Rancho Mirage: missing link in CV Link project

The city of Rancho Mirage is following through on a promise to the Coachella valley Association of Governments, or CVAG.

As of Tuesday, the city will no longer be a part of the CV Link.

The proposed 50-mile trail designed for various outdoor activities has been a point of contention for the city for months.

Now they’re holding true to their word.

“We said we would withdraw Ramon Road as a possible alternative if they went forward with their Highway 111 plan. They have gone through with their plan and so we have withdrawn it. There will be no CV Link through Rancho Mirage,” Mayor Dana Hobart said.

Mayor Dana Hobart said there’s numerous reasons why the city does not like the Highway 111 option.

Their main concern — the impact on businesses and residents.

“That is our highest used route, that’s where all of our businesses are, many of our residences boarder on Highway 111,” Hobart said.

In a statement from CVAG it said “The city modified a map to eliminate all but a slim segment of Ramon Road and did not provide any way of connecting this segment to the core of CV Link,”

Which is why CVAG didn’t include it in their environmental impact review.

In a letter to CVAG, Rancho Mirage City Manager Randal Bynder expressed frustration over comments CVAG made about a subsequent council approving their desired route.

Hobart said that will never happen.

“It’s not just the city council that is of that opinion it’s like Highway 111 is an outrageously bad choice, it is the opinion of like 99 percent of every person in the city of Rancho Mirage.

CVAG said they’re going forward with their plans regardless of Rancho Mirage.

They said they have plenty of other options to consider.