Hello, La Quinta residents. As we say hello to March, we look back on a very wet February. With some of the cleanup being undertaken around the valley, I am pleased to report our roadways and infrastructure held up quite well. Thank you to all the drivers and pedestrians who showed patience and caution during the heavy rains, helping to keep our city safe for everyone.
The La Quinta Village Complete Streets Project is set to start in June of 2019 with phase 1 going along Calle Tampico. The project is focused on making roadways safer and more accessible to pedestrians and bicycles in the La Quinta Village. This project received $7.3 million in funding for construction through a grant called the “Active Transportation Program”. The project will add five roundabouts in the Village area.
Other projects in the works include the Dune Palm Road Widening Project that will widen Dune Palms Road from Blackhawk Way to the northern approach of the future Dune Palms bridge, taking it from two to four lanes. Construction on this project is anticipated to begin June of 2019. The Eisenhower Retention Basin Project is anticipated to begin construction in May of 2019. The drainage improvements will provide flood protection for up to a 150-year storm event. The basin is designed to collect runoff from multiple intersections and accept overflow from the Legacy Villas development.
The planned XPark continues to progress, with great feedback being provided at the recent Riders Workshop held on February 11th. The feedback from that event will allow both City staff and the developers from Spohn Ranch to present the final concept to City Council this month. The XPark has an estimated completion date of December 2019.
After the January 15, 2019 Study Session, City Council gave direction to City Staff to move forward with a Public Safety Camera System pilot project, with cameras installed at Washington Street and Eisenhower Drive, Washington Street and Ave. 52, and Jefferson Street and Ave. 49, at no cost to the city for ninety days from March through May. This is designed to create efficiencies in the delivery of public safety services and contain ever-increasing costs of police services. City Hall will have a live viewing room starting in March where the public is welcomed to view the system and see its capabilities during normal business hours.
I hope all of you have a chance to enjoy some art this month, spend some time in our parks and trails, and take in the beautiful wildflowers that are in bloom. Make sure to stop by the La Quinta Arts Festival happening in our very own Civic Center Park beginning on the 7th and running through the 10th. For our youth community, Desert Youth Olympics will take place at La Quinta High School on March 9th and launch a rocket at Mission LQ happening at Monticello Park on the 23rd. March is a special time to enjoy La Quinta!
