
network include a north-south connection on
Monterey Avenue between Magnesia Falls Drive
and Country Club Drive, as well as an east-west
facility continuation on Hovley Lane between Cook
Street and Portola Avenue. Additionally, as shown
in the School Area Collision Analysis (pg. 46),
many collisions involving people walking and
biking occurred along major arterials, including
Highway 111, Fred Waring Drive, Cook Street and
Country Club Drive.
Sidewalk Gaps
Sidewalk gaps can create a barrier for students
walking to school by forcing them to cross a
major roadway or create unnecessary out of
direction travel. Palm Desert’s existing sidewalk
network spans across the city, as observed
by the Project Team during walk audits and
site visits. However, many streets in residential
neighborhoods, including those around the
schools, have significant sidewalk gaps or lack
sidewalks entirely.
PALM DESERT30SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
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Figure 10: Citywide Bicycle Network Gaps
VISION ZERO STRATEGY31SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Network Analysis by School
The following provides details of existing bicycle and pedestrian
facilities near each school (Figure 11 through Figure 17).
Abraham Lincoln Elementary School
and Palm Desert Charter Middle School
Each school can access the Class IV separated bike lane (CV
Link) on their northern edge along Magnesia Falls Drive. There
are also existing Class II bike lane facilities along Deep Canyon
Road and Fred Waring Drive, and sidewalks along most streets
connecting to the school. However, many streets in nearby
residential neighborhoods lack sidewalk connectivity, such as
along Desert Star Boulevard.
The north side of Desert Star Boulevard lacks sidewalks.
PALM DESERT32SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
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VISION ZERO STRATEGY33SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle School
Colonel Paige Middle School does not have any existing bicycle
connections within Palm Desert. There are, however, Class II bike lanes
on Fred Waring Drive east of Washington Street and on Palm Royale
Drive in La Quinta. There are wide sidewalks along Palm Royale Drive in
front of the school, however these terminate south of the school’s property
line. There are also large sidewalk gaps on major streets near the school,
such as along Fred Waring Drive and Washington Street.
The sidewalk in front of the school terminates to the south of the school property.
PALM DESERT34SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
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Figure 12: Bicycle and Pedestrian Gaps near Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle School
VISION ZERO STRATEGY35SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
George Washington Charter School
George Washington Charter School has existing Class II bike
lanes on Portola Avenue. There are also Class III bike route
connections along Fairway Drive, Deep Canyon Road, and
Shadow Mountain Drive. Many streets in the neighborhood,
however, lack sidewalks and curb ramps, such as along the
north side of Chicory Street and Fairway Drive.
Many students are dropped off on the north side of
Chicory Street where there are no sidewalks.
PALM DESERT36SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
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Figure 13: Bicycle and Pedestrian Gaps near George Washington Charter School
VISION ZERO STRATEGY37SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Gerald R. Ford Elementary School
Gerald R. Ford Elementary School generally lacks bicycle
connections. Warner Trail is relatively well-used by bicyclists
but lacks bicycle facilities and signage. Fred Waring Drive,
a busy thoroughfare just north of the school, has posted
signage forbidding bicycles on the street and sidewalk.
Sidewalk connectivity to the school is good, but the residential
neighborhoods on the east side of Warner Trail lack sidewalks.
There are no bicycle facilities near Gerald R. Ford Elementary
School and bikes are forbidden on some sidewalks.
PALM DESERT38SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
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Figure 14: Bicycle and Pedestrian Gaps near Gerald R. Ford Elementary School
VISION ZERO STRATEGY39SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
James Earl Carter Elementary School
James Carter Elementary School has existing Class II bike
lanes on Portola Avenue, though there are no facilities on
Hovley Lane along the north side of the school. However, the
school has very good sidewalk connectivity, with sidewalks
present along all nearby streets. Students can also walk
along a pedestrian path within Hovley Soccer Park to access
neighborhoods to the south and avoid the busier industrial
and commercial areas to the east.
Many students on bikes, scooters, and other forms of rolling mobility
use sidewalks since there are no bike lanes on Hovley Lane.
PALM DESERT40SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
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Figure 15: Bicycle and Pedestrian Gaps near James Earl Carter Elementary School
VISION ZERO STRATEGY41SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Palm Desert High School
Palm Desert High School is well-connected to existing bicycle
facilities. The CV Link Class I shared use path runs along the
north side of the school, and both Cook Street and Deep
Canyon Road have Class II bike lanes. However, there are
no bike connections along Fred Waring Drive or through
the neighborhood to the south side of the school. Sidewalk
coverage is also good, with wide sidewalks leading to its main
entrance (via Cook Street) and sidewalks providing pedestrian
access to the school’s rear entrance via Phyllis Jackson Lane.
CV Link connects directly to Palm Desert High School.
PALM DESERT42SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
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Figure 16: Bicycle and Pedestrian Gaps near Palm Desert High School
VISION ZERO STRATEGY43SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Ronald Reagan Elementary School
Ronald Reagan Elementary has Class II bike lanes
along Country Club Drive and Oasis Club Road.
There are also sidewalks present along all streets
leading to the school. Students can also walk through
Freedom Park to the school’s entrance and avoid
walking along the busier Country Club Drive.
Sidewalks are present on all streets near Reagan Elementary School and a Class II
bike lane on Country Club Drive connects to the school.
PALM DESERT44SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
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Figure 17: Bicycle and Pedestrian Gaps near Ronald Reagan Elementary School
VISION ZERO STRATEGY45SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
A school-focused collision analysis is crucial
for understanding safety trends and identifying
areas of concern near each of the eight schools.
The data not only highlights high-risk locations,
but also provides insights into the types of
collisions that are most common in these areas,
helping to guide the development and selection
of appropriate recommendations included in
this SRTS Plan. This analysis of collision patterns
informed the development and prioritization
of interventions intended to reduce crashes,
particularly those involving vulnerable road users
like pedestrians and bicyclists.
SCHOOL AREA COLLISION
ANALYSIS
For the school area collision analysis, the Project
Team defined a half-mile radius around each
school, corresponding with the area targeted for
SRTS improvements in this Plan. Between 2013
and 2022, there were 566 total collisions across
the school buffer areas that involved bicycles,
pedestrians, or vehicles (shown in Figure 18;
lighter yellow symbology purposefully chosen for
lesser injury vehicle collisions to highlight non-
motorized collisions), with one collision being
mapped twice due to its involvement of both a
pedestrian and a bicycle. Among these, about 9%
involved an active mode (22 or 4% pedestrian-
related collisions, and 35 or 6% bicycle-related
collisions), and about 14% involved school-age
(age 5–18) children (80 collisions, all modes).
PALM DESERT46SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
!!
!
!
!
!
!
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Palm Desert
Charter
Middle
Abraham
Lincoln
Elementary
Colonel
Mitchell
Paige Middle
George
Washington
Charter
Gerald
R. Ford
Elementary
James Earl
Carter Elementary
Palm
DesertHigh
Ronald Reagan
Elementary
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COLLISIONS IN
SCHOOL AREAS
CITY OF PALM DESERT
SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Da
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0 0.25 0.5MILES
DESTINATIONS + BOUNDARIES
!Schools
Half Mile Radius from Schools
City Boundary
Parks
BICYCLE COLLISION SEVERITYKilled or severly injured (3)Lesser injury (32)
PEDESTRIAN COLLISION SEVERITYKilled or severly injured (6)Lesser injury (16)
VEHICLE COLLISION SEVERITYKilled or severly injured (29)
Lesser injury (481)
Collision data is provided by TIMS and includes collisions from January 2013 through December 2022.Lesser injuries include minor injuries and complaints of pain.
!!!
!!
!
!
!
Figure 18: Collisions within a Half-Mile Radius of the Schools (2013-2022)
VISION ZERO STRATEGY47SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Figure 19 compares the severity of collisions
involving school-age children and all ages.
Results show that about 7% (38 collisions) of
all mode collisions resulted in a fatality or
serious injury (killed or seriously injured [KSI]),
while about 4% (3 collisions) of collisions
involving school-age children resulted in
KSI. Furthermore, within the school area, 16%
(9 collisions) of active mode collisions
resulted in KSI, and one of them involved
school-age children.
Figure 19: Collisions Involving School-age Children by Severity Level, Compared to All Ages – All Collisions (2013-2022)
Fatal Severe Injury Other Visible Injury Complaint of Pain
4%
2%5%28%65%
33%63%
7–7:59 a.m.2–2:59 p.m.3–3:59 p.m.
16%14%18%
Most collisions involving school-age children
occurred during peak student dismissal and
arrival periods (14 or 18% between 3:00 PM
and 3:59 PM, 13 or 16% between 7:00 AM and
7:59 AM, and 11 or 14% between 2:00 PM and
2:59 PM), and most of the collision types were
rear-end collisions and broadside collisions.
Unsafe speed is the top primary collision factor for
collisions within a half-mile radius of the eight schools
(36% of collisions involving school-age children,
34% of collisions involving all ages people).
PALM DESERT48SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Figure 19: Collisions Involving School-age Children by Severity Level, Compared to All Ages – All Collisions (2013-2022)
As shown in Figure 18 about 33% of collisions
(184 collisions) occurred at an intersection within
school areas. Out of these collisions, 9% (16
collisions) resulted in a fatality or serious injury,
and 15% (27 collisions) involved an active mode
of all severities.
The five intersections with the highest number of
collisions involving pedestrians or bicyclists and
their corresponding schools are shown below:
»Highway 111 and San Luis Rey Avenue
(George Washington Charter)
• 4 collisions, including 1 KSI
»Fred Waring Drive and Portola Avenue
(Lincoln Elementary/Palm Desert Charter
Middle)
• 2 collisions, including 1 KSI
»Portola Avenue and Alessandro Drive
(George Washington Charter)
• 2 collisions
»Fred Waring Drive and Deep Canyon Road
(Palm Desert High)
• 2 collisions
»Portola Avenue and Fairway Drive
(George Washington Charter)
• 2 collisions
The complete collision analysis is included in
Appendix A.
33%
of collisions occurred
at an intersection
within school areas
15%
involved an
active mode
9%
resulted in a fatality
or serious injury
VISION ZERO STRATEGY49SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
As part of the SRTS Plan, the Project Team
developed a high-injury network (HIN). HINs
illustrate that often a small number of improvable
roadways can address the majority of injury-
causing crashes. Complementing the school-area
collision analysis, an HIN allows for a better
understanding of the types of roadways in the city
where users are most at risk.
Crash data inclusive of all travel modes between
2013-2022 was analyzed to prioritize streets
with the most severe injuries, giving more weight
to serious crashes. Street segments with the most
severe crashes were then fed into the Project
Team’s custom-built HIN Generation tool, which
progressively added segments to the HIN until a
specific crash threshold was met. This approach
was utilized to identify the smallest portion of
the street network that accounted for the largest
number of serious crashes. The resulting HIN
is displayed in Figure 20. The complete HIN
analysis is included in Appendix B.
HIGH-INJURY NETWORK
43%
of collisions for all
modes occurred on
2%
of City roads.
California Assembly Bill 43 (AB 43)
AB 43 simplifies the process for jurisdictions to lower speed limits in
designated safety corridors. These corridors include street segments that
experience the highest number of serious and fatal collisions, as well as areas
with high concentrations of pedestrians and bicyclists, particularly those from
vulnerable groups like children and people with disabilities.
Developing a HIN is one approach to identifying such corridors. By utilizing
the HIN included in this SRTS Plan, the City can leverage AB 43 to more easily
reduce speed limits in these areas, improving safety for all road users.
PALM DESERT50SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Figure 20: Palm Desert High-Injury Network
-
VISION ZERO STRATEGY51SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Outreach &
Engagement
03.
OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT
OVERVIEW
Engaging with the community is crucial for
developing a final plan that effectively addresses
key priorities. By involving parents and caregivers,
students, school staff, and other community
members, the Project Team ensures that the final
recommendations included in the SRTS Plan reflect
the unique needs, concerns, and aspirations
of those who are directly impacted. Effective
outreach provides valuable insight into the existing
challenges around school transportation, allowing
for the development of targeted and actionable
solutions that can enhance safety, accessibility,
and overall mobility for students and the wider
community.
Outreach was conducted in two phases. Phase I
occurred in spring 2023 and focused on listening
to community needs and concerns, including the
collection of existing conditions data. Phase II
occurred in fall 2024 and focused on gathering
community feedback on draft recommendations.
This comprehensive engagement strategy included
workshops, walk audits, pop-ups, virtual webinars,
and the establishment of an Advisory Committee
(Committee) to ensure diverse participation and
representation.
A project website was also created to disseminate
project information, promote events, and gather
feedback from those unable to participate in
in-person outreach activities. Activities were
advertised through project and event flyers,
direct mailers, social media posts, and the project
website. Upcoming SRTS events, such as the
school walk audits, were also highlighted at
community presentations. Promotional materials,
such as flyers, were created in English and
Spanish.
VISION ZERO STRATEGY53SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
SUMMARY OF
OUTREACH
ACTIVITIES
The following provides an overview of the types of
engagement events conducted. A comprehensive
Outreach and Engagement Report, offering
detailed descriptions of each individual event, is
included in Appendix C.
Palm Desert Advisory
Committee
As mentioned, the City established a Committee to
be a guiding body for the SRTS Plan development
process. Participants included representatives
from:
»City of Palm Desert
»City of Indian Wells
»City of La Quinta
»Coachella Valley Association of Governments
»Desert Recreation District
»Riverside County Sheriff’s Office
»The Joslyn Center
The Committee met three times over the course of
the project. Each meeting gave participants an
opportunity to learn about project activities, review
and provide feedback on project deliverables,
and inform project priorities. As a result, the
Committee helped the Project Team effectively
communicate with schools, identify priority
corridors for review, and keep project activities on
schedule.
School Walk Audits
Walk audits were conducted at each school
to assess traffic conditions and identify safety
issues. These audits were attended by school staff,
parents and caregivers, and community members,
and involved walking around the school grounds
to document road conditions, traffic patterns, and
safety concerns. The Project Team also conducted
school arrival and dismissal observations to collect
critical data on traffic behavior during rush-hour
periods.
Safe Routes to School
Student Travel Tallies
Student travel tallies were conducted to
understand how students travel to and from school.
Teachers administered surveys in classrooms,
collecting data on transportation modes, such as
walking, biking, or riding in a car. The tally results
highlighted the predominance of family vehicle
use, offering insights into how school-related traffic
congestion could be alleviated through improved
active transportation infrastructure.
PALM DESERT54SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Safe Routes to School
Parent/Caregiver Surveys
Surveys were distributed to parents and caregivers
to gauge their attitudes and knowledge about
student travel habits. The surveys focused
on existing barriers to walking and biking to
school, such as safety concerns and travel
distances. Responses indicated that many
parents were concerned about traffic speeds,
unsafe intersections, and the lack of pedestrian
infrastructure.
School Community
Engagement
Various community events, including workshops
and virtual webinars, were held to engage the
school community. These sessions provided
information about the SRTS Plan and offered
participants an opportunity to provide feedback
on school-related safety concerns. Community
members showed strong support for efforts to
improve the safety of walking and biking routes for
students.
Community Engagement
In addition to school-focused engagement,
broader community input was gathered through
open houses and virtual workshops. These
sessions allowed residents to voice concerns
about pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure in
Palm Desert. Common themes included requests
for safer streets, additional sidewalks, better
crosswalks, and improvements to bike lanes. This
input helped refine the draft recommendations and
ensure that the final plan addressed the broader
community’s needs.
VISION ZERO STRATEGY55SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
SUMMARY OF
OUTREACH FINDINGS
The Project Team heard a wide range of input during
outreach and engagement activities, as summarized
in Table 5. Concerns focused largely on traffic safety,
accessibility, and existing active transportation infrastructure
gaps. Specifically, high traffic speeds, insufficient pedestrian
and bicycle facilities, and road safety concerns around
schools were consistently raised.
These insights, combined with input from the Committee,
directly guided the development of SRTS recommendations
presented in Chapter 4, ensuring they align with the
community’s concerns and needs.
PALM DESERT56SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Table 5: Completed Outreach and Engagement Activities
Phase Date Event Common Concerns/Findings
I
April – May 2024 School Walk Audits
»High speeds along nearby streets
»Traffic congestion during student arrival
and dismissal
»Drivers disobeying crossing guards
»Generally feeling unsafe bicycling
using existing facilities
April 8, 2024
Lincoln Elementary/Palm
Desert Charter Middle
School Workshop
»Sidewalk and bicycle network gaps
»High speeds on streets around schools
»ADA accessibility challenges on
neighborhood sidewalks
April 15, 2024 Safe Routes to School
Virtual Webinar »No concerns/findings received
May – June 2024 Safe Routes to School
Student Travel Tallies
»About 80% of students arrive at/depart
from school via a family vehicle
»About 4% of students walk to/from
school
»0.2% of students bike to/from school
May – June 2024 Safe Routes to School
Parent/ Caregiver Surveys
»Speeding and too much traffic along
routes to school
»Unsafe intersections
»“Stranger danger”
II
October 15 and
October 17, 2024
City of Palm Desert Open
Houses
»High vehicular speeds and unsafe
pedestrian crossings
»More/expanded sidewalks and
improved maintenance
»More bicycle- and pedestrian-
friendly roads throughout Palm Desert
December 17, 2024
Safe Routes to School
Virtual Recommendations
Workshop
»Need hard medians to address drivers
cutting across lanes near Palm Desert
Middle School
»Extend the sidewalk recommendation
along Fairway Drive
VISION ZERO STRATEGY57SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Improving
Safe Routes
to School in
Palm Desert
04.
The recommendations presented in this chapter are
the result of extensive review of existing conditions
data, walk audits, and community feedback to
understand mobility challenges around each of
the eight public elementary, middle, and high
schools in Palm Desert, Indian Wells, and La
Quinta. This work culminated in infrastructure
recommendations that, once implemented, will
support access to safe, convenient, and healthy
modes of transportation for students, families, and
residents.
The infrastructure recommendations developed
for each school in this SRTS Plan are physical
design solutions that have been tailored to
existing infrastructure conditions around each
school. These considerations included right-of
way, road width, intersection geometry, and
RECOMMENDATIONS OVERVIEW
crosswalk orientation. The recommendations
also include supporting infrastructure, such as
leading pedestrian intervals (LPIs) and wayfinding
signage, to complement physical design
solutions. Countdown pedestrian signals are also
recommended at all traffic-controlled intersections
where they are not already in place, as well as at
all future traffic signal installations.
Finally, all recommendations, when implemented,
will need to be consistent with local, state, and
federal guidelines, such as the California Manual
on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CAMUTCD),
to ensure regulatory compliance and uniformity in
traffic control measures.
VISION ZERO STRATEGY59SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Different types of bicycle facilities are better suited
for different roadways, based on considerations
such as vehicle speeds and volumes, the roadway
width, and other types of transportation using the
space. It is important to note that some facilities
promote both bicycle and pedestrian use.
BICYCLE FACILITY TYPES
Bicycle Facilities
Considered
Class I Bike Path
Class I bike paths are off-street facilities located in
a separate right-of-way from the roadway and for
the exclusive use of bicycles and pedestrians.
Class II Bike Lane
Class II bike lanes are on-street facilities dedicated
to bicycles and identified with lane striping and
pole signs. They may also feature green paint
backing.
Class II buffered bike lanes are further separated
from vehicular lanes and/or parking lanes by
buffers indicated with two- to three-foot diagonal
painted striping.
The following section displays the bicycle facilities
that were considered in the development of the
SRTS recommendations. After consulting with
the City and the Committee, and analyzing
feasibility, only Class II bike lane facilities
were ultimately included in the SRTS
recommendations. Nevertheless, all bike facility
types are displayed here for reference.
In Palm Desert, golf carts are also
allowed to travel in the bike lane.
PALM DESERT60SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Class III Bike Route
Class III facilities are on-street bike routes shared
with motorists. They lack a dedicated striped lane,
are identified with bike route signs, and often
include the shared use marking, also known as a
sharrow, and green paint.
Class IV Protected Bike Lane
Also called a cycle track or a separated bikeway,
Class IV facilities are separated from traffic by
a vertical barrier, such as a curb, median, or
bollards.
Class IV facilities are most helpful on streets with
high traffic volume.
In Palm Desert, golf carts are also
allowed to travel in protected bike lanes.
VISION ZERO STRATEGY61SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Different types of pedestrian facilities are better suited for different
roadways and roadway conditions. The following pedestrian
facilities are included in the SRTS recommendations:
PEDESTRIAN FACILITY TYPES
Pedestrian Facilities
Considered
Curb Extension
Curb extensions provide more protected space
for people to cross the roadway and tend to
cause vehicles to slow. Flexible posts or paint are
sometimes used instead of physical curbs.
Curb Ramp
Curb ramps improve accessibility and transition
pedestrians from the street to the sidewalk.
High Visibility Crosswalk*
High visibility crosswalks clearly delineate the
right-of-way for those crossing the street.
*Some of the high visibility crosswalk
recommendations included in this SRTS Plan were
recently installed during a separate effort by the City.
These recommendations have been identified in the
SRTS concept plans with an asterisk.
PALM DESERT62SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon
(RRFB)
Rectangular rapid flashing beacons alert drivers to
the presence of pedestrians.
Sidewalk Gap Closure
Sidewalk gap closures improve pedestrian
connections making it easier, safer, and more
comfortable to choose walking.
Traffic Calming Median
Traffic calming medians cause vehicles to slow
down without changing the speed limit.
VISION ZERO STRATEGY63SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
To ensure an enjoyable trip from beginning to end,
supporting infrastructure, such as pedestrian-scale
lighting and wayfinding, may be needed to make
walking and biking easier and more convenient.
Intersection Enhancements
A pedestrian and bicycle network is not complete
without considering how people cross challenging
intersections and reduce conflicts between people
driving, walking, and biking. New treatments, such
as stop signs and yield markings for drivers, can
be added to retrofit intersections to better serve
walking and bicycling across or through busy
intersections.
Leading Pedestrian
Interval (LPI)
A leading pedestrian interval (LPI) gives
pedestrians the opportunity to enter a crosswalk a
few seconds before the corresponding vehicular
traffic signal turns green. This allows pedestrians
to establish their presence in the crosswalk before
drivers are given the right to turn left or right.
Pedestrian-Scale Lighting
Pedestrian-scale lighting provides illumination
of walking areas by installing well-spaced lamp
posts at a low height. Pedestrian-scale lighting
increases pedestrian visibility to drivers and
bicyclists, increases pedestrian comfort and
perceived sense of safety, and creates an inviting
and vibrant streetscape for those walking and
biking throughout the city.
SUPPORTING
INFRASTRUCTURE
Bike Parking
Providing a secure place to store bikes at a
destination is an important part of making bike
trips feasible. Bike parking can include both long-
and short-term options and can be designed using
different configurations that match the environment
and aesthetics of the community.
Streetscape Amenities
Streetscape amenities like shade structures,
benches, parklets, public art, and pedestrian
signals can contribute to a safer, more inviting,
and more pedestrian-oriented community. These
elements can greatly activate the sidewalks at
popular destinations.
Wayfinding
Providing wayfinding signs for pedestrians and
bicyclists that direct them to nearby destinations on
a route, such as schools and parks, is an important
element to any pedestrian and bicycle network.
PALM DESERT64SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Intersection Daylighting
(Red Curb Parking
Restriction)
Intersection daylighting prohibits parking along
the curb approaching an intersection to increase
visibility for all road users and improve crossings.
This can be indicated by red paint and no-parking
signs, and it could include a curb extension.
In October 2023, the Daylighting Saves Lives Bill
(AB 413) was signed into law. The law created a
new section of the California Vehicle Code, CVC
22500(n), which makes it illegal to park within
20 feet of the vehicle approach of any marked
or unmarked crosswalk, even if a red curb is not
present, or 15 feet of any crosswalk where a curb
extension is present.
As of January 1, 2025, local jurisdictions may
begin issuing citations, whether or not signs or
paint are present. The law’s purpose is to increase
visibility and reduce potentially lethal collisions.
Adding red curbs can help implement this law.
Bus Pullout Area
A bus pullout area is a designated section of the
roadway where buses can pull into to pick up or
drop off passengers without disrupting the flow
of traffic. Bus pullout areas also provide a safer
location for passengers to board and alight from
the bus at the sidewalk.
VISION ZERO STRATEGY65SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
The following pages present the participating
schools’ recommendations based on the existing
conditions analysis, walk audits, and community
feedback. Also included are walk audit summaries
that outline participants’ main concerns regarding
pedestrian and bicyclist safety around each
school. Walk audit participants included school
and school district staff, parents and caregivers,
City of Palm Desert and La Quinta staffs, and the
Project Team.
PALM DESERT SAFE ROUTES
TO SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE
RECOMMENDATIONS
Participating schools’ recommendations can be
found on the following pages:
»Abraham Lincoln Elementary School
and Palm Desert Charter Middle School:
pg. 68
»Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle School:
pg. 80
»George Washington Charter School:
pg. 88
»Gerald R. Ford Elementary School:
pg. 104
»James Earl Carter Elementary School:
pg. 112
»Palm Desert High School: pg. 120
»Ronald Reagan Elementary School:
pg. 142
Feasibility of Improvement Recommendations
This is a planning document, providing a high-level blueprint to guide future bicycle and
pedestrian improvements throughout Palm Desert. This Plan shows the recommended,
proposed projects and an implementation plan with funding opportunities.
Each project in this Plan will require more detailed project-level analysis, community
engagement, and engineering study. As the City proceeds with more detailed project-
level planning, some projects identified in this Plan may require refinement.
Note: The matchlines for each set of concept plans are not current in this draft and will be
updated for the Final SRTS Plan following the Advisory Committee’s and City’s review.
PALM DESERT66SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
VISION ZERO STRATEGY67SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Walk Audit Summary | Abraham Lincoln Elementary and Palm Desert Charter Middle School
Audit Date: Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Audit Time: 2:00 - 3:00 PM
Enrollment: 585 Students (Lincoln ES);
1,347 Students (PDCMS)
District: Desert Sands Unified School District
Participants: 19
Key issues identified during the walk audit:
»Portola Avenue is a major concern
due to high vehicular speeds, regular traffic
congestion, and erratic driver behavior when
navigating around school-related traffic.
Participants stated they avoid walking along
Portola Avenue.
»One participant requested more school
signage along Portola Avenue, particularly for
northbound traffic.
»Some participants stated they would like
to make use of the nearby CV Link bike path,
but connecting bicycle facilities are needed.
»Drivers do not stop at stop signs and
speeding occurs along the wider streets in the
residential neighborhood to the south.
»One parent stated it feels stressful crossing
at Rutledge Way and Santolina Drive when
the crossing guard is not present due to cars
not stopping.
Afternoon pick-up at Lincoln Elementary
School.
Drivers made illegal turns into Lincoln
Elementary School’s parking lot to navigate
around waiting cars.
Palm Desert Charter Middle School does
dispersed drop-off and pick-up, with the
primary drop-off and pick-up location at the
Magnesia Falls Park parking lot.
Standard and high visibility crosswalks and
bike sharrows at Rutledge Way and Santolina
Drive.
Lincoln Elementary School Address: 74-100 Rutledge Way, Palm Desert
Palm Desert Charter Middle School Address: 74-200 Rutledge Way, Palm Desert
PALM DESERT68SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Study Area | Abraham Lincoln Elementary and Palm Desert Charter Middle School
Palm Desert CivicCenter Park
Magnesia FallsCity Park
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BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN GAPS:
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PALM DESERT CHARTER MIDDLE
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VISION ZERO STRATEGY69SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Figure 21: Abraham Lincoln Elementary School and Palm Desert Charter Middle School Concept Plans (1/9)
PALM DESERT70SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
1
2
2
Lincoln Elementary and PDCMS
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Upgrade to Leading Pedestrian
Interval (LPI) on All Legs*
Proposed Center Median
1
2
3
3
Proposed Pedestrian Street Lighting -
Conduct Illumination Study to Install
Pedestrian Scale Lighting
13
13
Proposed Shade Structure for Pick
Up/Drop Off
0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
*Keep in free operation during school
AM and PM peak hours
MAGNESIA FALLS DR
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Figure 22: Abraham Lincoln Elementary School and Palm Desert Charter Middle School Concept Plans (2/9)
VISION ZERO STRATEGY71SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
2
3
Lincoln Elementary and PDCMS
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed Center Median
Match Exisitng Median
Preserve Left Turn Lane
2
3
12
14
1412
Proposed Pedestrian Street Lighting -
Conduct Illumination Study to Install Pedestrian Scale Lighting
0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
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Figure 23: Abraham Lincoln Elementary School and Palm Desert Charter Middle School Concept Plans (3/9)
PALM DESERT72SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
2
3
Lincoln Elementary and PDCMS
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed Center Median
2
3
Proposed Pedestrian Street Lighting -
Conduct Illumination Study to Install
Pedestrian Scale Lighting
0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
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Figure 24: Abraham Lincoln Elementary School and Palm Desert Charter Middle School Concept Plans (4/9)
VISION ZERO STRATEGY73SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
2
5
Lincoln Elementary and PDCMS
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed ADA Curb Ramps
Proposed Red Curb
Upgrade Existing Crosswalk to High
Visibility*
2
5
6
11
6
11
Proposed Pedestrian Street Lighting -
Conduct Illumination Study to Install
Pedestrian Scale Lighting
13
15
13
Proposed Shade Structure for Pick
Up/Drop Off
*Existing School Crosswalks were Upgraded to High Visibility by City
0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’ 15
Proposed Yield Markings and Sign SW24-2(CA)
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Matchline - See Sheet 16
Figure 25: Abraham Lincoln Elementary School and Palm Desert Charter Middle School Concept Plans (5/9)
PALM DESERT74SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
2
5
7
6
4Proposed Red Curb6
Lincoln Elementary and PDCMS
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed High Visibility Crosswalk
Proposed ADA Curb Ramps
Proposed Sidewalk
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Proposed Pedestrian Street Lighting -
Conduct Illumination Study to Install
Pedestrian Scale Lighting
0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
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Figure 26: Abraham Lincoln Elementary School and Palm Desert Charter Middle School Concept Plans (6/9)
VISION ZERO STRATEGY75SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
Lincoln Elementary and PDCMS
SRTS Plan Recommendations
2
2
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Proposed Pedestrian Street Lighting -
Conduct Illumination Study to Install
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0’30’60’
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Figure 27: Abraham Lincoln Elementary School and Palm Desert Charter Middle School Concept Plans (7/9)
PALM DESERT76SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
1
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Proposed Center Median3
Lincoln Elementary and PDCMS
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Upgrade to Leading Pedestrian
Interval (LPI) on All Legs*
Proposed High Visibility Crosswalk
*Keep in free operation during
school AM and PM peak hours
1
2 4Proposed Pedestrian Street Lighting -
Conduct Illumination Study to Install Pedestrian Scale Lighting
0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
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Figure 28: Abraham Lincoln Elementary School and Palm Desert Charter Middle School Concept Plans (8/9)
VISION ZERO STRATEGY77SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
2
3
Lincoln Elementary and PDCMS
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed Center Median
2
3
Proposed Pedestrian Street Lighting -
Conduct Illumination Study to Install
Pedestrian Scale Lighting
0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
PO
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Matchline - See Sheet 14
Figure 29: Abraham Lincoln Elementary School and Palm Desert Charter Middle School Concept Plans (9/9)
PALM DESERT78SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
11
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Proposed Sidewalk7
Lincoln Elementary and PDCMS
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed ADA Curb Ramps Proposed Curb Extension with
Delineator Posts510
Upgrade Existing Crosswalk to High
Visibility*11
*Existing School Crosswalks were Upgraded to High Visibility by City0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
DESERT STAR BLVD
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VISION ZERO STRATEGY79SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Enrollment: 436 Students
District: Desert Sands Unified School
District
Participants: 4
Key issues identified during the walk
audit:
»Some drivers conducted illegal
U-turns on Palm Royale Drive after
dropping off students at the curb.
»Drivers dropping off students
along the curb on Palm Royale Drive
near the school’s parking lot exit
create sightline obstructions for those
exiting.
»The sidewalk along the frontage
of the school ends at a sand lot. There
are also no sidewalks on the north
side of Fred Waring Drive west of Palm
Royale Drive and on the east side
of Washington Street north of Fred
Waring Drive.
Walk Audit Summary | Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle School*
Audit Date: Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Audit Time: 8:30 - 9:30 AM
Main entrance and student drop-off and pick-
up lanes.
Cars dropping off students along the curb
create sightline obstructions for drivers exiting
the school’s parking lot.
*Recommendations for this school are in the City of La Quinta’s right-of-way and therefore will require review, coordination, and implementation by La Quinta.
Crosswalk with rectangular rapid flashing
beacons (RRFBs) in front of the school on Palm
Royale Drive.
School Address: 43-495 Palm Royale Drive, La Quinta
Some drivers performed illegal U-turns after
dropping off their students on Palm Royale
Drive.
PALM DESERT80SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Study Area | Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle School
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Colonel MitchellPaige Middle
BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN GAPS: PAIGE MIDDLE
SCHOOL
CITY OF PALM DESERT SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
DESTINATIONS + BOUNDARIES EXISTING BIKEWAYS
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The north side of Fred Waring Driveand the east side of Washington Streetlack sidewalks.The west side of Palm Royale Drivelacks sidewalks.
Intersections around the school lackosswalks.An existing Class II bike lane on PalmRoyale Drive is slated to be upgradedto a Class IIB Buffered Bike Lane in thenear future.
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VISION ZERO STRATEGY81SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
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Figure 30: Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle School Concept Plans (1/6)
PALM DESERT82SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
1
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Colonel Mitchell Middle School
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Upgrade Existing Crosswalk to High
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VISION ZERO STRATEGY83SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTIONMatchline - See Sheet 36
3
Colonel Mitchell Middle School
SRTS Plan Recommendations
3 Proposed Pedestrian Street Lighting -
Conduct Illumination Study to Install Pedestrian Scale Lighting
0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
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Figure 32: Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle School Concept Plans (3/6)
PALM DESERT84SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
Matchline - See Sheet 35
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SRTS Plan Recommendations
3
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Proposed Pedestrian Street Lighting -
Conduct Illumination Study to Install Pedestrian Scale Lighting
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Scale: 1”=60’
Figure 33: Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle School Concept Plans (4/6)
VISION ZERO STRATEGY85SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
Matchline - See Sheet 36
Matchline - See Sheet 38
Colonel Mitchell Middle School
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed Shade Structure for Pick Up/
Drop Off5
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Scale: 1”=60’
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Figure 34: Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle School Concept Plans (5/6)
PALM DESERT86SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
Matchline - See Sheet 37
3
Colonel Mitchell Middle School
SRTS Plan Recommendations
3 Proposed Pedestrian Street Lighting -
Conduct Illumination Study to Install Pedestrian Scale Lighting
Proposed Sidewalk - Colonel Mitchel
Paige Middle School to Fred Waring Dr
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Scale: 1”=60’
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Figure 35: Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle School Concept Plans (6/6)
VISION ZERO STRATEGY87SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
Colonel Mitchell Middle School
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Upgrade Existing Crosswalk to High Visibility*
Proposed Sidewalk
1
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2
3
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Proposed Pedestrian Street Lighting - Conduct
Illumination Study to Install Pedestrian Scale Lighting
*Existing School Crosswalks were Upgraded to High Visibility by City
0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
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Upgrade to Leading Pedestrian Interval
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FRED WARING DR
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Enrollment: 755 Students
District: Desert Sands Unified School
District
Participants: 6
Key issues identified during the walk audit:
»Many streets near the school lack
sidewalks. Participants specifically
requested sidewalks along Fairway Drive.
»Many families cross Chicory Street
midblock due to no sidewalks along the
north side of the street leading to the
crosswalk at Chicory Street and Shadow
Mountain Drive.
»Participants feel uncomfortable
walking along Portola Avenue due to high
vehicular speeds and narrow sidewalks,
especially near Portola Avenue and
Fairway Drive.
»During drop-off and pick-up,
congestion spills out of the parking lot
into Chicory Street and Portola Avenue.
Drivers also idle along the red curb on
Portola Avenue even when Chicory Street
is free of traffic.
Walk Audit Summary | George Washington Charter School
Audit Date: Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Audit Time: 8:30 - 9:30 AM
A crossing guard assists with morning drop-
off at the crosswalk at Chicory Street and
Shadow Mountain Drive.
Narrow sidewalks along Portola Avenue,
a high-speed arterial, foster an unpleasant
walking environment.
Drivers parked along a red curb on Portola
Avenue waiting to drop off students.
Parents and students were seen crossing
midblock along Chicory Street.
School Address: 45-768 Portola Avenue, Palm Desert
PALM DESERT88SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Study Area | George Washington Charter School
Washington Charter
School Park
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VISION ZERO STRATEGY89SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Figure 36: George Washington Charter School Concept Plans (1/13)
PALM DESERT90SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
Matchline - See Sheet 56
4
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George Washington Charter
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed Sidewalk
Proposed Lane Width Reduction and
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VISION ZERO STRATEGY91SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
10
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6
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George Washington Charter
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed Sidewalk
Proposed Lane Width Reduction and
Class II Bike Lane
Proposed Bicycle Conflict Striping
2
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6
Upgrade Existing Crosswalk to High
Visibility*
Proposed Shade Structure for Pick Up/
Drop Off
10
11
11
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Proposed Pedestrian Street Lighting -
Conduct Illumination Study to Install Pedestrian Scale Lighting
*Existing School Crosswalks were
Upgraded to High Visibility by City0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
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PALM DESERT92SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
Matchline - See Sheet 50
George Washington Charter
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed Sidewalk2
2
0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
FA
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Matchline - See Sheet 59
Figure 39: George Washington Charter School Concept Plans (4/13)
VISION ZERO STRATEGY93SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
Matchline - See Sheet 54
10
Proposed Lane Width Reduction and Class II Bike Lane
George Washington Charter
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed Sidewalk
Proposed Red Curb
3
3
2
2
2
7
7
Upgrade Existing Crosswalk to High
Visibility*10
*Existing School Crosswalks were Upgraded to High Visibility by City
0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
SHADOW MOUNTAIN DR
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Figure 40: George Washington Charter School Concept Plans (5/13)
PALM DESERT94SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
7
George Washington Charter
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed High Visibility Crosswalk
Proposed Red Curb
1
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Upgrade Existing Crosswalk to High
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Crosswalk Treatment*
10
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0’30’60’
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Figure 41: George Washington Charter School Concept Plans (6/13)
VISION ZERO STRATEGY95SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
2
George Washington Charter
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed Sidewalk2
0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
SHADOW MOUNTAIN DR
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PALM DESERT96SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
8 8
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George Washington Charter
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed High Visibility Crosswalk
Proposed Sidewalk
Proposed Red Curb
Conduct Warrant Analysis for
All-Way Stop Control
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Figure 43: George Washington Charter School Concept Plans (8/13)
VISION ZERO STRATEGY97SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
8
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George Washington Charter
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed High Visibility Crosswalk
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Figure 44: George Washington Charter School Concept Plans (9/13)
PALM DESERT98SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
George Washington Charter
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed Sidewalk
Proposed Red Curb
10
2
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Matchline - See Sheet 57
Figure 45: George Washington Charter School Concept Plans (10/13)
VISION ZERO STRATEGY99SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
George Washington Charter
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed High Visibility Crosswalk
Proposed Sidewalk
Proposed Red Curb
1
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Figure 46: George Washington Charter School Concept Plans (11/13)
PALM DESERT100SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
George Washington Charter
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed High Visibility Crosswalk
Proposed Sidewalk
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Scale: 1”=60’
Proposed Red Curb7
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Figure 47: George Washington Charter School Concept Plans (12/13)
VISION ZERO STRATEGY101SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
George Washington Charter
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed Sidewalk2
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Scale: 1”=60’
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Figure 48: George Washington Charter School Concept Plans (13/13)
PALM DESERT102SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
George Washington Charter
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed High Visibility Crosswalk
Proposed Sidewalk
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Proposed ADA Curb Ramps8
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0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
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VISION ZERO STRATEGY103SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Enrollment: 603 Students
District: Desert Sands Unified School District
Participants: 5
Key issues identified during the walk audit:
»The principal would like the existing
crosswalk on Warner Trail and Evening Star
Circle removed or upgraded to a raised
crosswalk with RRFBs or pedestrian hybrid
beacons. He stated it is currently difficult for
students to use due to speeding drivers along
Warner Trail.
»The existing bus stop location on Fred
Waring Drive east of Warner Trail creates a
challenging situation when buses stop in the
travel lane to load/unload. Cars turning right
onto Fred Waring Drive quickly speed up to
match traffic speeds unaware that a bus is
stopped in the lane they are turning into and
must quickly change lanes or brake.
»Posted signage indicates bicycles are
banned on sidewalks along Fred Waring
Drive. Traffic speeds and volumes create
stressful conditions for on-street bicyclists.
»Sidewalks terminate on Fred Waring
Drive just east of the school.
Walk Audit Summary | Gerald R. Ford Elementary School*
Audit Date: Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Audit Time: 9:00 - 10:00 AM
Bicycles are banned from using sidewalks
near the school.
The school has one crossing guard that assists
with pedestrian crossing in the school’s main
parking lot.
A high visibility crosswalk in front of the school provides pedestrian access to neighborhoods to the
west.
School Address: 44-210 Warner Trail, Indian Wells
*Recommendations for this school are in the City of Indian Wells’ right-of-way and therefore will require review, coordination, and implementation by Indian Wells.
PALM DESERT104SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Study Area | Gerald R. Ford Elementary School
AVENIDAALICANTELISBONWAYCALLELASBRISASSCALLELASBRISASWROBIN RDTEXAS AVE
Gerald R. FordElementary
BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN GAPS: GERALD R. FORD
CITY OF PALM DESERT
SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
DESTINATIONS + BOUNDARIES EXISTING BIKEWAYS
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A Class II Bike Lane along MilesAvenue turns into a Class III Bike Routeon the north side of the street betweenWarner Trail and Elkhorn Trail.
Many bicyclists use Warner Trail, whichlacks bicycle facilities. The west sideof Warner Trail lacks sidewalks.
Fred Waring Drive is a busy, multi-lanethoroughfare. Posted signage forbidsbicycles on the street and sidewalk.
This segment of Fred Waring Drivelacks sidewalks and bike facilities onboth sides of the street.
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VISION ZERO STRATEGY105SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
City of Indian Wells
Figure 49: Gerald R. Ford Elementary School Concept Plans (1/6)
PALM DESERT106SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
1
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5
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Gerald R. Ford Elementary
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed High Visibility Crosswalk
Proposed ADA Curb Ramps
Proposed Red Curb Proposed Sidewalk
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Proposed Pedestrian Street Lighting -
Conduct Illumination Study to Install
Pedestrian Scale Lighting
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Figure 50: Gerald R. Ford Elementary School Concept Plans (2/6)
VISION ZERO STRATEGY107SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
1
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Gerald R. Ford Elementary
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed High Visibility Crosswalk
Proposed ADA Curb Ramps
Proposed Red Curb Proposed Sidewalk
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Proposed Pedestrian Street Lighting -
Conduct Illumination Study to Install
Pedestrian Scale Lighting
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Scale: 1”=60’
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Figure 51: Gerald R. Ford Elementary School Concept Plans (3/6)
PALM DESERT108SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
9
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Upgrade Existing Crosswalk to High
Visibility*
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Gerald R. Ford Elementary
SRTS Plan Recommendations
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Proposed Red Curb
Proposed Rectangular Rapid Flashing
Beacon (RRFB)
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Proposed Pedestrian Street Lighting -
Conduct Illumination Study to Install
Pedestrian Scale Lighting
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*Existing School Crosswalks were
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Proposed Shade Structure for Pick Up/
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Figure 52: Gerald R. Ford Elementary School Concept Plans (4/6)
VISION ZERO STRATEGY109SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
9
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Proposed Sidewalk5
Gerald R. Ford Elementary
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed ADA Curb Ramps Proposed Bus Pullout Area
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Upgrade Existing Crosswalk to High
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9Proposed Pedestrian Street Lighting -
Conduct Illumination Study to Install
Pedestrian Scale Lighting *Existing School Crosswalks were Upgraded to High Visibility by City
** The Entrance to Gerald Ford Elementary School was Widened in Winter 2025. This Change is not Shown in Current Aerial Imagery
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Figure 53: Gerald R. Ford Elementary School Concept Plans (5/6)
PALM DESERT110SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
9
4
Gerald R. Ford Elementary
SRTS Plan Recommendations
4
Upgrade Existing Crosswalk to High
Visibility*
9
Proposed Pedestrian Street Lighting -
Conduct Illumination Study to Install
Pedestrian Scale Lighting
*Existing School Crosswalks were Upgraded to High Visibility by City
0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
FRED WARING DR
ENT LAS BRISAS
Figure 54: Gerald R. Ford Elementary School Concept Plans (6/6)
VISION ZERO STRATEGY111SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
Proposed Sidewalk5
Gerald R. Ford Elementary
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed High Visibility Crosswalk
Proposed ADA Curb Ramps
Proposed Red Curb
Conduct Warrant Analysis for
One-Way Stop Control
1
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Scale: 1”=60’
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FLORIDA AVE
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Enrollment: 516 Students
District: Desert Sands Unified School
District
Participants: 3
Key issues identified during the walk
audit:
»Portola Avenue is a major concern
due to speeding drivers. Little shade
makes it uncomfortable to walk along
sidewalks in hot weather.
»Some afternoon pick-up traffic
congestion spilled outside of the
school’s parking lot into turn lanes on
Hovley Lane.
»Drivers were parked along a red
curb on Hovley Lane until a motor
officer arrived.
Walk Audit Summary | James Earl Carter Elementary School
Audit Date: Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Audit Time: 3:00 - 4:00 PM
Afternoon pick-up occurs in a single lane
within the school’s main parking lot.
Some afternoon pick-up congestion spilled
into Hovley Lane.
Traffic enforcement on Hovley Lane in front of
the school.
Hovley Lane and Portola Avenue is a major
intersection near the school.
School Address: 74-251 Hovley Lane East, Palm Desert
PALM DESERT112SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Study Area | James Earl Carter Elementary School
Hovley
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James Earl CarterElementary
BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN GAPS: JAMES EARL
CARTER ELEMENTARY
CITY OF PALM DESERT SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
DESTINATIONS + BOUNDARIES EXISTING BIKEWAYS
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Intersections around the school lackhigh visibility crosswalks.
There is a critical east-west bicycle gap along Hovley Lane E, adjacent to James Earl Carter Elementary and a public park.
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VISION ZERO STRATEGY113SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Figure 55: James Earl Carter Elementary School Concept Plans (1/5)
PALM DESERT114SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
8
James Earl Carter Elementary
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Upgrade Existing Crosswalk to High
Visibility*8
*Existing School Crosswalks were Upgraded to High Visibility by City
0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
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Figure 56: James Earl Carter Elementary School Concept Plans (2/5)
VISION ZERO STRATEGY115SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
2
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James Earl Carter Elementary
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Upgrade to Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI) on All Legs - Coordinate
with CV Sync Phase II
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Proposed Pedestrian Street Lighting -
Conduct Illumination Study to Install
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Scale: 1”=60’
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Figure 57: James Earl Carter Elementary School Concept Plans (3/5)
PALM DESERT116SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
3
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James Earl Carter Elementary
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed Shade Structure for Pick
Up/Drop Off
3
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Proposed Pedestrian Street Lighting -
Conduct Illumination Study to Install Pedestrian Scale Lighting
0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
HOVLEY LN
Figure 58: James Earl Carter Elementary School Concept Plans (4/5)
VISION ZERO STRATEGY117SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
3
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Proposed ADA Curb Ramps
James Earl Carter Elementary
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed High Visibility Crosswalk
East to West Stop Sign Warrant /
Traffic Signal Warrant
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Pedestrian Scale Lighting
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Figure 59: James Earl Carter Elementary School Concept Plans (5/5)
PALM DESERT118SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
James Earl Carter Elementary
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Potential Park and Walk/Walking
School Bus Stop
7
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0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
HOVLEY LN
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VISION ZERO STRATEGY119SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Walk Audit Summary | Palm Desert High School*
Audit Date: Thursday, April 18, 2024
Audit Time: 8:30 - 9:30 AM
School Address: 74-910 Aztec Road, Palm Desert
PALM DESERT120SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Enrollment: 2,050 Students
District: Desert Sands Unified School
District
Participants: 6
Key issues identified during the walk audit:
»Drivers speed along Cook Street.
Northbound and southbound traffic
approach Aztec Lane on a decline,
fostering high-speed conditions around
the school.
»Drivers wait for students in the
northbound right-turn lane at Cook Street
and Aztec Lane rather than continuing
into the school’s parking lot. This results
in congestion and erratic maneuvers by
drivers trying to enter the parking lot.
»The school resource officer requested
bollards, gates, or a similar barrier
between the publicly accessible CV Link
bike path and the school’s rear parking
lot.
Morning drop-off occurs in three travel lanes
and one parking lane.
Speeding is a concern along Cook Street near
the entrance to the school.
The school resource officer requested a barrier
between the public CV Link bike path and the
school’s rear parking lot.
On-campus bike parking near the front of the
school.
*PDHS is developing a traffic circulation study. Recommendations from the circulation study should be coordinated with SRTS recommendations that pertain to PDHS.
Study Area | Palm Desert High School
Cook FieldsSports Complex
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BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIANGAPS: PALM DESERT HIGH
CITY OF PALM DESERTSAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
DESTINATIONS + BOUNDARIES EXISTING BIKEWAYS
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HALF-MILE BUFFERThe east side of Cook Street lackssidewalks. Intersections around theschool lack high visibility crosswalks.
There is a major east-west bicycle network gap along Fred WaringDrive.
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VISION ZERO STRATEGY121SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Figure 60: Palm Desert High School Concept Plans (1/20)
PALM DESERT122SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
Palm Desert High School
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed ADA Curb Ramps
Proposed Lane Width Reduction and Class II Buffered Bike Lane
2
4
4
2
14
Upgrade Existing Crosswalk to High
Visibility*
14
*Existing School Crosswalks were Upgraded to High Visibility by City
Proposed Center Median18
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0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
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Figure 61: Palm Desert High School Concept Plans (2/20)
VISION ZERO STRATEGY123SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
Proposed Bicycle Conflict Striping
Palm Desert High School
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed High Visibility Crosswalk
Proposed ADA Curb Ramps
Proposed Lane Width Reduction and
Class II Buffered Bike Lane
1
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Proposed Center Median18
18
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0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
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Figure 62: Palm Desert High School Concept Plans (3/20)
PALM DESERT124SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
5
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Proposed Lane Width Reduction and
Class II Buffered Bike Lane4Palm Desert High School
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed High Visibility Crosswalk
Proposed ADA Curb Ramps
Proposed Bicycle Conflict Striping
Proposed Stop Markings and Sign
Proposed Red Curb1
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Proposed Center Median18
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0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
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Figure 63: Palm Desert High School Concept Plans (4/20)
VISION ZERO STRATEGY125SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
43
2
14
Proposed Lane Width Reduction and Class II Buffered Bike Lane4
Palm Desert High School
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed ADA Curb Ramps
Proposed Bicycle Conflict Striping
Proposed Red Curb
2
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6 6
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Proposed Stop Markings and Sign6
Upgrade Existing Crosswalk to High Visibility*14
14
*Existing School Crosswalks were
Upgraded to High Visibility by City
Proposed Center Median18
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0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
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Figure 64: Palm Desert High School Concept Plans (5/20)
PALM DESERT126SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION1
3
2
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5
Proposed Lane Width Reduction and
Class II Buffered Bike Lane4
Palm Desert High School
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed High Visibility Crosswalk
Proposed ADA Curb Ramps
Proposed Bicycle Conflict Striping
Match Existing Striping
Match Existing Median
Proposed Red Curb
1
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Proposed Pedestrian Street Lighting -
Conduct Illumination Study to Install
Pedestrian Scale Lighting
Proposed Center Median18
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Scale: 1”=60’
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Matchline - See Sheet 82
Figure 65: Palm Desert High School Concept Plans (6/20)
VISION ZERO STRATEGY127SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
Proposed Red Curb
Palm Desert High School
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed ADA Curb Ramps
Proposed High Visibility Crosswalk
5
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14 1
Upgrade Existing Crosswalk to High Visibility*14
Proposed Pedestrian Street Lighting -
Conduct Illumination Study to Install
Pedestrian Scale Lighting
*Existing School Crosswalks were Upgraded to High Visibility by City
0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
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Figure 66: Palm Desert High School Concept Plans (7/20)
PALM DESERT128SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
7
14
Palm Desert High School
SRTS Plan Recommendations
7
Upgrade Existing Crosswalk to High Visibility*14
Proposed Pedestrian Street Lighting -
Conduct Illumination Study to Install
Pedestrian Scale Lighting
*Existing School Crosswalks were Upgraded to High Visibility by City
0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
PHYLLIS JACKSON LANE
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Figure 67: Palm Desert High School Concept Plans (8/20)
VISION ZERO STRATEGY129SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
7
Palm Desert High School
SRTS Plan Recommendations
7 Proposed Pedestrian Street Lighting -
Conduct Illumination Study to Install
Pedestrian Scale Lighting
0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
PHYLLIS JACKSON LANE
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Figure 68: Palm Desert High School Concept Plans (9/20)
PALM DESERT130SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
7
Palm Desert High School
SRTS Plan Recommendations
7 Proposed Pedestrian Street Lighting -
Conduct Illumination Study to Install
Pedestrian Scale Lighting
0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
PHYLLIS JACKSON LANE
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Figure 69: Palm Desert High School Concept Plans (10/20)
VISION ZERO STRATEGY131SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
Upgrade to Leading Pedestrian
Interval (LPI) on All Legs - Coordinate
with CV Sync Phase II
Palm Desert High School
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed Sidewalk Widening to 10’-12’
8
15
15
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Upgrade Existing Crosswalk to High Visibility*14
Match Existing Sidewalk16
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*Existing School Crosswalks were Upgraded to High Visibility by City
0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’ FR
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Figure 70: Palm Desert High School Concept Plans (11/20)
PALM DESERT132SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
1
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Palm Desert High School
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed High Visibility Crosswalk
Proposed Red Curb
1
5
Proposed Stop Markings and Sign6
Match Existing Sidewalk
15
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Proposed ADA Curb Ramps2
2
Proposed Sidewalk Widening to 10’-12’
0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
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Figure 71: Palm Desert High School Concept Plans (12/20)
VISION ZERO STRATEGY133SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
Palm Desert High School
SRTS Plan Recommendations
7
7
14
Upgrade to Leading Pedestrian
Interval (LPI) on All Legs - Coordinate
with CV Sync Phase II
8
8
Upgrade Existing Crosswalk to High Visibility*14
15
15
Proposed ADA Curb Ramps2
2
Match Existing Sidewalk16
16
Proposed Pedestrian Street Lighting -
Conduct Illumination Study to Install
Pedestrian Scale Lighting
*Existing School Crosswalks were Upgraded to High Visibility by City
Proposed Sidewalk Widening to 10’-12’
0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
AZ
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Figure 72: Palm Desert High School Concept Plans (13/20)
PALM DESERT134SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
Proposed Pick Up Lane
Proposed Passenger Loading Signage
(R25E) CA
Palm Desert High School
SRTS Plan Recommendations
1
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17
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Proposed Pedestrian Street Lighting -
Conduct Illumination Study to Install
Pedestrian Scale Lighting
0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
COOK ST
Matchline - See Sheet 85
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Figure 73: Palm Desert High School Concept Plans (14/20)
VISION ZERO STRATEGY135SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
Palm Desert High School
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed High Visibility Crosswalk
Proposed ADA Curb Ramps
1
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0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
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Figure 74: Palm Desert High School Concept Plans (15/20)
PALM DESERT136SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
Palm Desert High School
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed High Visibility Crosswalk
Proposed ADA Curb Ramps
1
2
2
1
0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
FRED WARING DR
SAN YSIDRO CIRCLE
Figure 75: Palm Desert High School Concept Plans (16/20)
VISION ZERO STRATEGY137SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
Palm Desert High School
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed High Visibility Crosswalk
Proposed ADA Curb Ramps
1
1
2
2
0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
FRED WARING DR
Figure 76: Palm Desert High School Concept Plans (17/20)
PALM DESERT138SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
Palm Desert High School
SRTS Plan Recommendations
7
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Proposed Pedestrian Street Lighting -
Conduct Illumination Study to Install
Pedestrian Scale Lighting
0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
CV LINK
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Figure 77: Palm Desert High School Concept Plans (18/20)
VISION ZERO STRATEGY139SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
7
Palm Desert High School
SRTS Plan Recommendations
7 Proposed Pedestrian Street Lighting -
Conduct Illumination Study to Install
Pedestrian Scale Lighting
0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
CV LINK
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Figure 78: Palm Desert High School Concept Plans (19/20)
PALM DESERT140SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
Proposed Bike Racks
Palm Desert High School
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed Swing Gate
Proposed Wayfinding Signage to
PDHS and Lincoln Elementary
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Proposed Pedestrian Street Lighting -
Conduct Illumination Study to Install
Pedestrian Scale Lighting
0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
CV LINK
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Figure 79: Palm Desert High School Concept Plans (20/20)
VISION ZERO STRATEGY141SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
Palm Desert High School
SRTS Plan Recommendations
7
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Proposed Pedestrian Street Lighting -
Conduct Illumination Study to Install
Pedestrian Scale Lighting
0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
CV LINK
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Enrollment: 834 Students
District: Desert Sands Unified School
District
Participants: 4
Key issues identified during the walk audit:
»Participants stated that the main issue
is the conflict point at the entrance to the
school’s parking lot next to the residential
roundabout. The assistant principal
stated students walking from the adjacent
residential complex must navigate through
large vehicles and heavy traffic while
crossing onto school property.
»The assistant principal stated park
visitors speed through the parking lot that
is shared with the school and Freedom
Park.
»During drop-off and pick-up, traffic
often backs up along Liberty Drive and
into Country Club Drive, a high-speed
arterial. This is worsened by cars parked
along the curb on Liberty Drive, which is
legally permitted.
Walk Audit Summary | Ronald Reagan Elementary School
Audit Date: Thursday, May 2, 2024
Audit Time: 8:00 - 9:00 AM
Morning drop-off at the front of the school.Morning drop-off congestion spills into Liberty
Drive.
Students walking from the neighboring residential community must navigate around many cars to
enter campus.
School Address: 39-800 Liberty Drive, Palm Desert
PALM DESERT142SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Study Area | Ronald Reagan Elementary School
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Freedom Park
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Ronald Reagan
Elementary
BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN
GAPS: RONALD REAGAN
CITY OF PALM DESERTSAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
DESTINATIONS + BOUNDARIES EXISTING BIKEWAYS
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Bicycle Lane (Class II)
HALF-MILE BUFFER
Intersections around the school lackhigh visibility crosswalks.
The west leg of this intersection lacks a marked pedestrian crossing.
VISION ZERO STRATEGY143SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Figure 80: Ronald Reagan Elementary School Concept Plans (1/7)
PALM DESERT144SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
Ronald Reagan Elementary School
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed High Visibility Crosswalk
Upgrade Existing Crosswalk to High
Visibility*
Proposed Lane Width Reduction and
Class II Buffered Bike Lane
Proposed Green Backed Bike Lane
*Existing School Crosswalks were Upgraded to High Visibility by City
1
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Figure 81: Ronald Reagan Elementary School Concept Plans (2/7)
VISION ZERO STRATEGY145SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
Ronald Reagan Elementary School
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed Lane Width Reduction and
Class II Buffered Bike Lane
Proposed Bicycle Conflict Striping
2
3
3
3
4
4
Proposed Green Backed Bike Lane10
10
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0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
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Figure 82: Ronald Reagan Elementary School Concept Plans (3/7)
PALM DESERT146SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
Ronald Reagan Elementary School
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Upgrade Existing Crosswalk to High Visibility*
Proposed Lane Width Reduction and
Class II Buffered Bike Lane
Proposed No Parking During School
Hours Sign
Proposed Red Curb
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Proposed Pedestrian Street Lighting -
Conduct Illumination Study to Install
Pedestrian Scale Lighting
*Existing School Crosswalks were
Upgraded to High Visibility by City
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Scale: 1”=60’
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Figure 83: Ronald Reagan Elementary School Concept Plans (4/7)
VISION ZERO STRATEGY147SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
Ronald Reagan Elementary School
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed Lane Width Reduction and
Class II Buffered Bike Lane
Proposed Bicycle Conflict Striping
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Proposed Green Backed Bike Lane10
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Figure 84: Ronald Reagan Elementary School Concept Plans (5/7)
PALM DESERT148SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
Proposed Red Curb
Proposed ADA Curb Ramp
Proposed Curb Extension with
Delineator Posts
7
8
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10
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Ronald Reagan Elementary School
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed High Visibility Crosswalk
Proposed Pedestrian Street Lighting -
Conduct Illumination Study to Install
Pedestrian Scale Lighting
1
5
1
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Up/Drop Off
0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
Proposed Yield Markings and
Sign SW24-2(CA)11 11
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Matchline - See Sheet 6
Figure 85: Ronald Reagan Elementary School Concept Plans (6/7)
VISION ZERO STRATEGY149SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
Ronald Reagan Elementary School
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Proposed High Visibility Crosswalk
Proposed Lane Width Reduction and
Class II Buffered Bike Lane
Proposed Bicycle Conflict Striping
Proposed ADA Curb Ramp
1
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Scale: 1”=60’
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Figure 86: Ronald Reagan Elementary School Concept Plans (7/7)
PALM DESERT150SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
NOTE: CONCEPT ONLY, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
Ronald Reagan Elementary School
SRTS Plan Recommendations
Upgrade Existing Crosswalk to High
Visibility*
Proposed Lane Width Reduction and
Class II Buffered Bike Lane
Proposed Red Curb
2
3
3
2
7
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*Existing School Crosswalks were Upgraded to High Visibility by City
0’30’60’
Scale: 1”=60’
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VISION ZERO STRATEGY151SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Encouraging
Safe Routes
to School in
Palm Desert
05.
Non-infrastructure strategies are an important
part of the comprehensive SRTS program. While
infrastructure improvements create safer and more
comfortable routes, non-infrastructure (also called
encouragement and education) SRTS activities like
traffic safety education and promotional activities
encourage students to choose active modes to get
to and from school. In addition, SRTS projects with
non-infrastructure components build enthusiasm
and support for active transportation and can be
an important first step toward implementing more
costly infrastructure improvements.
This section outlines programmatic
recommendations for Palm Desert. These
recommendations provide an opportunity to
identify routes, collect insight on travel patterns,
behaviors, issues, and potential improvements,
and present ways that community members can
participate in SRTS activities.
PROGRAMMATIC SRTS
RECOMMENDATIONS
The Project Team compiled a comprehensive
menu of programmatic activities (pg. 154)
tailored for Palm Desert, which were informed
by school- and community-identified needs
and priorities, available resources, and SRTS
best practices. Also included is a list of general
programmatic recommendations (pg. 159)
that include programs which, while not specifically
designed for SRTS, are relevant to the goals of
SRTS and merit inclusion. These recommendations
provide an opportunity to identify routes; collect
insight on travel patterns, behaviors, issues,
and potential improvements; and present ways
that students, families, and other community
members can participate in SRTS activities. These
recommendations should be used to complement
infrastructure improvements and should be
included in any request for funding, such as
through the State Active Transportation Program or
Federal SS4A Program.
VISION ZERO STRATEGY153SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Recommended
SRTS Programs
Bike/Pedestrian Education
School-based skills and traffic safety instruction
conducted during PE or an after-school program.
Emphasizes development of pedestrian and
bicycle traffic safety skills, bike handling skills, safe
riding practices (“street smarts”), helmet fit, and
bike prep.
Resources:
»Safe Travels Education Program (STEP),
Orange County Transportation Authority
»Walk! Bike! Fun! Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety
Curriculum, Bike Alliance of Minnesota
Contests and Challenges
Students track walking and biking trips to school
toward some kind of goal or reward. Trips can
be tallied for individuals, classrooms, grades, or
school-wide. Track trips using punch cards, tally
sheets, or an app toward individual or group
rewards.
Resources:
»Marin County SRTS Annual Contests
Crossing Guard Promotional
Education
Crossing guards assist students, families, and
residents in safely crossing the street near schools
and alert drivers that people are crossing the
roadway. It is a violation of the law to disregard
the direction of a crossing guard (California
Vehicle Code Section 2815). However, too often,
crossing guards are ignored or taken for granted.
Education promoting listening to crossing guards
may encourage more people to follow their
directions.
Resources:
»Crossing Guard Promotional Social Media
Posts in English and Spanish (Appendix D)
PALM DESERT154SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Crossing Guard Siting
Many factors contribute to the need for a crossing
guard at a particular crossing location. The
CAMUTCD provides general guidance for their
use. The Caltrans Active Transportation Resource
Center’s California School Crossing Guard
Training Program cites additional factors and
supporting information that can be used to identify
locations that could benefit from the presence of a
crossing guard.
Monitoring of crossing locations to assess the
need for a crossing guard should occur on
a scheduled basis, such as every two years.
Additional reasons that may require reassessing a
crossing guard location may include:
»New or improved traffic control devices
»Major developments increasing traffic on a
roadway near a school
»School boundary changes
»Schools opening or closing
»Consolidation of schools or changing of grades
»Changes to school bell schedules
Note: Neither the City nor DSUSD provide crossing
guard services to any of the schools. Each school is
responsible for their own crossing guard services.
However, the City provides financial assistance to
DSUSD to manage a School Crossing Guard Program.
Resources:
»CAMUTCD, Caltrans
»California Crossing Guard Training Program,
California Active Transportation Resource
Center
Crossing Guard Training
School crossing guards play an integral role in
fostering a safe and comfortable environment for
students walking and bicycling to school. Training
is essential for crossing guards to perform properly
and safely. Crossing guards can help create
gaps in traffic on busy neighborhood collector
roads, remind drivers of the presence of people
walking, instill safe walking skills in students and
their families, and indicate when people driving
should yield. The California Active Transportation
Resource Center provides trainer courses at no
cost to help jurisdictions and law enforcement with
guidance on how to train and vet potential new
and existing crossing guards.
Resources:
»California Crossing Guard Training Program,
California Active Transportation Resource
Center
VISION ZERO STRATEGY155SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Demonstration Projects
Demonstration projects are temporary, short-term,
low-cost roadway projects that are used to test,
evaluate, and refine potential changes to the street
before investing in long-term solutions. They use
inexpensive materials such as paint and flexible
bollards to test curb extensions, median refuge
islands, protected bike lanes, and more.
Resources:
»Demonstration Project Implementation Guide,
Minnesota Department of Transportation
»Quick-Build Guide: How to Build Safer Streets
Quickly and Affordably, Alta Planning +
Design, California Bicycle Coalition
E-Bike Training and Licensing
Program
E-bike safety awareness trainings teach students
how to safely use an e-bike on streets. Students
must pass a quiz to demonstrate understanding
of the training and receive a permit to stick on
their e-bike, allowing them to bring and store their
e-bike on campus.
Resources:
»E-Bike Safety Information, Huntington Beach
Union High School District
»City of Oceanside SRTS e-bike safety
educational video
Park + Walk/ Walking School Bus
Park + Walk programs establish locations near
school where students are dropped off and
walk the rest of the way to school by themselves
(depending on age), with friends or with a
parent or caregiver. These locations can also be
designated as “Walking School Bus” stops, where
students are greeted by school staff, volunteers, or
other trusted adult “drivers” and are walked into
school in a supervised group.
Resource:
»Step by Step: How to Start a Walking School
Bus at Your School, Safe Routes National
Partnership
Please Pull Forward Signage
On-campus, “Please Pull Forward” signage can
remind drivers to use the entire arrival/dismissal
space when unloading and loading their students.
This has the benefit of getting vehicles off the
streets, which reduces traffic congestion and
reduces vehicle and pedestrian conflicts.
Resource:
»Please Pull
Forward Signage
in English
and Spanish
(Appendix E)Please Pull
Forward
Por favor, conduzca hacia adelante
PALM DESERT156SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Safe Routes to School Campaign
Safe Routes to School campaigns are meant
to educate parents, neighbors, and others to
drive slowly and attentively, and watch out
for students walking and biking near schools.
Campaigns may use a range of strategies to share
messaging including yard signs, banners, school
communications, and more.
Resources:
»Safe Routes to School Banner in English and
Spanish (Appendix F)
»Safe Routes to School Safety Campaign
Toolkit, Oregon Metro
School Board Policy
School board policies, like California Board
of Education Board Policy (BP) 5142.2 SRTS
Program, help solidify a school district’s
commitment to promoting active transportation as
a safe and healthy way to get to and from school.
Resource:
»Sample Board Policy Safe Routes to School
Program, California School Board Association
School Champion Toolkit
Resource guide to give parents, caregivers, and
other champions information on how to start or
grow walking and biking programs at their school
sites.
Resources:
»Parent and Community Empowerment Toolkit,
San Mateo County Safe Routes to School
»Volunteer Toolkit, Safe Routes to School
National Partnership
School Communications
Promote safe walking, bicycling, and driving
behavior and encourage families to walk and bike
to school through school communication channels
such as newsletters, social media, websites, and
in-person events. Customized, high-resolution
graphics and messaging ready to share through
electronic platforms or in print.
Resource:
»Safe Travels Education Program (STEP),
Orange County Transportation Authority
»Safe Routes to School Messaging for Pros,
Safe Routes to School National Partnership
Palm Desert Schools Walk & Roll
Las Escuelas de Palm Desert Caminan y Ruedan
VISION ZERO STRATEGY157SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Student Valet
Student volunteers from upper elementary, middle,
and junior high school who complete traffic safety
training and direct children to safely cross vehicle
traffic on and adjacent to campus. Typically,
patrols are appointed by a teacher or principal
with parent approval.
Resource:
»AAA School Safety Patrol
Suggested Routes to School Maps
Customized maps showing suggested walking
(and biking for older students) routes to school
along with key information including crossing
guard locations, signalized or stop-controlled
intersections, approximate route times, key
landmarks, and more.
Resource:
»Suggested Routes to School Maps for Palm
Desert Schools (Appendix G)
Walk to School Day or Bike to
School Day
One-day, one-time, before school walking or
biking event involving all students. Students will
be encouraged to walk or bike to school on a
particular day (chosen by the school) and will
receive incentives for participation. Other events,
such as Cocoa for Carpools, can be incorporated
into Walk and Bike to School Days for older
students.
Resource:
»Walk, Bike, & Roll to School, National Center
for Safe Routes to School
CONEJO CIRCLE
DAOR NOYNAC PEED
FRED WARING DRIVE
KING FISHER CIRCLE
CAMINO ARROYO
ELCRIC ETIRUZA
PRIMROSE DRIVE
ENAL NIDREV
EUNEVA ENIROLF
SANTA ROSA WAY
GARY AVENUE
MERLE DRIVEQUICKSILVER DRIVE
PRE
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PLACE
RUTLEDGE WAY
BUTTONWOOD DRIVE
ELCRIC ADAVEN
SILK TREE LANE
EUNEVA ALOTROP
EUNEVA OLBAP NAS
RANCHO ROAD
LESLIE AVENUE
MASSON STREET
OLLICETNOM OESAP
SANTOLINA DRIVE
MERCURY CIRCLE
DAOR ACCEBER
SUTTERS MILL ROAD
LAVENDER WAY
EUNEVA LAUCSAP NAS
MOSS ROSE DRIVE
VIA PALMIRA
ERIN STREET
ASTER DRIVE
KRUG AVENUE
ZIRCON CIRCLE
COLUMBINE DRIVE
DAOR EIDOB
MARIGOLD DRIVE
CALLE DEL VERANO
GOLETA AVENUE
MAGNESIA FALLS DRIVE
MYRSINE AVENUE
VELARDO DRIVE
DESERT STAR BOULEVARD
AbrahamLincolnElementary
0 0.10.05 Miles
Palm Desert Charter Middle School
Palm Desert Civic Center Park
Magnesia Falls Park
Use caution when walking on Primrose Drive; there is a sidewalk gap and most intersections lack crosswalks.
Use caution when crossing; these are large and busy intersections.
Use caution when walking on Deep Canyon Road; most intersections lack crosswalks and north-south traffic does not have stop signs.
~10 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
0.5 miles from school
~17 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
0.5 miles from school
~10 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
~7 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
0.25 miles from school
~10 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
1 mile from school
0.5 miles from school
1 mile from school
Use caution when walking on Primrose Drive; there is a sidewalk gap and most intersections lack crosswalks.
Use caution when crossing; these are large and busy intersections.
Use caution when walking on Deep Canyon Road; most intersections lack crosswalks and north-south traffic does not have stop signs.
~10 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
0.5 miles from school
~17 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
~10 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
~7 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
0.25 miles from school
~10 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
1 mile from school
0.5 miles from school
1 mile from school
A pedestrian bridge provides access to Civic Center Park.
~20 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
Use caution when crossing; traffic on Rutledge Way does not have stop signs.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Suggested Routes to School Map
MILE0.100.05
Suggested Walk to School Route
Crosswalk
Intersection with Stop Sign
LEGEND
Intersection with Traffic Signal
This map is intended for informational purposes only. The
City of Palm Desert and the Desert Sands Unified School
DIstrict do not guarantee the safety of these routes or
persons utilizing them, and assumes no responsibility or
liability therefore.
engagepalmdesert.com/vision-zero
Suggested Walk to School Route — Use Extreme Caution: Missing Sidewalk
Magnesia Falls DrMagnesia Falls Dr
Por
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Rutledge Way
PALM DESERT158SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Other Recommended
Programs
Bike Lending Library
Bike lending libraries provide bicycles to people
who want to test bicycle travel before purchasing
a bike or do not have the resources to purchase
a quality bike. These libraries offer bike rentals
for longer durations than a single trip, typically
providing a personal bike for weeks or months.
These programs are significantly less expensive to
manage and maintain than a traditional bikeshare
system, which typically requires docking stations
within one-half mile of each other. By centralizing
pick-up and drop-off at a single location hub,
bike libraries also create a captive audience for
education and safety courses and materials to
support SRTS goals.
The bike library should offer a variety of bikes,
such as e-bikes, cargo bikes, and tricycles,
to provide options for people to use during
different trip purposes, abilities, and seasons. To
accommodate riders with the highest need, rental
fees should be subsidized or free based on social
services eligibility or for students. Bike libraries
can be City-operated or managed in partnership
with local bike shops and advocacy groups that
can provide and maintain the bikes. The City can
pursue grant opportunities to fund the bike library
through the Active Transportation Program and
Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) programs
and leverage California Air Resources Board
rebate programs for e-bike purchases to facilitate
a bike-to-own model.
Car-Free Streets Near Schools
Car-free street events promote health and
community connection by creating a safe and
attractive space for physical activity and social
contact. These events temporarily close streets
near a school to motor vehicles, creating a safe
and welcoming environment not only for students
but for people of all ages to engage in walking,
bicycling, dining, dancing, and other activities.
These events are cost-effective compared to
building new parks for the same purpose. The
events have many names: Ciclovías (originating
in South America), Open Streets, Summer Streets,
Sunday Streets, and Sunday Parkways. Car-free
events have been very successful internationally
and are rapidly becoming popular throughout
California and the US. Events can be regularly
scheduled or one-time occasions.
The perception of temporary road closures
and parking loss can cause initial opposition
from local residents and businesses. To mitigate
these concerns, a small-scale, pilot event is
recommended where a block or two is restricted
from car traffic. Following a successful pilot, the
event’s scope can expand as people experience
car-free streets and become more receptive to
larger events.
Resource:
»Open Streets Project, The Movement for Open
Streets
VISION ZERO STRATEGY159SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Group Walking and Biking Events
Similar to Walking School Buses, group walking
events can encourage students to walk more
regularly in a supportive setting. The City might
consider partnering with Palm Desert schools and
the DSUSD to facilitate these walking events. Each
walk is led by volunteer safety professionals who
instruct students on proper walking techniques
and the benefits of walking to school. These
discussions can inspire students to adopt healthier
habits in their daily lives. Beyond the physical
benefits, group walking events foster community
connection, allowing students to learn from one
another and celebrate their diverse backgrounds.
Similarly, group bicycle rides offer older students
the opportunity to practice biking and build
confidence, guided by City or DSUSD staff. The
City may consider partnering with local biking
nonprofit organizations, such as the Desert
Bicycle Club, to lead bicycle-related events and
educational programs. Additionally, the City could
collaborate with local bike rental shops to offer
free bike or e-bike experiences for participants
who do not own a bicycle. Before rides begin,
facilitators can also provide education so that
every participant has basic knowledge about the
rules of the road, bicyclist laws and rights, and
bike safety.
Transit Outings and Ambassadors
Transit outings offer older students the opportunity
to practice taking transit, walk safely and
comfortably, and gain confidence, guided by
City staff or the DSUSD. These outings may be
particularly valuable for DSUSD students in
grades 9 through 12 who are not eligible for
school bus service and who may lack reliable
transportation between home and school.
Additionally, the SunLine Transit Ambassador
Program (TAP) offers comprehensive training
sessions that address crucial topics and everyday
scenarios in public transportation service. Transit
Ambassadors, who have completed this program,
can assist passengers with their trip planning and
provide support until passengers feel confident
in navigating the SunLine system independently.
The City could consider partnering with SunLine
Transit Agency to leverage the TAP, encouraging
older students to use transit regularly, fostering
independence and increasing transit use within the
community. Students who participate in TAP could
also serve as advocates at schools, encouraging
fellow students to consider active transportation
modes. Furthermore, the TAP could facilitate the
formation of travel buddy relationships, enhancing
social connections while providing “safety in
numbers.”
Pairing these outings with seasonal activities,
such as outdoor concerts, or key destinations
like schools, parks, and libraries, could further
encourage participation and make the experience
more enjoyable and meaningful.
Resource:
»Travel Training Program, SunLine Transit
Agency
PALM DESERT160SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
VISION ZERO STRATEGY161SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Implementing
Safe Routes
to School in
Palm Desert
06.
Funding for SRTS programs and projects may come from a variety of sources
including matching grants, sales tax or other taxes, bond measures, or public/
private partnerships. This section identifies sources of funding for design,
implementation, and maintenance of SRTS projects. The descriptions are
intended to provide an overview of available options and do not represent
a comprehensive list. It should be noted that this section reflects the funding
available at the time of writing. The funding amounts, fund cycles, and even the
programs themselves are susceptible to change without notice. As funding and
grant opportunities become available in the future, the City of Palm Desert will
prioritize the implementation of recommendations in this plan, utilizing these
resources to support the continued development and enhancement of SRTS
programs and projects.
FUNDING
Active Transportation
Infrastructure Investment
Program (ATIIP)
ATIIP is a federal initiative designed to enhance
infrastructure for bicyclists and pedestrians.
Administered by the Federal Highway
Administration, the program provides funding
to state and local governments for projects that
improve facilities for non-motorized users. These
projects may include constructing or upgrading
bike lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, and other
amenities that support walking and cycling.
Better Utilizing Investments
to Leverage Development
Grant Program (BUILD)
The BUILD Grant Program enables the Department
of Transportation to invest in road, rail, transit,
and port projects that have a significant local
or regional impact. Eligible projects include
recreational trails, road diets, separated bike
lanes, shared use paths, sidewalks, signal
improvements, signed pedestrian or bicycle routes,
traffic calming, trailside and trailhead facilities,
bicycle parking, racks, repair stations, storage,
and bike share programs.
VISION ZERO STRATEGY163SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Caltrans Active
Transportation Program
(ATP)
The ATP consolidated existing federal programs
including Bicycle Transportation Account, the Safe
Routes to Schools Program, and the Recreational
Trails Program, into a single program. The purpose
of this grant is to fund active transportation
projects. Eligible pedestrian and Safe Routes to
School projects include infrastructure projects
(planning, design, and construction), education,
encouragement, and planning activities. The
California Transportation Commission writes
guidelines and allocates funds for the ATP, while
the ATP will be administered by the Caltrans
Division of Local Assistance.
Caltrans Highway Safety
Improvement Program
(HSIP)
HSIP is a data-driven funding program, and
eligible projects must be identified through
analysis of crash experience, crash potential,
crash rate, or other similar metrics. Infrastructure
and non-infrastructure projects are eligible
for HSIP funds. Bicycle and pedestrian safety
improvements, enforcement activities, traffic
calming projects, and crossing treatments for
active transportation users in school zones are
examples of eligible projects. All HSIP projects
must be consistent with the state’s Strategic
Highway Safety Plan. In California, HSIP is
administered by Caltrans.
Caltrans Transportation
Development Act (TDA)
TDA provides funding from State Transit Assistance
and Local Transportation Fund. This program funds
a variety of transportation programs including
those for pedestrians, bicyclists, and people
accessing transit facilities. The amount of funding is
based on sales tax collected in each county. This
fund is administered by Caltrans.
City of Palm Desert
Measure G
Approved in 2024, Measure G is a 1% sales tax
that funds general city services. These funds may
be used to construct public infrastructure, including
new bicycle and pedestrian facilities. Measure
G also provides funding for the maintenance of
streets, community centers, parks, trails, and other
facilities used by students and families.
Congestion Mitigation and
Air Quality Improvement
Program (CMAQ)
CMAQ is a federal initiative that provides funding
to state and local governments for transportation
projects aimed at reducing congestion and
improving air quality in areas that do not meet
the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for
ozone, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter.
Eligible projects include the development of public
transportation systems, implementation of traffic
flow improvements, and promotion of alternative
transportation modes such as biking and walking.
PALM DESERT164SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Riverside County
Transportation Commission
Measure A
First approved in 1988, Measure A is a half-cent
sales tax that funds transportation improvements
through 2039. Funds go back to each of the
three geographic areas within Riverside County:
Coachella Valley, Western Riverside County, and
Palo Verde Valley, in proportion to the sales taxes
they contribute. In Coachella Valley, 50% of funds
go to highway and regional arterials, 35% to
local streets and roads, and 15% to public transit.
Safe Streets and Roads for
All Grant Program (SS4A)
Established through the Infrastructure Investment
and Jobs Act, SS4A will provide $5 billion in
funding from 2022 to 2026 to support local,
regional, and tribal initiatives aimed at reducing
roadway deaths and serious injuries. SS4A
offers grants for planning, demonstration,
and implementation projects, with a focus on
pedestrian, bicyclist, and transit safety.
Southern California
Association of Governments
(SCAG) – Sustainable
Communities Program (SCP)
SCP funds projects that support active
transportation and the development of
sustainable, equitable, and economically vibrant
communities across the state. Through this
program, SCAG offers financial resources to local
and regional planning agencies to implement
projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions,
enhance transportation systems, and promote
environmental justice. This funding opportunity can
help improve pedestrian infrastructure for students
by supporting projects that make walking safer
and more accessible.
Surface Transportation Block
Grant Program (STBG)
STBG provides states with flexible funds that may
be used for a variety of highway, road, bridge,
and transit projects. Bicycle and pedestrian
improvements are eligible, including trails,
sidewalks, bike lanes, crosswalks, pedestrian
signals, and other ancillary facilities. The grant-
funded pedestrian and bicycle facilities may be
located on local roads that are not part of the
Federal-aid Highway System. Funds are funneled
through Caltrans to Metropolitan Planning
Organizations to administer the grant.
VISION ZERO STRATEGY165SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Appendices
Complete Existing Conditions Report
Complete High-Injury Network Analysis
Complete Outreach and Engagement Report
Crossing Guard Promotional Social Media Posts in English and Spanish
Please Pull Forward Signage in English and Spanish
Safe Routes to School Banner in English and Spanish
Suggested Routes to School Maps for Palm Desert Schools
Sample Student Tally Survey
Sample Parent/Caregiver Survey
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LIST OF APPENDICES
VISION ZERO STRATEGYSAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Complete
Existing
Conditions
Report
A.
Complete Palm Desert Safe Routes to School Existing Conditions Report
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Table of Contents
Complete Palm Desert Safe Routes to School Existing Conditions Report .........................................................1
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................3
Safe Routes to School .....................................................................................................................................4
Background ............................................................................................................................................................ 4
Plans, Policies, and Programs Review .................................................................................................................... 6
Equity Profile .......................................................................................................................................................... 8
Free and Reduced Price Meals ........................................................................................................................... 8
Low-Income Communities ............................................................................................................................... 10
USDOT ETC Disadvantaged Communities ........................................................................................................ 12
Land Uses ............................................................................................................................................................. 14
Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities .......................................................................................................................... 16
Transit Facilities ................................................................................................................................................ 31
Vehicle Volumes and Speeds ........................................................................................................................... 34
Traffic Counts ....................................................................................................................................................... 36
Traffic Counts Summary ................................................................................................................................... 38
Collision Analysis .................................................................................................................................................. 41
Citywide Collisions ............................................................................................................................................ 41
School Area Collisions ...................................................................................................................................... 45
List of Figures
Figure 1.Palm Desert SRTS Project Schools Locations ............................................................................................... 5
Figure 2. K-12 Free or Reduced-Price Meals Eligibility in Palm Desert (2022-2023) ................................................. 9
Figure 3. Schools in Low-Income Communities ....................................................................................................... 11
Figure 4. Citywide Land Uses.................................................................................................................................... 15
Figure 5. Chicory Street, north of George Washington Charter School ................................................................... 16
Figure 6. Traffic Stress Levels and Corresponding Facility Types ............................................................................. 17
Figure 7. Bike rack and Class IIB Buffered Bike Lanes on San Pablo Avenue ........................................................... 18
Figure 8. Fred Waring Drive, north of Gerald R. Ford Elementary School ............................................................... 19
Figure 9. Bikeways and Gaps .................................................................................................................................... 22
Figure 10. Bicycle and Pedestrian Gaps near Abraham Lincoln Elementary and Palm Desert Charter Middle ...... 24
Figure 11. Bicycle and Pedestrian Gaps near Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle School .............................................. 25
Figure 12. Bicycle and Pedestrian Gaps near George Washington Charter School ................................................. 26
Figure 13. Bicycle and Pedestrian Gaps near Gerald R. Ford Elementary School .................................................... 27
Figure 14. Bicycle and Pedestrian Gaps near James Earl Carter Elementary School ............................................... 28
Figure 15. Bicycle and Pedestrian Gaps near Palm Desert High School .................................................................. 29
Figure 16. Bicycle and Pedestrian Gaps near Ronald Reagan Elementary School ................................................... 30
Figure 17: Bus Stop at the Intersection of Deep Canyon Road and Highway 111 Featuring High Quality Facilities31
Figure 18: Bus Stop along Fred Waring Drive with Limited Facilities for Riders ...................................................... 32
Figure 19. Transit Routes and Stops ......................................................................................................................... 33
Figure 20. Annual Average Daily Traffic Volumes .................................................................................................... 35
Figure 21. Traffic Count Locations............................................................................................................................ 37
Figure 22. Collision by Mode – All Collisions in Palm Desert (2013-2022) .............................................................. 41
Figure 23. Collision by Year and Mode – All Collisions in Palm Desert (2013-2022) ............................................... 42
Figure 24.Collision by Year and Mode – Killed or Severely Injury (KSI) in Palm Desert (2013-2022) ...................... 42
Figure 25. Bicycle and Pedestrian Collisions (2013-2022) ....................................................................................... 44
Figure 26. Collisions within a Half-Mile Radius of the Project Schools (2013-2022) ............................................... 46
Figure 27. Collisions Involving School-age Children by Severity Level, Compared to All Ages – All Collisions (2013-
2022)......................................................................................................................................................................... 47
List of Tables
Table 1. Palm Desert SRTS Project Schools Details .................................................................................................... 4
Table 2. Plans Reviewed by Jurisdiction ..................................................................................................................... 6
Table 3. K-12 Free or Reduced-Price Meals Data (2022-2023) .................................................................................. 8
Table 4. Total Mileage by Bikeway Class .................................................................................................................. 18
Table 5. Existing and Previously Proposed Bikeways by Class ................................................................................. 20
Table 6. Proposed Shared Sidewalks in Palm Desert ............................................................................................... 21
Table 7. Traffic Count Locations by School .............................................................................................................. 38
Table 8. School Areas Intersection Counts, Pedestrians and Bicycles ..................................................................... 39
Table 9. School Areas Intersection Counts, Vehicles ............................................................................................... 40
Table 10. KSI Collision Data Highlights ..................................................................................................................... 42
Table 11. School Influence Areas Collision Data Highlights – All Collisions ............................................................. 47
Table 12. Top Intersections with the Highest Bicycle and Pedestrian Collisions in School Influence Areas and
Corresponding Schools ............................................................................................................................................. 48
Introduction
The Palm Desert Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Plan seek to identify barriers to safe walking and bicycling on
routes frequented by Palm Desert’s K-12 public school students and to develop solutions in consultation with
the community, public sector partners, and city leadership. The Plans will reflect the unique challenges and
opportunities in Palm Desert and address active transportation network gaps that negatively impact access to
neighborhood schools, parks, hospitals, retail centers, and other destinations.
The purpose of this Existing Conditions Memo is to identify existing demographics, infrastructure, and commute
trends as well as review existing City and regional plans related to active transportation in Palm Desert. Using
this existing data, analyses were completed to find gaps in the existing active transportation network. This
information identifies opportunities for active transportation improvements to enhance the safety and comfort
of people walking, biking, and rolling. The findings from this memo will be included in separate existing
conditions chapters in the draft Safe Routes to School Plan and will directly inform infrastructure and
programmatic recommendations.
Safe Routes to School
Background
There are eight schools included in the Palm Desert SRTS Plan including five elementary schools, two middle
schools, and one high school (Figure 1). All schools are part of the Desert Sands Unified School District. Two
schools are located just outside Palm Desert city limits, one in the City of La Quinta and one in the City of Indian
Wells. Table 1 presents a list of the schools by their city, grade level, and bell schedules.
Table 1. Palm Desert SRTS Project Schools Details
School Name City Level Start End
Abraham Lincoln
Elementary School
Palm Desert Elementary 7:55 AM 2:00 PM
George Washington
Charter School
Palm Desert Elementary 8:10 AM 3:00 PM
James Earl Carter
Elementary School
Palm Desert Elementary 8:45 AM 3:15 PM
Palm Desert Charter
Middle School
Palm Desert Middle 8:10 AM 2:36 PM
Palm Desert High School Palm Desert High 8:30 AM 3:35 PM
Ronald Reagan Elementary
School
Palm Desert Elementary 8:00 AM 2:30 PM
Gerald R. Ford Elementary
School
Indian Wells Elementary 9:00 AM 3:27 PM
Colonel Mitchell Paige
Middle School
La Quinta Middle 8:30 AM 3:01 PM
Figure 1.Palm Desert SRTS Project Schools Locations
Plans, Policies, and Programs Review
This project builds on numerous local and regional plans, policies, and standards that impact active
transportation in Palm Desert. These planning documents and studies were reviewed to gain a better
understanding of existing conditions in the City, as well as proposed and planned facilities for biking and walking.
The plans and studies reviewed, and a summary of their contents, are listed in Table 2.
Table 2. Plans Reviewed by Jurisdiction
Plan Name Summary Municipality Year Adopted
Connect SoCal 2024 The long-term plan for Southern California that
details the necessary investments in
transportation and development until 2050. The
plan does not make any specific
recommendations, but rather focuses on long
term goals and systemic changes to address
mobility issues throughout the region.
SCAG 2024
Transforming Haystack Road:
Traffic Calming and Safety Study
A study on a 1.3 mile segment of Haystack Road
to improve road user safety. This project is
currently implementing active transportation
improvements outlined for this segment in the
General Plan and Local Roadway Safety Plan.
Palm Desert 2024
Walk and Roll Program The implementation plan for the ideas laid out in
the Palm Desert General Plan to create a more
complete network of active transportation
infrastructure. The plan is broken into three
phases. Plan implementation is currently
underway.
Palm Desert 2024
District 8 Active Transportation
Plan
A plan that identifies the pedestrian and bicycle
needs across the State Highway System. This
plan puts forth regional improvements in the
Coachella Valley, but nothing specific to Palm
Desert.
CalTrans 2022
Local Roadway Safety Plan The City of Palm Desert’s plan to identify key
areas using crash data to inform and evaluate
the safety of the City’s transportation network.
The plan puts forth a toolbox of safety measures
that should be implemented throughout the City.
Palm Desert 2021
Riverside County Transportation
Commission Long Range
Transportation Study
A Long Range Transportation Plan to address
transportation in Riverside County and allocate
Measure A tax dollars. The plan proposes
funding to rail improvements, a county wide Safe
Route to School program, and infrastructure
changes to support active transportation.
Riverside
County
2019
CV Link Master Plan The envisioned 40-mile, valley wide pathway for
pedestrians, cyclists, and low-speed electric
vehicles through the Coachella Valley. There are
almost 5 miles of segments through Palm Desert.
CVAG 2016
Plan Name Summary Municipality Year Adopted
Palm Desert General Plan This plan builds upon the vision of the Envision
Palm Desert Strategic Plan to create guiding
development principles for the City of Palm
Desert. The General Plan proposes specific active
transportation infrastructure projects within
Palm Desert that are being implemented through
the Walk and Roll Program.
Palm Desert 2016
Envision Palm Desert Strategic
Plan
A collaborative plan between the City and
residents to create a community vision and
action steps. It resulted in nine Strategic Results
Areas to address within the City. The plan
defines guiding principles and priorities for more
specific development items in subsequent plans.
Palm Desert 2014
Coachella Valley Association of
Governments Active
Transportation Plan
The Active Transportation Plan updates the Non-
Motorized Transportation Plan for regional
bikeways through Coachella Valley. This plan
proposes large regional bikeway routes along
state highways, connecting to the CV Link, and
the stormwater channels.
CVAG 2010
Coachella Valley Association of
Governments Transportation
Project Prioritization Study
This study prioritizes funding for transportation
improvements including bicyclist and pedestrian
facilities using roadway surface conditions, level
of service, crash rates and other criteria that
advance regional goals
CVAG 2010
Equity Profile
The following presents an equity profile using Free and Reduced Price Meals eligibility and Assembly Bill (AB)
1550 Low-Income Community status. The former measure was selected as a means of identifying schools with a
greater proportion of low-income households, which are often correlated with higher rates of poverty and
greater barriers to transportation. The latter measure was selected as a complementary datapoint to identify
which census tracts have the lowest income levels when compared to statewide averages.
Free and Reduced Price Meals
The National School Lunch Program is a federally funded program that assists schools in providing nutritious
lunches to students at reasonable prices. The program must be open to all enrolled students and free or
reduced-price meals must be provided to those children who qualify for such benefits according to specified
family size and income standards. Table 3 and Figure 2 show the Palm Desert SRTS schools and their percentage
of students eligible for free and free or reduced-price meals during the 2022-2023 school year.
Table 3. K-12 Free or Reduced-Price Meals Data (2022-2023)
School Name Enrollment Percent (%) Eligible Free Percent (%) Eligible Free
or Reduced-Price Meal
Abraham Lincoln Elementary School 585 68.7% 79.5%
Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle School 436 63.1% 74.3%
George Washington Charter School 755 35.2% 49.0%
Gerald R. Ford Elementary School 603 46.3% 58.7%
James Earl Carter Elementary School 516 41.7% 53.1%
Palm Desert Charter Middle School 1,347 45.6% 60.3%
Palm Desert High School 2,050 42.1% 57.3%
Ronald Reagan Elementary School 834 40.9% 53.2%
Figure 2. K-12 Free or Reduced-Price Meals Eligibility in Palm Desert (2022-2023)
Low-Income Communities
Identified by Assembly Bill (AB) 1550, Low-Income Communities (Figure 3) are defined by the State of California
as the census tracts that are either at or below 80 percent of the statewide median income or state-designated
threshold. In Palm Desert, George Washington Charter School is located within a Low-Income Community.
Additionally, there are multiple schools that are located just outside a Low-Income community, with some
students likely living within Low-Income Communities. These schools include Abraham Lincoln Elementary
School, Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle School, Gerald R. Ford Elementary School, and Palm Desert Charter
Middle School. Providing more opportunities for safer walking and biking in Palm Desert can contribute to
reducing transportation-related cost for low-income households.
Figure 3. Schools in Low-Income Communities
USDOT ETC Disadvantaged Communities
The US DOT Equitable Transportation Community (ETC) uses 2020 census tracts and data (Figure), to explore the
cumulative burden communities experience, as a result of underinvestment in transportation, in the following
five components: Transportation Insecurity, Climate and Disaster Risk Burden, Environmental Burden, Health
Vulnerability, and Social Vulnerability. Specifically, the Transportation Insecurity component was double
weighted to help ensure the benefits of DOT’s investments are addressing the transportation related causes of
disadvantage. The USDOT ETC uses percentile ranking to determine each census tracts component score against
all other census tracts, with 0 percentile representing the lowest disadvantaged and 100th percentile
representing the most disadvantaged. A 65th percentile (65%) cutoff was chosen to determine disadvantaged
communities under the USDOT ETC framework.
In Palm Desert, George Washington Charter School and James Earl Carter Elementary School are located within a
USDOT ETC Disadvantaged Community. Gerald R. Ford Elementary School in Indian Wells is also located within a
Disadvantaged Community. Additionally, all the other schools are located just outside a Disadvantaged
Community, with some students likely living within Disadvantaged Communities. In these Disadvantaged
Communities in Palm Desert, the average walk time to primary schools is 32 minutes, the average drive time is 5
minutes, and the annual cost of transportation averages $10,655, which constitutes about 15% of household
income. Providing more opportunities for safer walking and biking in Palm Desert can contribute to reducing
transportation-related cost for low-income households.
Land Uses
Existing land use surrounding schools in Palm Desert is primarily residential (Figure 4). Most of the residential
areas around schools are single family detached homes with some multi-family parcels. George Washington
Charter School is surrounded by residential land uses but is located two blocks away from the main commercial
corridor of Palm Desert, El Paseo. Additionally, some schools are located next to open space which could provide
alternative transportation and recreational opportunities for students. For example, Ronald Reagan Elementary
School is bordered by Palm Desert Freedom Park to the north.
Figure 4. Citywide Land Uses
Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities
The sidewalk network throughout Palm Desert is relatively well-connected, especially on major arterials and
collector streets. However, many residential streets lack sidewalks and other pedestrian infrastructure like
marked crossings. In school areas, many streets have existing sidewalks leading to the school. However, some
schools lack adequate pedestrian facilities. To improve walking conditions to and from schools, missing
sidewalks could be added along key segments, existing sidewalks could be widened, crosswalks could be
upgraded to be higher visibility, and flashing beacons could be added to crosswalks without stop signs or traffic
signals. Portola Avenue, Hovley Lane, Fred Waring Drive, Washington Street, and Country Club Road are all
major arterials on which project schools are located. Because of high traffic volumes and speeds, these streets
can serve as deterrents to students who may potentially walk to school. Traffic calming elements like raised
crosswalks or speed humps would increase pedestrian safety and comfort in these school areas. The addition of
crossing guards would further increase biking and walking conditions in school areas.
Figure 5. Chicory Street, north of George Washington Charter School
As shown in the graphic below, bicycle facility types are broken down by class types that range from I to IV.
Classes are typically color coded by level of traffic stress (LTS) with LTS 1 being most comfortable and LTS 4 being
least comfortable for cyclists with limited confidence and children.
Figure 6. Traffic Stress Levels and Corresponding Facility Types
Despite high posted speed limits and multiple lanes of traffic, the existing local bicycle network in Palm Desert
consists primarily of Class II bike lanes and Class IIB buffered bike lanes on the city’s major arterials and Class III
bikeways on lower volume roads. There is a Class IV separated bikeway on San Pablo Avenue between Magnesia
Falls Drive and Fred Waring Drive, which then changes to buffered bike lanes between Fred Waring Drive and
Highway 111. Regionally, the CV Link bicycle trail provides bicycle connections through the Coachella Valley. In
Palm Desert, the CV Link is primarily comprised of high-quality Class IV facilities that run in an east-west
direction connecting the Bump and Grind Trail, College of the Desert, Civic Center Park, Abraham Lincoln
Elementary School, Palm Desert Charter Middle School, Palm Desert High School and adjacent residential areas.
There was an existing ½ mile Class I facility between Magnesia Falls Drive and Cook Street that has since been
integrated into the CV Link network. The following table shows the total mileage of each bikeway class in Palm
Desert.
Table 4. Total Mileage by Bikeway Class
Bikeway Class Mileage Total
Class I 0.5
Class II 48.61
Class IIB 0.52
Class III 17.55
Class IV 4.96
Total 72.14
End-of-trip bike facilities, such as bike racks, are mostly concentrated along El Paseo, San Pablo Avenue, and
Highway 111, where many of the local commercial destinations are concentrated. As part of Safe Routes to
Schools efforts, schools can consider adding visible and easily accessible bike racks to encourage students to
bike to school.
Figure 7. Bike rack and Class IIB Buffered Bike Lanes on San Pablo Avenue
Significant gaps in the bicycle network include a north-south connection on Monterey Avenue between
Magnesia Falls Drive and Country Club Drive, as well as an east-west facility continuation on Hovley Lane
between Cook Street and Portola Avenue. Closing the gap in facilities on Portola Avenue between the CV Link
and Shadow Mountain Drive would provide increased connectivity through downtown Palm Desert. As seen in
the Collision Analysis (page 41), many collisions involving people walking and biking occurred along major
arterials, including Highway 111, Fred Waring Drive, Cook Street and Country Club Drive. Providing crossings that
prioritize people walking and biking, especially Highway 111, will make the whole active transportation network
safer.
Figure 8. Fred Waring Drive, north of Gerald R. Ford Elementary School
The City of Palm Desert has several bicycle facilities proposed in its General Plan. Existing and proposed bike
facilities in Palm Desert are listed in Table 5, and mapped in Figure 9.
Table 5. Existing and Previously Proposed Bikeways by Class
Class Street Start Street End Street Status
Class I CV Link (off-street) Deep Canyon Road Cook Street Existing
Class II Country Club Drive Monterey Avenue Washington Street Existing
Class II Hovley Lane Monterey Avenue Portola Avenue Existing
Class II Gerald Ford Drive Monterey Avenue Frank Sinatra Drive Existing
Class II Frank Sinatra Drive Monterey Avenue 42nd Avenue Existing
Class II Portola Avenue Dinah Shore Drive Magnesia Falls Drive Existing
Class II Monterey Avenue Gerald Ford Drive Country Club Drive Existing
Class II Dick Kelly Drive Monterey Avenue Dinah Shore Drive Existing
Class II Dinah Shore Drive City Limit College Drive Existing
Class II Cook Street I-10 Fred Waring Drive Existing
Class II Eldorado Drive Frank Sinatra Drive 42nd Avenue Existing
Class II 42nd Avenue Cook Street Washington Street Existing
Class II College Drive Portola Avenue Frank Sinatra Drive Existing
Class II University Park College Drive Cook Street Existing
Class II A Street Monterey Avenue Gateway Drive Existing
Class II Gateway Drive Dinah Shore Drive Gerald Ford Drive Existing
Class II Dolce Avenue/Cortesia Way Gateway Drive Dick Kelly Drive Existing
Class II Highway 74 El Paseo S City Limit Existing
Class II Highway 111 W City Limit E City Limit Existing
Class II Painters Path Edgehill Drive El Paseo Existing
Class IIB San Pablo Avenue Highway 111 San Gorgonio Way Existing
Class II Fred Waring Drive San Pascual Avenue Deep Canyon Road Existing
Class II Fred Waring Drive Monterey Avenue San Pablo Avenue Existing
Class II Deep Canyon Road Magnesia Falls Drive Highway 111 Existing
Class II Portola Avenue Mesa View Drive Shadow Mountain Drive Existing
Class II Mesa View Drive Highway 74 Portola Avenue Existing
Class III California Drive Fred Waring Drive Warner Trail Existing
Class III Warner Trail Fred Waring Drive 42nd Avenue Existing
Class III Florida Avenue California Drive Fred Waring Drive Existing
Class III Idaho Street 42nd Avenue Michigan Drive Existing
Class III Avenue of the States Washington Street California Drive Existing
Class III El Paseo Fred Waring Drive De Anza Way Existing
Class III San Gorgonio Way Monterey Avenue Highway 111 Existing
Class III San Luis Rey Avenue Ironwoods Street De Anza Way Existing
Class III Fairway Drive Portola Avenue E City Limit Existing
Class III Deep Canyon Road Abronia Trail Old Prospector Trail Existing
Class III Grapevine Street Highway 74 E City Limit Existing
Class III Shadow Mountain Drive Highway 74 Portola Avenue Existing
Class III Ocotillo Drive Grapevine Street El Paseo Existing
Class III Joshua Tree Street Grapevine Street San Luis Rey Avenue Existing
Class Street Start Street End Street Status
Class III San Pablo Avenue Shadow Mountain Drive Highway 111 Existing
Class III Edgehill Drive Painters Path Tierra del Oro Existing
Class III Calle De Los Campesinos Along River Along River Existing
Class IV CV Link (Painters Path/Magnesia
Falls Drive)
Bump and Grind Trailhead Deep Canyon Road Existing
Class IV San Pablo Avenue Fred Waring Drive Magnesia Falls Drive Existing
Class II Monterey Avenue Gerald Ford Drive Country Club Drive Proposed in
General Plan
Class II Fred Waring Drive Washington Street California Avenue Proposed in
General Plan
Class II Fred Waring Drive Cook Street City Limit near Kelsey Circle Proposed in
General Plan
Class II De Anza Way Monterey Avenue Alessandro Drive Proposed in
General Plan
Class II Shadow Mountain Drive Frontage Road Portola Avenue Proposed in
General Plan
The City of Palm Desert also has an existing sidewalk network throughout the city, as observed by the planning
team during walk audits and site visits. However, due to the lack of reliable data on the current condition and
extent of the citywide sidewalk network, a full analysis on existing conditions and gaps is not currently possible.
The City does have a network of proposed shared sidewalk paths in the General Plan that are listed in the
following table. These sidewalks are meant to accommodate both pedestrians and cyclists and are typically
located along high-speed arterials.
Table 6. Proposed Shared Sidewalks in Palm Desert
Class Street Start Street End Street Status
Shared
Sidewalk
Washington Street Hovley Lane Woodhaven Country Club Proposed in
General Plan
Shared
Sidewalk
Hovley Lane Cook Street Portola Avenue Proposed in
General Plan
Shared
Sidewalk
Fred Waring Drive Cook Street Deep Canyon Road Proposed in
General Plan
Shared
Sidewalk
Fred Waring Drive San Pascual Avenue San Pablo Avenue Proposed in
General Plan
Shared
Sidewalk
Fred Waring Drive Monterey Avenue Highway 111 Proposed in
General Plan
Shared
Sidewalk
Portola Avenue Shadow Mountain Drive Magnesia Falls Drive Proposed in
General Plan
Figure 9. Bikeways and Gaps
The following paragraphs provide details of existing bikeways facilities near each project school (Figure 10 to
Figure 16):
Abraham Lincoln Elementary and Palm Desert Charter Middle
Each school can access the Class IV CV Link on their northern edge along Magnesia Falls Drive. There are existing
Class II facilities along Deep Canyon Road and Fred Waring Drive, however, these facilities may not provide
enough physical protection given the size of the arterials. There are potential neighborhood greenway
connections through Portola Avenue and Rutledge Way to access the southern sides of the school.
Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle School
Colonel Paige Middle School does not have any existing bicycle connections in Palm Desert city limits. There are
Class II lanes on Fred Waring Drive east of Washington Street and on Palm Royale Drive in the City of La Quinta.
George Washington Charter School
George Washington Charter School has existing Class II facilities on Portola Avenue, however, due to the size
and speed of this arterial more protection may be needed. There are Class III neighborhood connections along
Fairway Drive, Deep Canyon Road, and Shadow Mountain Drive. Due to its proximity to the downtown area of El
Paseo, this school would greatly benefit from high quality protected bike lanes.
Gerald R. Ford Elementary School
Gerald R. Ford Elementary School generally lacks bicycle connections. Warner Trail is relatively well-used by
bicyclists but lacks bicycle facilities and signage. Fred Waring Drive, a busy thoroughfare just north of the school,
has postage signage forbidding bicycles on the street and sidewalk.
James Earl Carter Elementary School
James Carter Elementary School has existing Class II facilities on Portola Avenue, however, due to the size and
speed of this arterial more protection may be needed. There are also no facilities on Hovley Lane along the
north side of the school.
Palm Desert High School
Palm Desert High School is well connected to existing bicycle facilities. The CV Link Class I path runs along the
north side of the school. Additionally, Cook Street and Deep Canyon Road have Class II facilities. There are no
bike connections along Fred Waring Drive or through the neighborhood to the south side of the school.
Ronald Reagan Elementary School
Ronald Reagan Elementary has Class II bike facilities along Country Club Drive and Oasis Club Road. Country Club
Drive is a large, high-speed arterial that could potentially warrant a road diet, traffic calming, and added
protection for the existing bike lane. There are also potential connections through the neighborhood along
Resorter Boulevard, provided there is a safe crossing at the Country Club Drive intersection.
Figure 10. Bicycle and Pedestrian Gaps near Abraham Lincoln Elementary and Palm Desert Charter Middle
Figure 11. Bicycle and Pedestrian Gaps near Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle School
Figure 12. Bicycle and Pedestrian Gaps near George Washington Charter School
Figure 13. Bicycle and Pedestrian Gaps near Gerald R. Ford Elementary School
Figure 14. Bicycle and Pedestrian Gaps near James Earl Carter Elementary School
Figure 15. Bicycle and Pedestrian Gaps near Palm Desert High School
Figure 16. Bicycle and Pedestrian Gaps near Ronald Reagan Elementary School
Transit Facilities
The City of Palm Desert is served by SunLine Transit Agency and has two major fixed-route bus (SunBus)
corridors: Cook Street running north to south, and Fred Waring Drive running from east to west (Figure 19).
There is additional SunBus service on Monterey Avenue as far north as Country Club Drive, and along Highway
111 from Monterey Avenue to the eastern city limits. All buses in the SunBus system are equipped with a bike
rack on the front of the bus to allow for transit integration between the bus and bike networks. Some but not all
bus stops in the SunLine system are equipped with bus shelters, benches, signage, and bike racks.
Figure 17: Bus Stop at the Intersection of Deep Canyon Road and Highway 111 Featuring High Quality Facilities
Figure 18: Bus Stop along Fred Waring Drive with Limited Facilities for Riders
Only three schools in Palm Desert are located near SunBus stops: Palm Desert High School, Gerald Ford
Elementary School, and Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle School. School buses in Palm Desert are provided by
Desert Sands Unified School District based on students’ reasonable distances from schools. Kindergarten
through 2nd grade has a reasonable distance of ¾ mile, 3rd through 5th grade is 1.5 miles, and 6th through 8th
grade is 3 miles. The following schools are serviced by school buses: Carter Elementary, Ford Elementary,
Lincoln Elementary, Reagan Elementary, Washington Charter, Paige Middle, and Palm Desert Charter Middle.
Figure 19. Transit Routes and Stops
Vehicle Volumes and Speeds
Schools in Palm Desert are commonly located along large, high-speed thoroughfares such as Hovley Lane, Cook
Street, Portola Avenue, and Fred Waring Drive, many of which have above 20,000 annual average daily traffic
(AADT). . Palm Desert High School, Palm Desert Charter Middle, and Lincoln Elementary, for example, are
located along arterials with high traffic volumes of approximately 20,000 – 22,000 AADT. Large arterial streets,
such as Fred Waring Drive, have posted speed limits of 45 miles per hour while smaller collector streets, such as
Magnesia Falls Drive, have posted speed limits of 35 miles per hour. Throughout the City there is a 25 miles per
hour speed limit in all school zones during school hours.1
1 The traffic count data was filtered by removing “service” and “unclassified” roads, as well as removing 37 entries that had ‘0’ values.
Figure 20. Annual Average Daily Traffic Volumes
Traffic Counts
Vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic counts were collected in May 2024 during the school drop-off and pick-
up time for 23 study locations. Up to four locations were selected within or just outside a quarter mile of each
school based upon the review of school streets, collision history, school enrollment boundaries, and
observations from walk audits. California School Crossing Guard Training Program and Guidelines by Caltrans
and the Active Transportation Resource Center were also reviewed to select the study locations.
The count information will be used to assess demand that can inform areas for improvement and prioritize
potential projects. Additionally, the count information will also be used to inform the Crossing Guard Analysis.
Figure 21. Traffic Count Locations
Table 7. Traffic Count Locations by School
School Name # Study Locations Count Time (AM) Count Time (PM)
Abraham Lincoln Elementary
School
1 Portola Avenue/Magnesia Falls
Drive
6:55-8:55 AM 1:00-3:00 PM
2 Portola Avenue/Rutledge Way 6:55-8:55 AM 1:00-3:00 PM
3 Park Place/Magnesia Falls Drive 6:55-8:55 AM 1:00-3:00 PM
Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle
School
4 Palm Royale Drive/Crosswalk in
front of school
7:30-9:30 AM 2:01-4:01 PM
5 Washington Street/Fred Waring
Drive
7:30-9:30 AM 2:01-4:01 PM
6 Washington Street/Palm Royale
Drive (Mountain View)
7:30-9:30 AM 2:01-4:01 PM
7 Palm Royale Drive/Fred Waring
Drive
7:30-9:30 AM 2:01-4:01 PM
George Washington Charter School 8 Shadow Mountain Drive/Chicory
Street
7:10-9:10 AM 2:00-4:00 PM
9 Portola Avenue/Shadow
Mountain Drive
7:10-9:10 AM 2:00-4:00 PM
10 Portola Avenue/Fairway Drive 7:10-9:10 AM 2:00-4:00 PM
11 Lantana Avenue/Peppergrass
Street
7:10-9:10 AM 2:00-4:00 PM
Gerald R. Ford Elementary School 12 Warner Trail/Evening Star Circle 8:00-10:00 AM 2:27-4:27 PM
13 Warner Trail/Fred Waring Drive 8:00-10:00 AM 2:27-4:27 PM
14 Warner Trail/Blackfoot Drive 8:00-10:00 AM 2:27-4:27 PM
James Earl Carter Elementary
School
15 Portola Avenue/Hovley Lane 7:45-9:45 AM 1:00-3:00 PM
16 Corporate Way/Hovley Lane 7:45-9:45 AM 1:00-3:00 PM
Palm Desert Charter Middle School 17 Rutledge Way/Magnesia Falls
Drive
7:10-9:10 AM 1:36-3:36 PM
18 Rutledge Way/Myrsine Avenue 7:10-9:10 AM 1:36-3:36 PM
Palm Desert High School 19 Cook Street/Aztec Road 7:30-9:30 AM 2:35-4:35 PM
20 Cook Street/Fred Waring Drive 7:30-9:30 AM 2:35-4:35 PM
21 Phyllis Jackson Lane/Fred
Waring Drive
7:30-9:30 AM 2:35-4:35 PM
Ronald Reagan Elementary School 22 Liberty Drive/Country Club Drive 7:00-9:00 AM 1:30-3:30 PM
23 Tamarisk Row Drive/Country
Club Drive
7:00-9:00 AM 1:30-3:30 PM
Traffic Counts Summary
Pedestrian traffic was highest at Shadow Mountain Drive and Chicory Street (George Washington Charter
School, intersection #8) for both AM and PM peak hours, with 201 total pedestrian crossings in the AM and 284
pedestrian crossings in the PM. Bicycle traffic was highest at Portola Avenue and Magnesia Falls Drive (Abraham
Lincoln Elementary School, intersection #1), with 23 bicycles crossing, and at Portola Avenue and Rutledge Way
(Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, intersection #2), with 18 bicycle crossings, for the AM and PM peak hours,
respectively. For both the AM and PM peak hours, vehicular volumes were highest at Washington Street and
Fred Waring Drive (Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle School, intersection #5), with 9,765 vehicles and 10,607
vehicles, respectively.
Table 8. School Areas Intersection Counts, Pedestrians and Bicycles
Intersection
ID
Street 1 Street 2 Pedestrians Bicycles
AM PM Total AM PM Total
1 Portola Avenue Magnesia Falls
Drive
82 108 190 23 13 36
2 Portola Avenue Rutledge Way 42 50 92 21 18 39
3 Park Place Magnesia Falls
Drive
14 42 56 9 6 15
4 Palm Royale
Drive
Crosswalk in front
of school
29 93 122 0 0 0
5 Washington
Street
Fred Waring Drive 3 2 5 3 0 3
6 Washington
Street
Palm Royale Drive 17 12 29 14 10 24
7 Palm Royale
Drive
Fred Waring Drive 1 1 2 1 1 2
8 Shadow
Mountain Drive
Chicory Street 201 284 485 2 0 2
9 Portola Avenue Shadow Mountain
Drive
20 14 34 17 13 30
10 Portola Avenue Fairway Drive 12 1 13 11 2 13
11 Lantana Avenue Peppergrass
Street
22 139 161 2 1 3
12 Warner Trail Evening Star Circle 6 25 31 8 3 11
13 Warner Trail Fred Waring Drive 11 8 19 8 4 12
14 Warner Trail Blackfoot Drive 3 5 8 8 1 9
15 Portola Avenue Hovley Lane 18 3 21 14 6 20
16 Corporate Way Hovley lane 6 3 9 5 2 7
17 Rutledge Way Magnesia Falls
Drive
22 47 69 10 5 15
18 Rutledge Way Myrsine Avenue 114 91 205 6 6 12
19 Cook Street Aztec Road 33 66 99 15 12 27
20 Cook Street Fred Waring Drive 18 20 38 7 7 14
21 Phyllis Jackson
Lane
Fred Waring Drive 2 5 7 7 5 12
22 Liberty Drive Country Club
Drive
3 1 4 6 2 8
23 Tamarisk Row
Drive
Country Club
Drive
2 0 2 20 2 22
Table 9. School Areas Intersection Counts, Vehicles
Intersection
ID
Street 1 Street 2 Vehicles
AM PM Total
1 Portola Avenue Magnesia Falls
Drive
3,826 3,849 7,675
2 Portola Avenue Rutledge Way 2,927 3,193 6,120
3 Park Place Magnesia Falls
Drive
1,060 700 1,760
4 Palm Royale
Drive
Crosswalk in front
of school
565 470 1,035
5 Washington
Street
Fred Waring Drive 9,765 10,607 20,372
6 Washington
Street
Palm Royale Drive 5,844 6,505 12,349
7 Palm Royale
Drive
Fred Waring Drive 4,185 4,365 8,550
8 Shadow
Mountain Drive
Chicory Street 217 210 427
9 Portola Avenue Shadow Mountain
Drive
2,152 2,458 4,610
10 Portola Avenue Fairway Drive 1,844 2,199 4,043
11 Lantana Avenue Peppergrass
Street
79 189 268
12 Warner Trail Evening Star Circle 813 790 1,603
13 Warner Trail Fred Waring Drive 5,344 6,431 11,775
14 Warner Trail Blackfoot Drive 584 628 1,212
15 Portola Avenue Hovley Lane 3,271 3,322 6,593
16 Corporate Way Hovley lane 2,149 2,140 4,289
17 Rutledge Way Magnesia Falls
Drive
1,198 859 2,057
18 Rutledge Way Myrsine Avenue 608 429 1,037
19 Cook Street Aztec Road 4,693 5,030 9,723
20 Cook Street Fred Waring Drive 8,667 9,469 18,136
21 Phyllis Jackson
Lane
Fred Waring Drive 6,351 6,862 13,213
22 Liberty Drive Country Club
Drive
3,823 3,794 7,617
23 Tamarisk Row
Drive
Country Club
Drive
3,775 3,919 7,694
Collision Analysis
The analysis of bicycle, pedestrian, and vehicular collisions in Palm Desert uses data from the Statewide
Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) for the period January 2013 to December 2022. The collision data
was downloaded from Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) and was mapped and analyzed using ArcGIS
Pro and Microsoft Excel.
Citywide Collisions
Pedestrian and bicycle-related collisions respectively represent 5.6% (105 collisions) and 6.4% (121 collisions) of
all collisions that occurred in Palm Desert between 2013 and 2022 (Figure 22). Two collisions involved both
people walking and people biking. The number of pedestrian collisions and vehicle collisions have both increased
in recent years (Figure 23), while the number of collisions for people biking has decreased. Similarly, the number
of pedestrian and vehicle-related collisions resulting in a fatality or serious injury (killed or seriously injured (KSI))
trended upward for the 10-year period, as shown in Figure 24. In recent years, there have been no bicycle-
related collisions resulting in a fatality or serious injury. The reasons for this trend are unclear, but it could be
related to changing travel behaviors during the pandemic years. Most pedestrian and bicycle-related collisions
occurred during peak commute hours (38 or 17% at 7AM-10AM, and 52 or 23% at 4PM-7PM), and the majority
of KSI collisions involving people biking and walking occurred during low-light conditions such as dusk, dawn, or
dark (20 collisions or 56%). Table 10 provides detailed highlights of the citywide KSI collision data.
Figure 22. Collision by Mode – All Collisions in Palm Desert (2013-2022)
Figure 23. Collision by Year and Mode – All Collisions in Palm Desert (2013-2022)
Figure 24.Collision by Year and Mode – Killed or Severely Injury (KSI) in Palm Desert (2013-2022)
Table 10. KSI Collision Data Highlights
Condition Percentage of
Pedestrian and Bicycle-
related KSI Collisions
Lighting
Daylight 44%
Dusk - Dawn 8%
Dark – street lights 28%
Dark – no street lights 19%
Dark – street lights not functioning 0%
Time of Day
00:00-2:59 6%
03:00-05.59 6%
06.00-08:59 14%
09:00-11:59 6%
12:00-14:59 6%
15:00-17:59 25%
18:00-20:59 25%
21:00-23:59 8%
Figure 25 shows a map of collisions involving people biking and walking for the years between 2013-2022 (180
collisions). A high proportion of collisions occurred in the central part of the city, especially along and near
Highway 111. Additionally, most collisions occurred on arterial roadways (i.e. major and minor arterials) and 36%
of the collisions occurred at intersections. Excessive speed was not cited as a major factor in most collisions,
though the highest number of collisions occurred when posted speed limits were 35+ miles per hour. The most
common violation categories reported for collisions involving people walking and biking were:
• Pedestrian right-of-way (e.g., people walking failed to yield to the vehicle right-of-way) (20%);
• Pedestrian violations (people walking crossed against a red light) (17%);
• Automobile right-of-way (people driving failed to yield to the pedestrian or bicyclist right-of-way) (17%);
• Traffic Signals and Signs (9%); and
• Wrong Side of Road (i.e., bicyclists riding on the wrong side of the street) (8%).
Figure 25. Bicycle and Pedestrian Collisions (2013-2022)
School Area Collisions
Within a half-mile radius of the eight project schools, between 2013 and 2022, there were 566 collisions of all
modes (as shown in Figure 26, lighter yellow symbology purposefully chosen for lesser injury vehicle collisions to
highlight non-motorized collisions), with one collision being mapped twice due to its involvement of both a
pedestrian and a bicycle. Among these, about 9% involved an active mode (22 or 4% pedestrian-related
collisions, and 35 or 6% bicycle-related collisions), and about 14% (80 collisions, all modes) involved school-age
children (age 5-18). Figure 27 compares the severity of collisions involving school-age children and all ages.
Results show that about 7% (38 collisions) of all mode collisions resulted in a fatality or serious injury (killed or
seriously injured (KSI)), while about 4% (3 collisions) of collisions involving school-age children resulted in KSI.
Furthermore, within the school area, 16% (9 collisions) of active mode collisions resulted in KSI, and one of them
involved school-age children.
Most collisions involving school-age children occurred during peak student pick-up and drop-off periods (14 or
18% between 3PM-3:59PM, 13 or 16% between 7AM-7:59AM, and 11 or 14% between 2PM-2:59PM), and most
of the collision types were rear-end collisions and broadside collisions. Unsafe speed is the top primary collision
factor for collisions within a half-mile radius of the eight project schools (36% of collisions involving school-age
children, 34% of collisions involving all ages people). Other common collision factors reported and highlights of
the collision data that occurred within the school influence areas are shown in Table 11.
About 33% of collisions (184 collisions) occurred at an intersection within school areas. Out of these collisions,
9% (16 collisions) resulted in a fatality or serious injury, and 15% (27 collisions) involved an active mode of all
severities. The top five intersections with the highest collisions of people walking or biking in school influence
areas are shown in Table 12.
Figure 26. Collisions within a Half-Mile Radius of the Project Schools (2013-2022)
Figure 27. Collisions Involving School-age Children by Severity Level, Compared to All Ages – All Collisions (2013-2022)
Table 11. School Influence Areas Collision Data Highlights – All Collisions
Condition Percentage of Collisions Involving
School-age Children in School Areas
Percentage of Collisions Involving All-
Ages in School Areas
Lighting
Daylight 84% 77%
Dusk - Dawn 4% 2%
Dark – street lights 9% 15%
Dark – no street lights 4% 5%
Dark – street lights not functioning 0% 0%
Time of a Day
00:00-02:59 1% 4%
03:00-05.59 0% 2%
06.00-08:59 21% 16%
09:00-11:59 13% 18%
12:00-14:59 24% 25%
15:00-17:59 28% 20%
18:00-20:59 11% 9%
21:00-23:59 3% 6%
Collision Types
Rear End 46% 41%
Broadside 31% 29%
Sideswipe 8% 8%
Vehicle/Pedestrian 5% 3%
Hit Object 3% 10%
Overturned 3% 3%
Head-On 1% 2%
Primary Collision Factor
Unsafe Speed 36% 34%
Traffic Signals and Signs 16% 15%
Automobile Right-of-Way 11% 12%
Improper Turning 9% 12%
Driving or Bicycling Under the Influence
of Alcohol or Drug
6% 6%
Unsafe Starting or Backing 4% 5%
Wrong Side of Road 4% 2%
Unsafe Lane Change 3% 4%
Weather
Clear 96% 93%
Cloudy 4% 6%
Raining 0% 1%
Other Conditions
On State Highways 1% 11%
At Intersections 38% 33%
Alcohol Involvement 4% 8%
Table 12. Top Intersections with the Highest Bicycle and Pedestrian Collisions in School Influence Areas and Corresponding
Schools
Intersection Corresponding Schools Number of Collisions KSI Collisions
Highway 111 and San Luis Rey Avenue George Washington Charter 4 1
Fred Waring Drive and Portola Avenue Abraham Lincoln Elementary;
Palm Desert Charter Middle
2 1
Portola Ave and Alessandro Drive George Washington Charter 2 0
Fred Waring Drive and Deep Canyon
Road
Palm Desert High 2 0
Portola Avenue and Fairway Drive George Washington Charter 2 0
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Complete
High-Injury
Network
Analysis
B.
Complete Palm Desert Safe Routes to School High Injury Network Analysis
Introduction
This memo outlines Alta’s approach for the High Injury Network (HIN) analysis. This analysis identifies locations of the
most severe crashes and will help inform countermeasure development in a later stage of the project. It builds on
previous collision analyses completed for the Safe Routes for Seniors and Safe Routes to Schools plans. The final maps
will become part of the Dashboard and Monitoring Tool.
Safety Plan Review
The Existing Conditions memo summarized relevant transportation plans affecting Palm Desert. This section will
summarize the plans most relevant to safety, particularly for people walking and biking, as context for the HIN.
Several plans call for citywide improvements to sidewalk and pedestrian infrastructure. The Palm Desert General Plan
and Connect SoCal 2024 both call for investments in the bicycle network and improved pedestrian facilities, with an
emphasis on safety. The Walk and Roll program also includes sidewalk improvements throughout the city. These
investments will provide more safe options for people walking and biking in Palm Desert.
Other plans provide lists of segments and intersections to be prioritized for bicycle and pedestrian improvements. The
Transforming Haystack Road: Traffic Calming and Safety Study is focused on a 1.3-mile-long segment of Haystack
Road in southern Palm Desert between Highway 74 and Portola Avenue. The project plans to install new crosswalks at
several intersections and upgrade signals at the intersection of Highway 74. Meanwhile, the Coachella Valley
Association of Governments (CVAG) Active Transportation Plan helps to plan for the CV Link regional bike trail. The
Local Road Safety Plan and the CVAG Transportation Project Prioritization Study both identified specific intersections
and road segments throughout the city as safety project case studies that should be prioritized for improvement.
Several roadways or intersections from both studies are on the HIN, including areas along Portola Avenue, Monterey
Avenue and Fred Waring Drive.
Where specific roadways are highlighted for improvements, Highway 111 stands out as a frequent mention. This road
accounts for a significant stretch of the HIN. The Envision Palm Desert Strategic Plan envisions a revitalization of the
Highway 111 corridor as well as promotion of non-single occupancy vehicles. Both of these goals provide
opportunities to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety and connectivity along Highway 111 and throughout the city.
The Walk and Roll program plans to install bike lanes throughout the city, including on Highway 111 as well as
Country Club Drive, another high-crash roadway. Finally, the CVAG Transportation Project Prioritization Study names
two intersections along Highway 111 as high-scoring projects for regional arterial improvement funding.
Crash Data Overview
These analyses use crash data from 2013 - 2022 from the Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS). This dataset
includes over 1,500 injury-causing crashes in the study area, of which 226 involved a person walking or biking.
To help the city focus resources on the most needed safety improvements, this analysis prioritizes crashes that
resulted in someone being killed or seriously injured (KSI) but considers minor injury crashes as well. While the High
Injury Network considered crashes of all modes, bicycle and pedestrian-involved crashes were given higher priority.
High Injury Network (HIN)
Overview and Purpose
High injury networks (HINs) illustrate that often a small number of improvable roadways can address the majority of
injury-causing crashes. This approach moves beyond typical crash history and allows for a better understanding of the
types of roadways in the city where users are most at risk.
Alta developed an HIN for the City of Palm Desert. This memo explains Alta’s approach to analyzing crash data and
developing the HIN. This process is also illustrated in Figure 1.
Figure 1: HIN Process
Data Inputs
The HIN development used two data sets:
Crashes
Ten-year crash data (2013 – 2022) of all injury-causing crashes within the region, provided by TIMS
• Inclusive of all modes of travel
Prepared Roadway Network
Street centerline network for the City of Palm Desert
• Filtered to roadways within a quarter-mile buffer city boundary. • Crashes on Interstate 10 were excluded.
Methodology
Alta prepared two HINs, one prioritizing crashes involving Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs) and one treating all modes
equally. The following steps apply to both HINs.
1. Prepare Street Network:
a. Use the “unsplit lines” tool to dissolve road segments based on road name and functional class. This
eliminates arbitrary splits in the spatial data so that roads can be split into even-length segments.
b. Copy the centerline layer.
c. Divide centerlines into segments of 1000 feet each so that crashes can be summarized for segments
of equal length.
d. Create a unique ID for each roadway segment.
e. Create a Rolling Window / Sliding Window feature class where the lines are extended over each road
segment. Roadways are extended 25% in each direction. Alta uses custom splitting tools that have an
overlap percentage (Wasserman, 2023). Lines overlap with their neighbors by some set percentage.
This process allows rolling window statistics to be calculated on each road segment. The benefits of
rolling window analysis are that they reduce the impact that dead-end streets, network
segmentation artifacts, or anomalous crashes have on the final HIN. Fundamentally, it better
captures the linear corridor crash patterns where they exist (Fitzpatrick, 2018)1. This methodology is
illustrated in Figure 2.
1 These patterns would take into account crashes sometimes not directly on a particular segment in other to smooth out
analysis results. Examples of this type of analysis are provided by FHWA in their Guide Book on High Pedestrian Crash
Locations.
Figure 2: The Rolling Window Approach
2. Prepare Crash Data:
a. Weight each crash based on the most serious injury sustained by any individual involved in the crash
and involvement of vulnerable road users. This effectively prioritizes areas where more serious
crashes are occurring to identify areas where the most serious injuries can be reduced. The following
proportions are based on a balance between the ratio of the average cost to society from fatal and
serious crashes, and the desire not to overweight fatalities that represent sparse events. The goal is
to weight severe collisions more highly proportional to their impacts, while not misrepresenting the
geography of risk more broadly.2 A different set of weights was used for the Original HIN and the
Alternative HIN. The original HIN weighted crashes involving vulnerable road users (VRUs) more
heavily. The Alternative HIN also included all crashes but weighted them only by severity and not by
mode.
Original HIN weights:
• Fatal or serious-injury crash involving a bicyclist of pedestrian: 8
• Fatal or serious-injury crash involving motor vehicles only: 4
• Minor injury crash involving a bicyclist or pedestrian: 2
• Minor injury crash involving motor vehicles only: 1
Alternative HIN weights:
• Fatal or serious-injury crash of any mode: 4
• Minor injury crash of any mode: 1
b. Snapped all crashes within 350 feet of the street centerline network to a prepared network segment.
This distance accounts for a margin of error in crash coordinates.
3. Apply Rolling Window Analysis:
a. Spatially join the crash layer to the rolling window road network.
b. Calculate the summed rolling crash weight for each rolling road segment. This summed the weight of
crashes on each rolling segment and reflected total crash severity on each segment.
c. Join the rolling crash weight from the rolling window layer back to the original centerline network to
show rolling crash weight per road mile on each segment, using the unique ID. This normalized the
crash weight for the road length. However, for the purpose of calculating crash weight per road mile,
the project team counted any rolled segments of less than 0.1 miles as 0.1 miles to avoid
overrepresenting crashes on small road segments, as dividing by very small numbers yields very large
numbers. See Figure 4 for an explanation of the process.
d. This process creates a crash severity index which when mapped is similar to a heat map.
2 There are many calculations of average cost of severe and fatal crashes. The ratio shown here is based on the FHWA’s
Crash Costs for Safety Analysis (Harmon et al, 2018), tables 14 and 19. The weights shown here are roughly proportional to
the log of costs to society of each type of crash compared with a baseline of property damage-only collisions. Source:
https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/hsip/docs/fhwasa17071.pdf.
4. Accumulate Crashes:
a. Beginning with segments with the highest crash weight per mile, use Alta’s custom-built HIN
Generation tool to progressively add segments to the HIN. This tool calculates the length in miles for
each segment as it is added and keeps track of the cumulative miles in the HIN and the number of
crashes occurring on those segments. It stops when the designated threshold of crashes has been
accumulated. The tool also generates a table that shows the number of crashes and the number of
roadway miles accounted for with each HIN segment.
b. The project team charted the percent accumulated length and the percent accumulated crashes
seen in
c. Figure 3 for the original HIN. The project team deemed that the slope begins to increase around the
point at which 43% of crashes have been accumulated. At this point it was determined continuing to
add segments to the network would have diminishing returns in terms of capturing more crashes.
This inflection point helped decide the threshold for the percentage of crashes included in the HIN.
Since the segments with the most severe crashes get selected for the HIN first, adding additional
segments would have had diminishing returns. Thus, the threshold helped strike a balance between
accounting for as many crashes as possible while limiting the number of segments selected for the
HIN. The goal is to find the smallest share of the roadway network that accounts for the largest
number of severe crashes.
Figure 3: Graph of Accumulated Crashes and Accumulated Length. Crashes selected for the HIN are Represented in Red.
5. Final Refinement:
a. Calculated the percent of roadway miles and the percent of crashes accounted for in the final HIN.
These percentages show decision makers that safety investments in a small share of the road
network can help to prevent many crashes in the region.
Resulting Maps
Figure 4 and Figure 5 display both the Original HIN as well as the Alternative HIN. A conclusion section follows, and a
table of each segment on the Original HIN, its crash index, and its to/from extents is located in Table 3 in the
Appendix.
Figure 4: Original HIN Network – VRU crashes emphasized
Figure 5: Alternative HIN Network – All Modes Weighted Equally
Conclusions
Figure 4 and Figure 5 display the results from the Original HIN and Alternative HIN processes, identifying the most
high-crash road segments in Palm Desert. Figure 4 includes results from the Original HIN approach (bicycle and
pedestrian crashes weighted higher). Figure 5 includes results from the Alternative HIN approach (weighting auto and
VRU crashes equally). Both maps demonstrate that the most high-crash road segments in Palm Desert are
concentrated in the downtown area. These roadways include Highway 74, Highway 111, San Pablo Avenue and Town
Center Way in the downtown area. Other than in the Downtown Area, HIN segments are found along Highway 74 to
the South, Monterey Avenue to the West, Portola Avenue to the North, and Holey Lane, Washington Street and
Country Club Drive to the East.
Although both figures are quite similar, the differences between the two datasets present valuable information on
the unique experience of bicycle and pedestrian users. Most notably, there are different segments included in Figure
4, indicating that pedestrian and bicycle crash locations do not always correspond to those of automobiles. The
intersection at Fred Waring Drive and Town Center Way and immediate surrounding area is an example of a road
segment in the original HIN that is not present in the Alternative HIN. Furthermore, the top five segments of the
original HIN are also different. Although the same segments appear for both HIN analyses, they are not the same rank
for both networks. Table 1 displays these results:
Table 1: Top Five Most High-Crash Segments per HIN
Order Original HIN (VRUs weighted more heavily) Alternative HIN (Equal weighting)
1 Monterey Ave (From Dinah Shore Dr to I-10/City
Limits)
Monterey Ave (From Dinah Shore Dr to I-10)
2 Highway 74 (El Paseo to Highway 111) Fred Waring Dr (From Painters Path to Highway
111)
3 Fred Waring Dr (From Painters Path to Highway 111) Highway 111 (From San Luis Rey Ave to Portola
Ave)
4 Highway 111 (From San Luis Rey Ave to Portola Ave) Country Club Dr (From Harris Ln to Washington St)
5 Country Club Dr (From Harris Ln to Washington St) Highway 74 (El Paseo to Highway 111)
Table 1 highlights some streets that have been called out in the Existing Conditions memo and local safety plans.
Highway 111 and Fred Waring Drive were noted in the EC memo as lacking sufficient crossings and facilities for people
walking and biking. Highway 111 is also served by SunBus service, which generates pedestrian trips to and from bus
stops. Fred Waring Drive, on the other hand, has bicycle facilities proposed in the Palm Desert General Plan which
may help address safety concerns there.
The segments of Monterey Avenue and Highway 111 mentioned in this table encompass segments and intersections
identified in the Local Road Safety Plan as safety project case studies. The Country Club Drive segment is also a part
of the highest-scoring segment in the CVAG Transportation Project Prioritization Study.
Country Club Drive and Highway 111 are also roads identified in the Walk and Roll Program as candidates for Class II
bike lanes.
The table also suggests that countermeasures that explicitly address automobile crash reductions will not necessarily
aid in reducing impacts to VRUs. Although the two HINs are similar, the Alternative Weight HIN does not fully capture
pedestrian and bicycle crashes. However, it should also be noted that due to higher numbers of motor vehicle crashes
than VRU crashes, the original HIN is still most heavily influenced by the locations of motor vehicle crashes and does
not necessarily reflect the areas that present the highest risk to VRUs.
Community Summary
Alta also analyzed demographic information for the community living within a quarter mile of each HIN. The
information, found below in Table 2, was sourced from the 2021 US Census American Community Survey at the block
group level. This was done using a proportional allocation process which assumes that the population within a block
group is evenly distributed, allowing us to make inferences about the population closest to the HIN, which may
encompass only part of a block group. Figure 6 provides a graphic explanation of the proportional allocation concept.
Table 2: General Statistics of Communities Within 1/4 Mile of HIN Network
Statistic within ¼ mile of
HIN Segments
Original HIN Alternative HIN Palm Desert Overall
Population 38,912 37,462 51,951
Percent of workers who walk,
ride a bicycle, or take public
transit to work
5.5% 6.2% 2.7%
Percent of population in
poverty (%)
13.9% 14.2% 12.9%
Table 2 shows that most of Palm Desert’s residents live within a quarter mile of at least one HIN segment, and these
residents are slightly more likely to live in poverty or (if they are part of the working population) to commute to work
via walking, biking, or public transit.
References
Harmon, T., G. Bahar, and F. Gross (2018). Crash Costs for Highway Safety Analysis. Federal Highway Administration
(FHWA). Available at https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/hsip/docs/fhwasa17071.pdf.
Fitzpatrick, K. A. (2018). Guidebook on Identification of High Pedestrian Crash Locations. FHWA-HRT-17-106.
Supplemental Material. McLean, VA: Federal Highway Administration Office of Safety Research and
Development.
Wasserman, D. (2023, March 30). Study-Line-Editor. Portland, OR, USA. Retrieved from https://github.com/d-
wasserman/study-line-editor/tree/dev
Appendix
Table 3: Segments on the Original HIN, by crash severity index
Segment Street Name From To Crash Severity Index
Monterey Avenue Dinah Shore Drive Highway 10 280.60
Highway 74 El Paseo Highway 111 214.13
Fred Waring Drive Painters Path Highway 111 191.96
Highway 111 San Luis Rey Avenue Portola Ave 191.09
Country Club Drive Harris Lane Washington Street 190.80
Highway 111 Larkspur Lane San Luis Rey Avenue 187.49
Figure 6: Proportional Allocation Process Illustration
Segment Street Name From To Crash Severity Index
Monterey Avenue
405ft North Of San
Gorgonio Way Highway 111 178.02
San Pablo Avenue
College Of The Desert
Driveway Fred Waring Drive 165.85
Portola Avenue 182ft North Of El Paseo Shadow Mountain Drive 165.22
Town Center Way
239ft North Of Hahn
Road Highway 111 164.25
San Pablo Avenue San Gorgonio Way San Gorgonio Way 160.00
Highway 111 Shadow Hills Road Palm Desert Drive 151.43
Monterey Avenue
414ft North Of Fred
Waring Drive
606ft South Of Fred
Waring Drive 144.90
Highway 111 De Anza Way Shadow Hills Road 140.61
San Pablo Avenue
228 Ft North Of Fred
Waring
83 Ft North Fo Catalina
Way 131.47
Highway 111 Palm Desert Drive South Sage Lane 118.98
Country Club Drive
97 Ft West Of Harris
Lane
183 Ft West Of Eastwood
Lane 116.60
Highway 111
455ft Southeast Of
Fredwaring Dr
973ft Northwest Of El
Paseo 115.38
Highway 111 Sage Lane San Pablo Avenue 111.77
Washington Street Fred Waring Drive
360 Ft North Of Calle Las
Brisas South 109.96
Fred Waring Drive
43 Ft East Of San Luis
Drive
337 Ft East Of Monterey
Avenue 108.03
Highway 111 Cabrillo Avenue De Anza Way 104.56
Monterey Avenue Park View Drive
414ft North Of Fred
Waring Drive 100.05
Portola Avenue
653ft North Of Gerald
Ford Drive
388ft South Of Geral D
Ford Drive 98.05
Highway 111
662 Ft South Of Painters
Path
1,993 Ft North Of El
Paseo 97.35
Fred Waring Drive
90 Ft West Of San
Anselmo Avenue
338 East Of Monterey
Avenue 97.23
Highway 74 El Paseo Pitahaya Street 94.26
Monterey Avenue
606ft South Of Fred
Waring Drive
405ft North Of San
Gorgonio Way 93.15
Segment Street Name From To Crash Severity Index
Washington Street Country Club Drive Emerald Crest Drive 92.37
Highway 111
493 Ft East Of Plaza
Way Palm Desert Drive 86.53
Fred Waring Drive
422ft West Of Town
Center Way
270ft West Of Fairhaven
Drive 86.42
Hovley Lane E 370ft West Of Idaho St Washington Street 84.79
Portola Avenue 182ft North Of El Paseo Shadow Mountain Drive 84.45
Portola Avenue
224ft North Of Rancho
Road Santa Rosa Way 84.45
Highway 111 El Paseo 982 Ft North Of El Paseo 82.93
Highway 111
973ft Northwest Of El
Paseo El Paseo 82.93
Fred Waring Drive
270ft West Of Fairhaven
Drive San Luis Drive 82.82
Highway 111
314 Ft North Of Park
View Drive
522 Ft North Of Fred
Waring Dr 82.21
Highway 74 Willow Street Frank Feltrop Drive 82.12
San Pablo Avenue San Gorgonio Way El Paseo 80.70
Highway 111 El Paseo
483 Ft West Of Plaza
Way 79.32
Highway 111 San Pablo Avenue Larkspur Lane 79.32
Highway 111
487 Ft West Of Plaza
Way 500 Ft East Of Plaza Way 79.32
Town Center Way Fred Waring Drive
239ft North Of Hahn
Road 78.02
Washington Street
68 Ft North Of Tuscon
Circle
359 Ft North Of Calle Las
Brisas South 76.97
Complete
Outreach and
Engagement
Report
C.
Alta Planning + Design, Inc. 1 Complete Palm Desert SRTS Outreach and Engagement Report
Complete Palm Desert Safe Routes to School Outreach and Engagement
Report
This report provides an overview of the outreach and engagement activities conducted as part of the development of
the Palm Desert Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Plan. Engaging with key stakeholders, including families, school staff,
and the broader community, was essential in shaping recommendations that reflect local needs and concerns.
Outreach and Engagement Overview
Outreach for the SRTS Plan was conducted in two phases. Phase I occurred in spring 2023 and focused on listening to
community needs and concerns, including the collection of existing conditions data. Phase II occurred in fall 2024 and
focused on gathering community feedback on draft recommendations.
Outreach activities included workshops, walk audits, pop-ups, and virtual webinars. The Project Team established an
Advisory Committee that met throughout the duration of the project, and distributed surveys to collect information
from the school community. A project website (https://www.engagepalmdesert.com/vision-zero) was also created to
disseminate project information, promote events, and gather feedback from those unable to participate in in-person
outreach activities. This holistic outreach approach ensured robust community input and feedback throughout the
development of the SRTS Plan.
Activities were advertised through project and event flyers, social media posts, and the project website. Upcoming
SRTS events, such as the school walk audits, were also highlighted at community presentations. Promotional
materials, such as flyers, were created in English and Spanish.
Palm Desert Advisory Committee
The City established a Palm Desert Advisory Committee to be a guiding body for the SRTS Plan development process.
Participants included representatives from:
• City of Palm Desert
• City of Indian Wells
• City of La Quinta
• Coachella Valley Association of Governments
• Desert Recreation District
• Riverside County Sheriff’s Office
• The Joslyn Center
The Advisory Committee met three times over the course of the project. At the first meeting, the Project Team
introduced the SRTS Plan, shared existing conditions findings, and discussed upcoming outreach and engagement
opportunities. To support the proposed outreach and engagement strategy, committee members offered to assist
distribute project materials through their organizations.
The second meeting included an overview of completed public outreach to-date, and a discussion of bicycle and
pedestrian facilities under consideration for the forthcoming SRTS recommendations. The Committee shared that La
Alta Planning + Design, Inc. 2 Complete Palm Desert SRTS Outreach and Engagement Report
Quinta is already implementing active transportation improvements, including near one of the project schools (Paige
Middle School). The City of Palm Desert also shared that many existing crosswalks were already being upgraded to
high-visibility crosswalks, and to note this in the SRTS Plan.
The last meeting provided a project status update, an overview of the SRTS recommendations, and a discussion of
SRTS project prioritization. The Committee requested the Project Team consider the Coachella Valley Association of
Governments’ Active Transportation Design Guidelines (2021), the CV Link Master Plan (2016), and AB43 (a new law
allowing local governments to lower speed limits on major streets) in the SRTS Plan. The Committee also asked to
include street width as a factor for the SRTS Prioritization Methodology.
Phase I – Existing Conditions
Lincoln Elementary School / Palm Desert Charter Middle Walk Audit and Workshop
April 9, 2024
Palm Desert Charter Middle School
Attendees: 15
The Project Team organized, promoted, and presented at a joint Lincoln Elementary School and Palm Desert Charter
Middle School walk audit and workshop on April 9, 2024. This marked the beginning of the SRTS walk audit process
for the City of Palm Desert.
During the walk audit, school principals, security personnel, and other school staff provided input on the safety and
comfort of the roads near each school. The walk audit was paired with afternoon student pick-up observations for
both schools where the Project Team observed traffic circulation and driver behavior. Photo documentation of
existing conditions on streets around both schools was also collected.
A workshop for both schools followed the walk audit on the evening of April 9th. In attendance were the Project
Team, the Mayor of Palm Desert, Lincoln Elementary and Palm Desert Charter Middle principals, the Desert Sands
Unified School District, Lincoln Elementary and Palm Desert Charter Middle parents and caregivers, and school staff.
The purpose of this workshop was to provide general information about the Palm Desert SRTS Plan and answer
questions regarding the Plan’s development, components, goals, and timeline. Spanish interpretation was provided
by a third-party service called Interpreters Unlimited, though no attendees ultimately required interpretation.
Following a brief presentation, participants were encouraged to provide feedback on the safety of roads around their
schools via a question and answer session and by marking up poster-sized aerial maps that displayed both schools.
Feedback included concerns about sidewalk and bicycle network gaps, high speeds on streets around schools, and
ADA barriers such as trash cans blocking sidewalk access. Overall, attendees were very receptive to and supportive of
the SRTS Plan and were thankful to the City for taking a proactive effort towards making it safer and more convenient
to walk and bike in Palm Desert.
Alta Planning + Design, Inc. 3 Complete Palm Desert SRTS Outreach and Engagement Report
Safe Routes to School Virtual Webinar
April 15, 2024
Zoom Meeting
Attendees: 10
The Project Team hosted a virtual webinar on April 15, 2024, to present on the SRTS Plan to Palm Desert families. The
meeting was held via Zoom, an online platform that hosts virtual meetings. The purpose of this virtual webinar was to
provide general information regarding the SRTS Plan and raise awareness of the Plan’s upcoming school walk audits.
Participants expressed interest in the Plan and appreciated the City’s focus on improving safety for Palm Desert
students.
Safe Routes to School Walk Audits
Ford Elementary School – April 17, 2024, 9:05 am – 10:05 am
Carter Elementary School – April 17, 2024, 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Palm Desert High School – April 18, 2024, 8:35 am – 9:35 am
Washington Charter School – April 30, 2024, 8:20 am – 9:20 am
Paige Middle School – May 1, 2024, 8:35 am – 9:35 am
Reagan Elementary School – May 2, 2024, 8:05 am – 9:05 am
Attendees: Approximately 1-6 per walk audit
The Project Team hosted one walk audit at each of the schools included in the Palm Desert SRTS Plan. The purpose of
the walk audits was to collect feedback regarding roadway safety around schools from school staff, parents, and
caregivers, document existing conditions, and observe morning drop-off or afternoon pick-up traffic circulation and
driver behavior.
The walk audit began with introductions and an overview of the purpose of each walk audit. A large aerial map of the
school and surrounding area was also provided to gather participants’ initial thoughts regarding roadway safety. The
walk audit continued with a 30-45-minute walk around the school and along local streets, with particular attention
given to streets identified as problematic by walk audit participants.
At least one participant from each school attended each walk audit, typically a school principal or other administrator,
a school resource officer or security officer, and/or a Crossing Guard. Three parents were also in attendance for the
Washington Charter School walk audit and a Desert Sands Unified School District representative was present at the
Palm Desert High School audit. A City of La Quinta engineer attended the Paige Middle School audit as it is located
within the City of La Quinta. Common concerns across all schools included high speeds along nearby streets, traffic
congestion spilling into public streets during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up, drivers disobeying Crossing
Guards, and generally feeling unsafe bicycling using existing bike facilities in Palm Desert.
Following each audit, participants were encouraged to keep up to date with the project via a flyer that contained
information about the SRTS Plan and the larger Palm Desert Vision Zero Strategy, as well as a link to the project
website (https://www.engagepalmdesert.com/vision-zero). Some participants offered additional feedback to the
Alta Planning + Design, Inc. 4 Complete Palm Desert SRTS Outreach and Engagement Report
Project Team following the walk audit, which was then compiled into the SRTS Plan’s Walk Audit Report along with
the information gathered the day of each audit.
Safe Routes to School Student Tallies
May – June 2024
Participation: 84 classrooms
The Project Team used an electronic version of the standard Student Travel Tally form developed by the National
Center for SRTS to collect student travel modes at all project schools. Tally forms were sent to each school following
the completion of all school walk audits, in spring 2024, with teachers administering the tallies via an online link.
Teachers asked their students which transportation mode they took to get to school and which mode they will take to
get home. The tally also recorded grade level, class size, and weather conditions on the day of the tally.
Eighty-four (84) classrooms participated in the student tally. However, only Lincoln Elementary, Ford Elementary, and
Regan Elementary School submitted data.
Figure 1 and Figure 2 illustrate responses to the tally questions “How did you arrive at school today?” and “How do
you plan to leave for home after school?”, respectively. Please note that while the Project Team received tally data
from about 80 classrooms, only three elementary schools participated.
Figure 1. Survey Responses to "How did you arrive at school today?"
Alta Planning + Design, Inc. 5 Complete Palm Desert SRTS Outreach and Engagement Report
Figure 2. Survey Responses to "How do you plan to leave for home after school?"
In general, family vehicles are the most common mode of transportation among students. This may be cause for high
traffic volumes around each school.
The survey also asked teachers to record the date and weather conditions the tally was taken. 95.2% of classrooms
recorded “sunny” when the tally was taken, a factor that may impact the desire to walk or bike to school, particularly
on warm days. The distribution of grade levels was relatively even across elementary grade levels (kindergarten
through fifth grade); however, representation of data from only younger students may be a factor for low walking and
biking rates.
Safe Routes to School Parent/Caregiver Surveys
May – June 2024
Participation: 173 surveys
Parents’/caregivers’ knowledge and attitudes about their student’s travel habits, including walking and biking to
school, were analyzed from the parent surveys collected during the project. The survey was an online questionnaire
(derived from the National Center for SRTS survey and available in English and Spanish) sent to all parents included in
the list of project schools.
The survey asked parents and caregivers how their student currently travels to and from school, the distance their
family lives from school, challenges associated with walking and biking, and their overall attitudes toward active
modes of transportation. The survey also asked what grades their children are enrolled in, whether their children
have asked to walk or bike in the past year, and whether they believe their children’s schools encourage or discourage
walking to and from school.
Alta Planning + Design, Inc. 6 Complete Palm Desert SRTS Outreach and Engagement Report
One hundred seventy-three (173) surveys were submitted, representing all eight schools included in the Palm Desert
SRTS Plan.
Figure 3. Survey responses to “How far does your student live from school?”
As Figure 3 shows, 33.3% of respondents live ½ mile or less away from school, which is considered a comfortable
walking distance. 44.1% of parents also shared that living too far away from school is one of the main reasons they do
not allow their student to walk and bike to/from school. Additionally, the data showed the majority of students
arrived and departed school via a family vehicle (85.1% and 83.3% of total responses, respectively), and 10.5% of
students walked to school and 8.8% walked home from school. This compares to approximately 10.4% of students
who walk to and from school nationally (Source: National Household Travel Survey).
Alta Planning + Design, Inc. 7 Complete Palm Desert SRTS Outreach and Engagement Report
Figure 4. Parents’/Caregivers’ Top Concerns for Walking or Biking to School
Parents and caregivers also shared a number of concerns influencing their decision to not allow their student to walk
or bike to/from school. Figure 4Error! Reference source not found. shows the top five concerns shared by parents and
caregivers. The biggest concerns were speeding and too much traffic along routes to school followed closely by
unsafe intersections. This demonstrates a need for traffic calming efforts and better intersection controls like
crosswalks and Crossing Guards.
Parents and caregivers also stated “stranger danger” as a main concern. SRTS activities like walking school buses
could help address this concern by providing safety in numbers for walking groups of students, parents/caregivers,
and school staff.
37.7% of parents and caregivers also stated they would not feel comfortable allowing their students to walk or bike to
school without an adult at any grade, and only 34.2% of respondents stated their child has asked for permission to
walk or bike to school in the past year. Most respondents (46.5%) also stated it takes their student 5-10 minutes to
get to or from school, and 85.9% of parents and caregivers believe their school neither encourages nor discourages
walking and biking to and from school.
Alta Planning + Design, Inc. 8 Complete Palm Desert SRTS Outreach and Engagement Report
Phase II – Review of Recommendations
City of Palm Desert Open Houses
October 15, 2024 & October 17, 2024
Attendees: 23
To complement the Project Team’s engagement effort, staff from the City of Palm Desert conducted independent,
targeted outreach to gather additional community input on bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure improvements. To
ensure meaningful engagement, the City mailed 6,329 letters directly to Palm Desert residents, inviting them to
attend one of two open house meetings held on October 15 and October 17, 2024.
These meetings provided an opportunity for residents to share their perspectives on critical safety and accessibility
issues. A total of 23 attendees participated, offering valuable feedback such as:
• The need to address high vehicular speeds
• Requests for additional sidewalks and safety measures in South Palm Desert (e.g., Grapevine Street)
• Concerns about unsafe pedestrian access across Washington Street
• Calls for more bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly roads throughout Palm Desert
• Suggestions to slow vehicles in residential areas of South Palm Desert
• A need for safer bicycling conditions on Highway 111
• Improved maintenance of sidewalks and bike lanes to keep them clear of debris
• Expansion of bike lanes where feasible
• A request for crosswalks on Shadow Mountain at Lupine Lane
• Extend the sidewalk on Portola Avenue through the intersection near the Vintage entrance
Safe Routes to School Virtual Recommendations Workshop
December 17, 2024
Zoom Meeting
Attendees: 4
The Project Team hosted a virtual workshop on December 17, 2024, to present draft SRTS recommendations to the
school community. To advertise the workshop, the City of Palm Desert utilized Peach Jar, an online school flyer
distribution service, to email more than 7,000 flyers to parents and caregivers. An additional 3,600 postcards with
information about the workshop were mailed to residences located near the project schools.
The presentation included a brief overview of the purpose of the SRTS Plan, a summary of findings from completed
community engagement, and an explanation of how the draft recommendations were developed. The presentation
concluded with an overview of proposed recommendations at three schools (Lincoln Elementary School, Palm Desert
Alta Planning + Design, Inc. 9 Complete Palm Desert SRTS Outreach and Engagement Report
Charter Middle School, and Washington Charter School), and an explanation of how residents can provide their input
on the draft recommendations via the project website.
The Community Input Opportunities section of the project website (https://www.engagepalmdesert.com/vision-zero)
includes a recording of the Safe Routes to School Virtual Recommendations Workshop.
Crossing
Guard
Promotional
Social Media
Posts in
English and
Spanish
D.
PALM DESERTSAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Please Pull
Forward
Signage in
English and
Spanish
E.
PALM DESERTSAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Please Pull
Forward
Por favor, conduzca hacia adelante
Safe Routes
to School
Banner in
English and
Spanish
F.
PALM DESERTSAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Palm Desert Schools Walk & Roll
Las Escuelas de Palm Desert Caminan y Ruedan
Suggested
Routes
to School
Maps for
Palm Desert
Schools
G.
CONEJO CIRCLE
DAOR NOYNAC PEED
FRED WARING DRIVE
KING FISHER CIRCLE
CAMINO ARROYO
ELCRIC ETIRUZA
PRIMROSE DRIVE
ENAL NIDREV
EUNEVA ENIROLF
SANTA ROSA WAY
GARY AVENUE
MERLE DRIVEQUICKSILVER DRIVE
PR
E
S
I
D
I
O
PLAC
E
RUTLEDGE WAY
BUTTONWOOD DRIVE
ELCRIC ADAVEN
SILK TREE LANE
EUNEVA ALOTROP
EUNEVA OLBAP NAS
RANCHO ROAD
LESLIE AVENUE
MASSON STREET
OLLICETNOM OESAP
SANTOLINA DRIVE
MERCURY CIRCLE
DAOR ACCEBER
SUTTERS MILL ROAD
LAVENDER WAY
EUNEVA LAUCSAP NAS
MOSS ROSE DRIVE
VIA PALMIRA
ERIN STREET
ASTER DRIVE
KRUG AVENUE
ZIRCON CIRCLE
COLUMBINE DRIVE
DAOR EIDOB
MARIGOLD DRIVE
CALLE DEL VERANO
GOLETA AVENUE
MAGNESIA FALLS DRIVE
MYRSINE AVENUE
VELARDO DRIVE
DESERT STAR BOULEVARD
Abraham
Lincoln
Elementary
0 0.10.05 Miles
Palm Desert Charter Middle School
Palm Desert Civic Center Park
Magnesia Falls Park
Use caution when walking on Primrose Drive; there is a sidewalk gap and most intersections lack crosswalks.
Use caution when crossing; these are large and busy intersections.
Use caution when walking on Deep Canyon Road; most intersections lack crosswalks and north-south traffic does not have stop signs.
~10 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
0.5 miles from school
~17 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
0.5 miles
from school
~10 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
~7 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
0.25 miles
from school
~10 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
1 mile from school
0.5 miles from school
1 mile
from school
Use caution when walking on Primrose Drive; there is a sidewalk gap and most intersections lack crosswalks.
Use caution when crossing; these are large and busy intersections.
Use caution when walking on Deep Canyon Road; most intersections lack crosswalks and north-south traffic does not have stop signs.
~10 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
0.5 miles from school
~17 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
~10 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
~7 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
0.25 miles
from school
~10 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
1 mile from school
0.5 miles from school
1 mile
from school
A pedestrian bridge provides access to Civic Center Park.
~20 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
Use caution when crossing; traffic on Rutledge Way does not have stop signs.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Suggested Routes to
School Map
MILE0.100.05
Suggested Walk to School Route
Crosswalk
Intersection with Stop Sign
LEGEND
Intersection with Traffic Signal
This map is intended for informational purposes only. The
City of Palm Desert and the Desert Sands Unified School
DIstrict do not guarantee the safety of these routes or
persons utilizing them, and assumes no responsibility or
liability therefore.
engagepalmdesert.com/vision-zero
Suggested Walk to School Route — Use Extreme Caution: Missing Sidewalk
Magnesia Falls DrMagnesia Falls Dr
Po
r
t
o
l
a
A
v
e
Rutledge Way
MISSOURI DRIVE
LIART RENRAW
CALLE LAS BRISAS
EDINBOROUGH STREET
TUCSON CIRCLE
HIDDEN RIVER ROAD
ENAL AHSITAL
VIA GIBRALTAR
ROBIN ROAD
MOUNTAIN VIEW
DELAWARE PLACE
CALIFORNIA DRIVE
FRED WARING DRIVE
CITY OF LA QUINTA
CITY OF INDIAN WELLS
WA
S
H
I
N
G
T
O
N
S
T
R
E
E
T
PALM
R
O
Y
A
L
E
D
R
I
V
E
DARBY ROAD
STARLIGHT LANE
TORINO DRIVE
VE
N
I
C
E
D
R
I
V
E
NAPLES DRIVE
LI
M
A
H
A
L
L
R
O
A
D
SA
N
D
B
A
Y
R
O
A
D
CITY OF PALM DESERT
Colonel
MitchellPaige Middle
0 0.10.05 Miles
Horizon School
Activate the rectangular rapid flashing beacon by pressing the button and make sure traffic stops before crossing.
Use caution when crossing; this is a large and busy intersection.
~10 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
~15 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
0.5 miles
from school
~5 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
~15 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
0.5 miles from school
~10 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
Ford Elementary School
COLONEL MITCHELL PAIGE MIDDLE SCHOOL
Suggested Routes to
School Map
MILE0.100.05
Suggested Walk to School Route
Crosswalk
Intersection with Stop Sign
LEGEND
Intersection with Traffic Signal
This map is intended for informational purposes only. The
City of Palm Desert and the Desert Sands Unified School
DIstrict do not guarantee the safety of these routes or
persons utilizing them, and assumes no responsibility or
liability therefore.
engagepalmdesert.com/vision-zero
Darby RdDarby Rd
Wa
s
h
i
n
g
t
o
n
S
t
Palm
R
o
y
a
l
e
D
r
Ä111
DEEP CANYON ROAD
SAN CARLOS AVENUE
EUNEVA OLBAP NAS
EUNEVA ALOTROP
EUNEVA OLLIRBAC
DE ANZA WAY
EL PASEO
GRAPEVINE STREET
SHADOW MOUNTAIN DRIVE
FAIRWAY DRIVE
SHADOW HILLS ROAD
ENAL ESIRNUS
PANORAMA DRIVE
MARRAKESH DRIVE
DRIFTWOOD DRIVE
SHADOW LAKE DRIVE
COTTAGE LANE
ENAL DEEWORRUB
PEPPERGRASS STREET
JOSHUA TREE STREET
PALM DESERT DRIVE
IRONWOOD STREET
PAROSELLA STREET
EUNEVA ANATNAL
CANDLEWOOD STREET ABRONIA TRAIL
EUNEVA HSURBLIAUQ
EL CAMINO
CLUB CIRCLE
ALESSANDRO DRIVE
PINYON STREET
COVERED WAGON TRAIL
EUNEVA WEIV NIATNUOM
SUNSET LANE
OLD PROSPECTOR TRAIL
CHICORY STREET
JUNIPER STREET
GOLF COURSE LANE
FLAGSTONE LANE
AMIR DRIVE
KASBAH DRIVE
SETTING SUN TRAIL
PEPPER TREE DRIVE
WHITE STONE LANE
YUCCA TREE DRIVE
SA
N
L
U
I
S
R
E
Y
A
V
E
N
U
E
BLA
C
K
R
A
B
B
I
T
R
O
A
D
GeorgeWashington
Charter
0 0.10.05 Miles
CITY OF INDIAN WELLS
Use extreme caution if walking on streets in nearby neighborhoods; most streets here lack sidewalks. Consider walking with an adult.
Use caution when walking on Shadow Mountain Dr; there are some sidewalk gaps.
Use caution when walking on Portola Ave; this is a major street with lots of traffic.
Use caution when crossing; there is no crosswalk and traffic on Candlewood St does not have a stop sign.
~10 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
0.5 miles from school
~5 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
~5 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
~13 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
GEORGE WASHINGTON CHARTER SCHOOL
Suggested Routes to
School Map
LEGEND
This map is intended for informational purposes only. The
City of Palm Desert and the Desert Sands Unified School
DIstrict do not guarantee the safety of these routes or
persons utilizing them, and assumes no responsibility or
liability therefore.
engagepalmdesert.com/vision-zero
MILE0.100.05
Suggested Walk to School Route
Crosswalk
Intersection with Stop Sign
Intersection with Traffic Signal
Suggested Walk to School Route — Use Extreme Caution: Missing Sidewalk
Chicory StChicory St
Po
r
t
o
l
a
A
v
e
La
n
t
a
n
a
A
v
e
LIART RENRAW
LISBON WAY
ILLINOIS AVENUE
WYOMING AVENUE
ELKHORN TRAIL
TENNESSEE AVENUE
EUNEVA SAXET
CALIFORNIA AVENUE
FLORIDA AVENUE
TUCSON CIRCLE
INDIANA AVENUE
FRED WARING DRIVE
VIA GIBRALTAR
LOUISIANA STREET
ROBIN ROAD
CITY OF INDIAN WELLS
LIART RENRAW
MILES AVEN
U
E
EVENING STAR CIRCLE
BLACKFOOT DRIVE
CHEYENNE DRIVE
WA
S
H
I
N
G
T
O
N
S
T
R
E
E
T
EL
K
H
O
R
N
T
R
A
I
L
CALLE LAS BRISAS S
Gerald R. Ford
Elementary
0 0.10.05 Miles
Indian Wells Tennis Garden
Use caution when crossing; north-south traffic on Warner Trail does not have stop signs.
~4 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
Use caution when crossing; this is a wide and busy intersection.
Use caution when walking on Elkhorn Trail; there is a sidewalk gap near Louisiana St.
~15 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
0.5 miles from school
~5 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
0.5 miles from school
~10 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
Use caution when walking on Fred Waring Dr; this is a major street with lots of traffic.
~15 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
0.5 miles from school
1 mile from school
Use caution when walking on Washington St; this is a major street with lots of traffic.
Paige Middle School
GERALD R. FORD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Suggested Routes to
School Map
LEGEND
This map is intended for informational purposes only. The
City of Palm Desert and the Desert Sands Unified School
DIstrict do not guarantee the safety of these routes or
persons utilizing them, and assumes no responsibility or
liability therefore.
engagepalmdesert.com/vision-zero
MILE0.100.05
Suggested Walk to School Route
Crosswalk
Intersection with Stop Sign
Intersection with Traffic Signal
Suggested Walk to School Route — Use Extreme Caution: Missing Sidewalk
Fred Waring DrFred Waring Dr
Wa
r
n
e
r
T
r
l
CHAPARRAL DRIVE
KING FISHER CIRCLE
COURTSIDE DRIVE
FALCON LANE
PRESIDIO PLACE
JOYA DRIVE
MERLE DRIVEQUICKSILVER DRIVE
CAMINO ARROYO
OIGERA AIV
NEVADA CIRCLE
SAN REMO
ZIRCON CIRCLE
ANGELS CAMP ROAD
DAOR EIDOB
SUTTERS MILL ROAD
ENAL NIDREV
VIA VENEZIA
LESLIE AVENUE
MERCURY CIRCLE
42ND AVENUE
EUNEVA ALOTROP
TRUOC ATANOS
ADACRA ADINEVA
YAW ETAROPROC
OSIVERT AIV
CONEJO CIRCLE
JASMINE COURT
ENAL ELGAE NEDLOG
VIA LANTANA
VIA PELLESTRINA
CAMISA LANE
WILLOW LAKE DRIVE
HOVLEY LANE W
AZ
U
R
I
T
E
C
I
R
C
L
E
SIERRA MADRE HOVLEY LANE E
James Earl Carter
Elementary
0 0.10.05 Miles
Use caution when walking on Portola Ave and Hovley Ln; these streets often have lots of traffic.
Hovley Soccer Park
Use caution when crossing; this is a wide and busy intersection.
~15 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
0.5 miles from school
0.25 miles from school
~10 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE0.5 miles from school
1 mile from school
0.5 miles from school
~15 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
~6 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
JAMES EARL CARTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Suggested Routes to
School Map
LEGEND
This map is intended for informational purposes only. The
City of Palm Desert and the Desert Sands Unified School
DIstrict do not guarantee the safety of these routes or
persons utilizing them, and assumes no responsibility or
liability therefore.
engagepalmdesert.com/vision-zero
MILE0.100.05
Suggested Walk to School Route
Crosswalk
Intersection with Stop Sign
Intersection with Traffic Signal
Hovley Ln EHovley Ln E
Po
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A
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CONEJO CIRCLE
DAOR NOYNAC PEED
KING FISHER CIRCLE
CAMINO ARROYO
ELCRIC ETIRUZA
PRIMROSE DRIVE
SANTA ROSA WAY
ENAL NIDREV
EUNEVA ENIROLF
GARY AVENUE
MERLE DRIVEQUICKSILVER DRIVE
FRED WARING DRIVE
PR
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S
I
D
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PLAC
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RUTLEDGE WAY
BUTTONWOOD DRIVE
PHYLLIS JACKSON LANE
ELCRIC ADAVEN
SILK TREE LANE
EUNEVA ALOTROP
LESLIE AVENUE
YAW SILLYRAMA
RANCHO ROAD
MASSON STREET
ANATNAL ELLAC
OLLICETNOM OESAP
SANTOLINA DRIVE
MERCURY CIRCLE
DAOR ACCEBER
MAGNESIA FALLS DRIVE
SUTTERS MILL ROAD
LAVENDER WAY
EUNEVA LAUCSAP NAS
MOSS ROSE DRIVE
VIA PALMIRA
ERIN STREET
ASTER DRIVE
KRUG AVENUE
ELCRIC NOCRIZ
COLUMBINE DRIVE
DAOR EIDOB
MARIGOLD DRIVE
GOLETA AVENUE
VELARDO DRIVE
MYRSINE AVENUE
DESERT STAR BOULEVARD
Palm DesertCharter
Middle
0 0.10.05 Miles
Palm Desert Civic Center Park
Magnesia Falls
Park
Lincoln Elementary School
Use caution when walking on Primrose Drive; there is a sidewalk gap and most intersections lack crosswalks.
Use caution when crossing; these are large and busy intersections.
Use caution when walking on Deep Canyon Road; most intersections lack crosswalks and north-south traffic does not have stop signs.
~10 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
0.5 miles from school
~15 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
0.5 miles
from school
~10 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
~10 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
~17 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
Students can enter campus through an entrance at Magnesia Falls Park.
0.5 miles from school
0.5 miles from school
0.25 miles from school
~10 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
A pedestrian bridge provides access to Civic Center Park.
Use caution when crossing; traffic on Rutledge Way does not have stop signs.
PALM DESERT CHARTER MIDDLE SCHOOL
Suggested Routes to
School Map
This map is intended for informational purposes only. The
City of Palm Desert and the Desert Sands Unified School
DIstrict do not guarantee the safety of these routes or
persons utilizing them, and assumes no responsibility or
liability therefore.
engagepalmdesert.com/vision-zero
LEGEND
MILE0.100.05
Suggested Walk to School Route
Crosswalk
Intersection with Stop Sign
Intersection with Traffic Signal
Suggested Walk to School Route — Use Extreme Caution: Missing Sidewalk
CV Link
Magnesia Falls DrMagnesia Falls Dr
Po
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Rutledge Way
DAOR NOYNAC PEED
LA SIERRA DRIVE
RUTLEDGE WAY
TEERTS KOOC
MERLE DRIVE
AZ
U
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I
T
E
CI
R
C
L
E
ELCRIC NOCRIZ
ENAL NOYNAC REVLIS
ELCRIC ADAVEN
ELCRIC YRUCREM
EUNEVA ENIROLF
TEERTS NAITSIRHC
GARY AVENUE
SAN SIMEON DRIVE
ROYAL CANYON LANE
FRED WARING DRIVE
BUTTONWOOD DRIVE
PHYLLIS JACKSON LANE
SILK TREE LANE
SANTA FE TRAIL YELLOW SAGE DRIVE
MYRSINE AVENUE
MAGNESIA FALLS DRIVE
YAW SILLYRAMA
ANATNAL ELLAC
OLLICETNOM OESAP
IN
D
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A
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CA
N
YON
LAN
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KI
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G
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CA
N
YON
LAN
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PRIMROSE DRIVE
SANTOLINA DRIVE
DAOR ACCEBER
KELSEY CIRCLE
LESLIE AVENUE
LAVENDER WAY
CORAL BELLS CIRCLE
MOSS ROSE DRIVE
VIA PALMIRA
PALM LAKE
WARING COURT
COLUMBINE DRIVE
VELARDO DRIVE
ASTER DRIVE
FRED SMITH WAY
HIDDEN PALMS DRIVE
CITY OF INDIAN WELLS
TEERTS KOOC
SHERYL AVENUE
AZTEC ROAD
Palm
Desert
High
0 0.10.05 Miles
~12 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
0.5 miles
from school
0.25 miles from school
~20 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
~10 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
0.5 miles from school
0.5 miles
from school
Use caution when
crossing; this is a large
and busy intersection.
Use caution when
crossing; this is a large
and busy intersection.
~10 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
~5 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
0.5 miles
from school
0.25 miles from school
~15 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
People walking and biking
can both use CV Link.
Use caution when passing
others on the trail.
PALM DESERT HIGH SCHOOL
Suggested Routes to
School Map
MILE0.100.05
Suggested Walk to School Route
Crosswalk
Intersection with Stop Sign
LEGEND
Intersection with Traffic Signal
This map is intended for informational purposes only. The
City of Palm Desert and the Desert Sands Unified School
DIstrict do not guarantee the safety of these routes or
persons utilizing them, and assumes no responsibility or
liability therefore.
engagepalmdesert.com/vision-zero
CV Link
Bus Stop
Co
o
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S
t
Co
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S
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Ph
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l
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J
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s
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L
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Fred Smith Way
YAW INILLEB
YAW YCNEGER
ENAL DOOWTSAE
BARINGTON DRIVE
ECALP REFAHCS
TUDOR LANE
LA COSTA CIRCLE
BRISA DRIVE
CALYPSO ROAD
RESORTER BOULEVARD
ARROWHEAD DRIVE
TESORI COURT
MERANO WAY
CHANDLER WAY
RO
M
A
N
ZA LAN
E
ST MICHAEL PLACE
TRAVISO DRIVE
OLYMPIC WAY
NE
W
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S
T
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DR
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PALACE DRIVE
COUNTRY CLUB DRIVE
MALONE CIRCLE
BARONS CIRCLE
MARLOWE COURT
JUSTIN COURT
WESTBROOK COURT
CARINDA COURT
BURRUS COURT
ALCOT CIRCLE
EVIRD ENYACSI
TAMARISK ROW DRIVE
LIBERTY DRIVE
SUNNYBROOK DRIVE
INVERNESS WAY
AZZURO DRIVE
AMATISTA WAY
ENAL SIRRAH
DEER HAVEN CIRCLE
ENFIELD LANE
DESERT HOLLY DRIVE
BAY HILL WAY
BALTUSROL CIRCLE
BOX CANYON TRAIL
EVIRD BULC SISAO
VARNER R
O
A
D
WILDCAT DRIVE
LE
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PR
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RonaldReagan
Elementary
0 0.10.05 Miles
Freedom Park
Use caution when crossing; this is a wide and busy intersection.
0.25 miles from school
0.5 miles
from school
~10 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
~15 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
~15 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
0.5 miles from school
Use caution when
walking on Country Club
Dr; this is a busy street
with lots of traffic.~8 minutes
WALKING TIME FROM HERE
RONALD REAGAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Suggested Routes to
School Map
MILE0.100.05
Suggested Walk to School Route
Crosswalk
Intersection with Stop Sign
LEGEND
Intersection with Traffic Signal
This map is intended for informational purposes only. The
City of Palm Desert and the Desert Sands Unified School
DIstrict do not guarantee the safety of these routes or
persons utilizing them, and assumes no responsibility or
liability therefore.
engagepalmdesert.com/vision-zero
Country Club DrCountry Club Dr
Liberty Dr
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Sample
Student Tally
Survey
H.
Sample
Parent/
Caregiver
Survey
I.
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