Major Backup Prompts Community Forum On Intestate 10
Drivers are still angry about the massive traffic jam last month on Interstate 10, when a construction project in the Banning Pass caused a backup that stretched all the way to Palm Springs.
Local elected officials and the California Department of Transportation, or Caltrans, held a public meeting on Thursday to explain what went wrong that day and what’s being done to keep it from happening again.
There were more empty chairs than filled seats at the meeting, but organizers said that’s because the public has already chimed in.
“There was a lot of calls and a lot of anxiety — a lot of anger,” said Assemblyman Brian Nestande, R-Palm Desert, who co-hosted the discussion.
About three-dozen people showed up to the public forum held at the Rancho Mirage Public Library, but many of them were local elected officials from neighboring cities.
Nestande and Assemblyman Manuel Perez, D-Coachella, sat on the panel alongside Supervisor John Benoit, District-4, Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol officials. Caltrans and the CHP both apologized to the public, acknowledging that mistakes were made and communication was poor and saying plans are in place to make sure those mistakes are not repeated.
“How do we disseminate information very quickly? How do we clear that road very quickly? And if it’s going to take some time, how do we alleviate the traffic and turn traffic around or give traffic some other options?” said Malcolm Dougherty, acting director of Caltrans, who listed some of the issues discussed by administrators in at the headquarters in Sacramento.
Caltrans said removing barricades in the Banning Pass I-10 median to help redirect traffic, if needed, is procedure, but was not followed.
There is also an existing agreement with the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians to open up the reservation to allow cars to pass by in emergencies.
More frontage roads are in development, and permanent electronic signs will be installed, starting in the summer, warning drivers from Arizona to the Coachella Valley of major traffic delays.
“It’s over and done with. You can’t redo it,” said Barry Gowen, a Rancho Mirage resident who wrote a letter to Caltrans after the traffic fiasco, expressing his concerns.
“I wouldn’t have wanted to be one of those people,” said Susan Hale, a Palm Springs resident who attended the forum.
During the meeting, Caltrans District 8 Director, Raymond Wolfe announced that he’s accepted a new position as the executive director of the San Bernardino Associated Governments. He starts his new position on April 9.
Wolfe added that the timing is just a coincidence, and that he interviewed for the position long ago. He said his exit has nothing to do with the traffic mess.
