Date Palm Drive is the City’s main north-south regional arterial highway, running from Varner Road to East Palm Canyon Drive. It crosses several major roadways, including Interstate 10 and Vista Chino. The drive accommodates over 29,000 vehicles daily between Interstate 10 and the downtown corridor and more than 9,000 vehicles between Interstate 10 and Varner Road.
The section of Date Palm Drive from Interstate 10 to Varner Road is designated as Segment 1 of the Varner Road Interstate 10 Bypass Route. The city and the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) are currently working on Phase 3 for this segment's full build-out. Phases 1 and 2 have already been completed, resulting in a two-lane roadway.
Phase 3 aims to expand Date Palm Drive to six lanes, including medians, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and a traffic signal at the intersection with Varner Road. This phase is presently in the design, environmental review, and right-of-way acquisition stages. An improved culvert crossing over Long Canyon Wash Channel near this intersection is also part of the plan. Riverside County Flood Control District (RCFCD) has committed funding for these improvements. Construction for Phase 3 is expected to begin in mid-2025.
Varner Road serves as the city’s northernmost regional arterial highway running west to east from city limit to city limit. It connects Date Palm Drive to Bob Hope Drive and carries up to 16,000 vehicles daily along its route through Cathedral City and other down-valley cities.
The Varner Road project divides into specific segments under the Varner Road Interstate 10 Bypass Route plan:
- Segment 1: Date Palm Drive from Interstate 10 to Varner Road.
- Segment 2a: Varner Road from Date Palm Drive to Edom Hill Road.
- Segment 2b: Varner Road from Date Palm Drive to Mountain View Drive.
- Segment 3: Varner Road from Mountain View Drive to Palm Drive.
- Segment 4: Varner Road from Date Palm Drive to Bob Hope Drive.
In November 2023, the City and CVAG entered an agreement with a consulting engineering firm for designing Segments 2a, 2b, and 3 at nearly $2.4 million. This design effort will conclude by late-2025 and will feature plans for a four-lane roadway from Palm Drive to Mountain View Drive and a six-lane roadway extending from Mountain View Drive to Date Palm Drive. The designs will include traffic signal modifications at key intersections along with provisions for medians, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, multi-use paths for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as phased construction options.
Currently in its data collection phase—addressing right-of-way issues alongside utilities and environmental considerations—the project's preliminary construction cost estimate stands at over $30 million for Segments 2a through 3 combined. RCFCD has again pledged just under $2 million towards improving wash crossings along this route.
The goal remains having a “shovel-ready project” upon completion of designs—a status that could enhance reviews when applying for federal or state grants for construction funding.
City staff continue lobbying representatives such as State Assemblymember Wallis and Congressmember Ruiz who have shown positive support by participating in related task forces aimed at completing this project end-to-end. Discussions with Congressmember Calvert’s office yielded additional backing while meetings with Senator Butler’s staff led her forwarding funding requests to the Senate Appropriations Committee for fiscal year budget considerations—a significant advancement in securing financial support thus far.
Residents are encouraged also participate by contacting their legislative representatives regarding funding needs using provided contact details:
Assemblymember Greg Wallis
Portions of Riverside & San Bernardino Counties
(760)346-6342
Congressman Raul Ruiz
Indio District Office (760)424-8888
Congressman Ken Calvert
Palm Desert Office (760)620-0041
Senator Laphonza Butler
Los Angeles Office – (310)914-7300
For further information or inquiries contact Cathedral City at https://www.cathedralcity.gov/.