Three Projects That Are Moving Forward

• The Design of Varner Road between Palm Drive and Date Palm Drive Project:
  • This project design is a cooperative project with the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) (lead agency) for the engineering and design of Varner Road between Palm Drive and Date Palm Drive.
  • The project was identified within CVAG’s Valley Flood and Blowsand Risk Assessment and Improvement Plan for the Western Coachella Valley Study as a project that would best fit the needs of the Western Coachella Valley during a flooding and emergency events. This roadway segment is already used as the I-10 bypass route and most recently used in the last storm event.
  • The design work will be for the full-width “ultimate” roadway design of Varner Road from Palm Drive to Mountain View Drive (4 lanes) and from Mountain View Drive to Date Palm Drive (6 lanes).
  • Also, the design will include stormwater crossings along the route at Willow Wash Outfall and the Edom Hill Outfall, signalized intersections at Mountain View Drive, Edom Hill Road, and an expanded traffic signal at Palm Drive. Curb, gutter, sidewalks and multi-use trails, bicycle lanes will also be included.
  • Studies required as part of this design work will include environmental, traffic, hydrology, federal and state permits, and identification of the right of way needed for the project.
  • All the design work and studies will take approximately two years to complete.
  • The goal is that when the project design is completed, the City and project partners, will apply for available grants to construct this currently estimated $27.0 million project.
  • Design project cost: $2,368,926.27.
    • City share: $592,231.57.
  • The City Council approved proceeding with entering an agreement to participate with CVAG on this design project last night on Nov. 8, 2023.
• The Dream Homes Park Project:
  • This project is the result of the Dream Homes Neighborhood Community working collectively with the City, Desert Health Care District, El Sol Neighborhood Education, Loma Linda University Health, Assemblymember Garcia and others over many years to secure an $8.498 million Proposition 68 Grant for a Dream Homes Neighborhood Park.
  • The design for the park was completed this past summer, which includes soccer fields, basketball courts, a futsal court, multi-age playground equipment, adult fitness equipment and large and small dog parks.
    • Additional items included in the design are BBQs, drinking fountains, picnic tables, sunshades structures, picnic shelters, playground and adult fitness equipment and other accoutrements to make the park complete. These long lead items have already been purchased.
    • The approximately $525,000 restroom building for the park will be presented to the City Council for purchase this December once the final design drawings are completed.
  • The contract for the block wall on the west edge of the park was bid out and approved by the City Council this past October. This wall will separate the park from the existing residents whose properties back up to the park.
  • The remaining $4.65 million to be applied to the construction contract to build the park was approved by the City Council last night on November 8, 2023.
  • Total Park Cost (amounts rounded):
    • $11.621 million funded from:
      • Proposition 68 Grant funding: $8.485 million.
      • CVAG component participation: $534,404.
      • City funding: $2.590 million.
  • The Park construction is required to be completed by March 2025 and open to the public by June 2025.
• HSIP Cycle 10: Pedestrian Crossing on Ramon Road west of Candlewood Drive Project:
  • This project is also the result of the City securing a Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Grant in 2021 in the original amount of $770,600 for a protected pedestrian crossing along the Ramon Road corridor in the vicinity of Candlewood Road.
  • The design of the project will include a dedicated pedestrian traffic signal that will allow pedestrians to cross Ramon Road. The project design includes:
    • A pedestrian refuge built into the existing median with steel safety fencing.
    • Over 1,300 feet of decorative safely fencing located in the center medians from Landau Blvd. to Whispering Palms Trail to discourage “J Walking” in this roadway section.
  • The design for this project was completed this past summer and the project was bid out.
    • The amount of the bid exceeded the HSIP Cycle 10 Grant award by $677,700. Thus, City Engineering Division Staff petitioned Cal Trans, the administrator of the Grant, for additional project funding. The petition was successful as Cal Trans did provide an additional $451,800 in funding for the project.
  • As this is a State Grant, this Project also requires full-time monitoring of labor compliance and enforcement, inspection, and material testing.
    • Internal City Engineering Staff does not have the capacity for this and thus secured approval for using an outside consultant who specializes in this work at a cost of $51,393.00 (which is covered by the Grant).
  • A $1,071,888 contract for the construction of the pedestrian traffic signal was approved by the City Council last night on Nov. 8, 2023.
  • Total project cost:
    • $1,478,400.00.
    • HSIP Cycle 10 Grant: $1,228,400.
    • City: $250,000
  • This project is scheduled to be completed by November 2024.