La Quinta golf cart plan off track for now

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It's been nearly a year since the City Council unanimously approveda public golf cart path program. Officials originally hoped itwould at least be in the works by the fall, but say they won't beable to begin until some street improvements are made to DesertClub Drive, Avenida Bermudas, the wall next to Avenue 52 andpossibly Calle Tampico.
The estimated cost of the project is $450,000, down from theinitial $1.2 million estimate, said Assistant City Manager DougEvans.
"First we have to make enough room for the paths and re-stripe afew areas," he said. "The project will be centered around the cove,village and La Quinta resort for now. So, shopping along Highway111 in your golf cart is inappropriate and you can't do that. We'retaking it one step at a time. We'll gage the usage beforeexpanding."
Palm Desert and Rancho Mirage have used golf cart pathways forseveral years. La Quinta has had the idea on its radar since a 2003General Plan update where a "Golf Cart Transportation Plan" wasintroduced.
The California Vehicle Code allows cities to establish publicstreet golf cart programs to make them street legal.
Evans said when La Quinta's program is complete, drivers will payan annual fee between $10 and $20 per year to register their cartsand have them inspected at City Hall.
The cart program aims to reduce traffic congestion and save gasmoney, which is why cove resident Adrienne Erlich-Sigmund calls theplan a fabulous idea.
"I would certainly use it to run errands like going from the covedown to the library or grocery store. I think it's a great idea andwould save all of us gas money," she said.
Once the program is official, city staff will provide drivers witha brochure that maps the cart routes and program details.
The proposed first stage of the cart program would consist of afour-mile path that would wind around the city's south side. Thecity's master plan calls for a cart charging station near thevillage, but Evans said that is on hold.
No timeline has been set for the project, but Evans said golf cartstickers can be issued six weeks after the City Council approvesfinal plans.