PALM DESERT, CA – A College of the Desert program that aimed to bring an advanced automotive and transportation learning center to Cathedral City has been scrapped, it was announced Wednesday.

Instead, College of the Desert will be evaluating alternative locations for its “Roadrunner Motors” program. The decision to choose a new site for the state-of-the-art facility came after a tax review determined the costs at the planned location were “sky-high” than expected, according to a press release from the college.

“I take very seriously my responsibility to manage the dollars that are entrusted to us by the community,” said COD Superintendent / President Martha Garcia, Ed.D. “It’s important to understand how the decisions we make today can affect us financially in five, 10 or even 20 years. I am committed to ensuring that we remain accountable for the public purse.

The planned facility on Perez Road, adjacent to the Cathedral City Auto Center, was announced early last year and was expected to feature a modernized lab and classrooms with cutting edge technology and emerging innovations.

College of the Desert is committed to identifying possible site alternatives and will provide location recommendations in the coming months, according to the press release.

“We strongly believe in the Roadrunner Motors concept and are confident that we will find a solution that will spark the interest of our students,” Garcia added.

Roadrunner Motors courses provide training and skills in the industry and create a pipeline of jobs in the area, connecting students with local opportunities, according to the college.