Yesterday was a monumental day in the CV Link project. It appears that it finally is getting more realistic and concrete in its planning. In my opinion, that is thanks in no small part to the continued questioning of the project and the funding of it after it was built. Spear heading the charge was Rancho Mirage's Mayor Dana Hobart. There were 3 major points that came out of yesterday's meeting.
1.) Each of the 9 Valley cities will now come up with their way to make budgetary contributions to the project. It will give a clearer message to residents as to their cities cost in the project.
2.) The potential involvement of Goldenvoice in the long term operation and maintenance of the project. While it is curious that it took CVAG director Tom Kirk a year to make this offer public, it is a positive development.
3.) The allowing of alternative routes in Rancho Mirage. This gives the proposal a better chance of being built. Next up is Palm Desert where Monterey Country Club has balked at the Link going through it.
CV Link is starting to take shape with less nonsense and ridiculous hype. And that is a good thing.
Steve Kelly is on 1450 KPTR Monday Thru Friday From 4 to 6P. PDT and on I Heart Radio.
Steve Vericker - Like you I believe yesterday's CVAG meeting showed signs of beneficial progress in the CV Link project. And I also agree that Rancho Mirage mayor Dana Hobart deserves all the credit for being the first city official to stand up and insist on answers with respect to costs and routing.
ReplyDeleteAs for me, I continue to have significant concerns about the project that need to be addressed.
1.) Valley cities will now assess their own budgetary contributions to the project. Until those numbers have been added up and made available the question of costs to the taxpayers remain unknown.
2.) The Goldenvoice offer remains unclear and it will only be after details become available that its value can be assessed.
3.) Some route location descriptions need clarification with respect to whether they will impact neighborhood parking spaces, private property frontages or existing traffic routes.
4.) Your note of curiosity regarding CVAG director Tom Kirk's withholding information about the Goldenvoice July 2014 discussions and offer is an important point. That information withholding points to the lack of transparency that has always been integral to the management of CV Link. Until it becomes evident the days of secrecy or lack of transparency have ended, there remains cause for concerns about the project.
Thanks very much for being one of the few in the media who appear to closely follow and seem to care about the CV Link project. Though we may disagree I find your reporting to be fair, based on honest assessments, devoid of sensationalism and you've exhibited a willingness to listen and consider other views. Again, thanks a bunch.
Bond Shands
www.DesertObserver.com
www.BondShands.com
.... so when we are in the midst of our week upon week upon week of 115° weather, just how many bicycles will be on the CD link? ( or ANYONE )
ReplyDeleteWill there be charging stations for electric vehicles? Air pumps for bicycles?
Will there be towing areas when you're electric vehicle stops running?
Will there be first aid emergency stations?
Will there be telephone capability along the way in case your cell phone dies?
Who is to pay for 24 hour lighting?
What will be the noise regulations along the lake so as not to bother the adjoining neighbors? Will there be separate noise regulations even though the CV link goes through numerous cities?
Will there be a common CV Link police patrol? ( salaries, benefits )
Will the police be monitoring CV Link cam transmissions ( so that the CV Link
can be partially patrolled remotely? )
Will food trucks be disallowed from being near the CV link?
Will there be rest stations with water misters / cooling stations and food and drink and public gender neutral restrooms?
And one of the biggest issues is who is going to pay for the maintenance, regardless of how much it will cost? If whatever supposedly "may" be coughed up by Golden Voice is under budget who will bear the burden ... Wessman? ... the crony gang that came up with this ridiculous idea? ...a new WessmanPropJ Amendment?
Maybe by 2018 there may be answers.
Steve, most of your questions can be answered by either checking out the FAQ page on CRAGs website or reading the master plan there or attending one of the many public forums that have been held throughout the Valley for the past couple of years but here's some answers: Low-voltage solar lighting on most of Link. Total electrical bill for 50 miles expected to be about $12,000. a year. Many access points throughout for emergency personnel to get on Link. Charging stations throughout the Link spaced evenly apart. Drinking fountains /rest areas throughout. Hopefully people have the sense to ride in the early morning or late evening when it's too hot but if right now someone choses to golf when it's 110 out I wouldn't want to restrict them.
DeleteSorry spell-check wrote CRAGS instead of CVAG.
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