After nearly a decade, the finish line is in sight.
Featured image credit: Coachella Valley Link
It’s hard to believe that it’s almost been 10 years since the Palm Springs community first got a look at the plans for a 40-mile paved stretch traversing the Coachella Valley exclusively reserved for bicyclists, pedestrians, and electric vehicles (moving at a mellow pace). We’re, of course, referring to the Coachella Valley Link, better known simply as CV Link. And the homestretch is in sight.
What is CV Link?
If you live in the Coachella Valley, you’re likely already well acquainted with CV Link. But for those unfamiliar, the CV Link initiative is committed to establishing a greener, healthier alternative transportation solution that connects the cities and neighborhoods of the sprawling Coachella Valley. Automobiles are not permitted on CV Link. Rather, it is reserved for bicycles, foot traffic, and even golf carts. For our Angeleno readers, consider it a permanent CicLAvia that runs from Palm Springs to Coachella.
The Major Existing Segments of CV Link
Phase one of CV Link is typically divided into two major segments: Palm Springs North and Palm Springs South.
Palm Springs North
- Passes over the Whitewater River levee
- Start: Vista Chino
- Termination: Palm Springs Visitor Center
Palm Springs South
- Passes along Tahquitz Creek
- Start: Palm Canyon Drive
- Termination: Demuth Park
Notably, Palm Springs North is comprised of all new construction, whereas Palm Springs South incorporated existing bicycle lanes into its augmented construction. Palm Springs North opened in 2018, connecting the cities of Palm Springs and Cathedral City to immediate acclaim. Since then, additional stretches of CV Link have opened across Palm Springs and Palm Desert.
Admirable Progress
Ground officially broke on CV Link construction in 2017, with its first stretch opening to the public just a year later. The first phase that was officially planned out in 2016 is on track for completion by the year’s end, satisfying the commitment for a 40-mile trail stretching across the valley. However, some of these trails will still need additional beautification work extending into 2026. The project has done an admirable job of more or less staying within the approximately $100 million budget. However, lawmakers voted to set aside an additional $15 million to keep CV Link on track through its final leg of phase one.
Challenges to CV Link
It may sound like smooth sailing, but the project has had its fair share of challenges over a decade of progress. Many of these obstacles have boiled down to civic bureaucracy, the cost of a massive project spanning multiple municipalities and governments. Additionally, forward movement hinged on the approval of the Coachella Valley Water District. Now, with the finish line in sight, it almost feels like a miracle that all the intricate moving pieces have fit so seamlessly into place. Well, almost seamlessly.
The cities of Rancho Mirage and Indian Wells notably pulled out of CV Link, inevitably opting to establish their own system of bicycle paths independent of the project. Daunted by the mounting costs, safety concerns, and sources of funding, the two cities have left noticeable gaps in what would have been a continuous system of pathways and trails.
A Proposed Second Phase
At some point, the initial phase would have been considered the entirety of the CV Link system. But a second phase is in the very early stages of development. This phase would continue to extend CV Link from a Mecca/North Shore trail, effectively bringing the program to the Salton Sea. The next step will be a study overseen by Dokken Engineering at an estimated cost of $1.2 million. Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) and Riverside County have agreed to split this cost to keep progress moving forward.
Celebrating at the Finish Line
While vast portions of the CV Link trails are already open to the public, the entirety of phase one will likely open later in the year after the brutal summer months have given way to more soothing temperatures. With Coachella Valley residents wanting to get out and enjoy the cooler weather, it will be the perfect introduction for the final stretches of the long-term CV Link project.
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