The College of the Desert (COD) has announced plans to begin construction on its new automotive center, Roadrunner Motors, and to keep it at its original site after a unanimous vote by the Board of Trustees. Although this location seemed doomed financially last October, the board was able to revisit and approve the current site as community members wanted.
"On Friday, April 22, 2022, the College of the Desert’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved the construction of its Automotive Technology Center, better known as Roadrunner Motors, to remain at its original location on Margot Murphy Way in Cathedral City," Chris Parman of Discover Cathedral City reports. "This location was announced and approved previously by the college in 2019, but that decision was placed in jeopardy when COD released a press statement on Oct. 27, 2021, stating that projected cost overruns had caused them to seek alternative locations."
According to the same article, the community rallied together to preserve the current location and used an educational campaign to inform college leaders and other residents why the Murphy Way location was best. One selling point for the original location is that the college already owned the land. Purchasing a new location would have been comparable in price. To further emphasize the importance of retaining the auto center in Cathedral City, the community group held a "Build it Here" rally near City Hall on April 2.
Roadrunner Motors is connected to COD's Automotive Technology program, which offers training and internships in career opportunities in the automotive service industry in a hands-on atmosphere, according to the COD website. The program gives students a general overview of the industry. Additionally, students can choose specific course classes related to steering, suspension, braking systems, automatic and manual transmission, air conditioning, electrical systems, engine management and emission control systems.