TAHQUITZ CREEK T RAIL MASTER PLAN PREPARED FOR: THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT PREPARED BY: ALTA PLANNING + DESIGN WITH RBF CONSULTING MARCH 2010 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Deep appreciati on to the neighborhood groups and community members who conti nue to work ti relessly to bring the vision of the Tahquitz Creek Trail to fruiti on. Steering Committ ee Members Council Member Ginny Foat April Hildner Jim Lundin Bill Post Max Davila Lauri Aylaian Steve Sims Mike Hutchison Renee Cain Nanna D. A. Nanna Sharon Heider, Director City of Palm Springs Department of Parks and Recreati on 401 South Pavilion Way P.O. Box 2743 Palm Springs, CA 922-2743 George Hudson, Principal Karen Vitkay, Project Manager Alta Planning + Design, Inc. 711 SE Grand Avenue Portland, Oregon 97214 www.altaplanning.com RBF Consulti ng Brad Mielke, S.E., P.E. 74-130 Country Club Drive, Suite 201 Palm Desert, CA 92260-1655 www.RBF.com TABLE OF CONTENTS Background, Goals and Design and Standards .............................................1 Background ...................................................................................................... 2 Vision Statement .............................................................................................. 2 Goals and Objecti ves ........................................................................................ 3 Trail Design Standards .......................................................................................4 Multi -Use Trail Design ....................................................................................... 5 Equestrian Trail Design ....................................................................................12 Accessible Trail Design .................................................................................... 15 Operati ng Standards ....................................................................................... 16 Existi ng Conditi ons, Opportuniti es and Constraints ...................................17 Existi ng Conditi ons.......................................................................................... 18 Study Area .......................................................................................................................18 Environmental Conditi ons ................................................................................................18 Land Uses ........................................................................................................................19 Connecti vity & Circulati on ................................................................................................22 Uti liti es ............................................................................................................................25 Site Ameniti es ..................................................................................................................25 Signs ................................................................................................................................25 Existi ng Cross Secti ons .................................................................................... 26 Opportuniti es & Constraints ........................................................................... 31 Environmental Conditi ons ................................................................................................31 Desti nati ons .....................................................................................................................32 Connecti vity & Circulati on ................................................................................................32 Signs ................................................................................................................................34 Interpretati on ..................................................................................................................34 Trail Theme ......................................................................................................................34 Community Partnerships ..................................................................................................35 Public Parti cipati on .........................................................................................35 Alignment Alternati ves .............................................................................39 Primary Opti ons ...............................................................................................................40 Secondary Opti ons ...........................................................................................................40 Alignment Evaluati on .......................................................................................................43 Preferred Alignments .......................................................................................................44 Surface Opti ons ...............................................................................................................45 Preferred Surface Materials .............................................................................................45 Property Requirements ....................................................................................................45 TABLE OF CONTENTS, continued Conceptual Design ....................................................................................47 Trail Theme ......................................................................................................................48 Trail Identi ty.....................................................................................................................48 Master Plan .....................................................................................................................48 Trail Cross Secti on ............................................................................................................52 Connecti vity .....................................................................................................................52 Crossings ........................................................................................................ 55 At-grade Crossings............................................................................................................55 Underpasses ....................................................................................................................55 Channel Alterati on ...........................................................................................................56 Trail Access ..................................................................................................... 57 Trail Ameniti es ................................................................................................58 Monument Signs ..............................................................................................................58 Trail Logo .........................................................................................................................59 Way-Finding .....................................................................................................................59 Bollards............................................................................................................................60 Seati ng Nodes ..................................................................................................................61 Interpreti ve Opportuniti es ...............................................................................................61 Plant Materials ................................................................................................................61 Irrigati on ..........................................................................................................................63 Stormwater ......................................................................................................................63 Fences and Guard Rails ....................................................................................................64 Access Gates ....................................................................................................................65 Non-Motorized Parking ....................................................................................................65 Art Elements ....................................................................................................................66 Permitti ng and Costs ................................................................................67 Local Regulatory Permit Review ...................................................................... 68 Plan Adopti on and Approval ............................................................................................68 City of Palm Springs .........................................................................................................68 Required Permits .............................................................................................................68 City Requirement .............................................................................................................69 Permitti ng Matrix .............................................................................................................69 Riverside County Flood Control Encroachment Permits ....................................................70 Costs ..............................................................................................................