More divides in CV Link surface after PS City Council meeting
UPDATE: 7:00 p.m.
Palm Springs City Council Member Ginny Foat said she and others are gearing up to welcome possibly a new way of getting around the Coachella Valley with the CV Link project.
“It, to me, is an added incredible attraction to the Coachella Valley,” Foat said. “We have a huge bicycling community in the city, and we have a huge tourist community that comes to our city that loves to hike and bike.”
She said Palm Springs would have the longest path of any desert city, stretching 16 miles through northern and eastern parts of the city.
Palm Springs Mayor Robert Moon said he isn’t for the northern route, citing economical and environmental concerns.
“We’re getting to the point now where we have to make a decision,” Moon said. “For us to build 10 miles of CV Link in north and east Palm Springs, in an area that’s exposed to the high temperatures, and the high winds, and is really intrusive upon people that live in that part of the city is unnecessary.”
While Moon said he is against the portion that would go through the northern part of the city, Moon said he is for the route that would go around Tahquitz Creek, saying it would be easier for the city to maintain.
“We have all these other bicycle paths in Palm Springs, more than any other city has, where people can use the bicycle paths throughout Palm Springs, get down to tahquitz creek and then ride a new CV Link along Tahquitz Creek to Cathedral City,” Moon said. “That gives them over 10 miles, plus they can wind their way through Rancho Mirage where there won’t be a CV Link, and Indian Wells where there won’t be a CV Link. And then they can connect through other desert cities where they can go out to the end of it. That still leaves 38 to 40 miles of CV Link.”
But Foat said city leaders will be ready to make a decision.
“That’s what we get voted on,” Foat said. “We get voted on to handle very important issues.”
While Moon said he suggests the decision possibly be put up for residents to vote on.
“Some things are so important, and so controversial and so divisive, that the only way to really know that our residents want is to go to them,” Moon said. “In this case, it’s their tax dollars that are going to pay for this.”
Foat said Palm Springs City Council members will hold another public hearing to discuss the CV Link, after the Coachella Valley Association of Governments releases its environmental impact report.
———-
ORIGINAL STORY: 6:14 p.m.
The CV Link is a hot topic running across the Coachella Valley, and one that Palm Springs city leaders are divided — this coming after Wednesday night’s city council meeting.
KESQ and CBS Local 2’s Zak Dahlheimer is in North Palm Springs Thursday night, where part of the 16-mile proposed recreational path would go through the city.
It’s this area where Palm Springs Mayor Robert Moon said he’s against putting the project in place, while other city leaders said it will add to the valley.
Palm Springs City Council Member Ginny Foat is one of the city leaders in support of the path, saying she and others are gearing up to welcome a possible new way of getting around the valley with the CV Link Project.
Zak Dahlheimer will be live in Palm Springs to break down the newest details, which are adding to an already highly-debated topic throughout the valley. Watch his full report on KESQ at 5 p.m. and on CBS Local 2 at 6:30 p.m.
KESQ I-Team Investigation:CVAG’s $24 Million Mistake Special Report: KESQ Investigates New Divides in CV Link Project CV Link Environmental Impact Report Released Rancho Mirage Rejects CV Link Palm Springs Residents Sound Off on CV Link CV Link Could Have Gaps
