Representatives gathered last Friday in front of Banning City Hall to publicize an agreement between the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, the City of Banning and Riverside County, an historic agreement to build a road linking Banning and Cabazon.

The road, which would cross Indian land, would serve as an alternate route in case of a closure of Interstate 10 in the Banning-Cabazon area, officials said. The route could cost upwards of $20 million.

Tribal Chairman Robert Martin, out-going Banning Mayor Brenda Salas and county Supervisor Marion Ashley met with other dignitaties for the signing. “This is a historic event,” Supervisor Ashley said.

The agreement is in the form of a letter asking Rep. Jerry Lewis for his support in shifting $1.75 million in federal funds from Banning's jurisdiction to Riverside County, which is to act as “lead agency” in getting the roadway built.

One impetus for the need of an alternative freeway route was a crime investigation. Detectives were forced to close I-10 both ways two years ago in the Cabazon area to investigate a crime, and traffic was snarled for 12 hours.

 
 
Ashley said that he was “very concerned” that another such shut down could happen.

“We really need to get this going,” he said.

The need for an alternative route isn't new and there had been a proposal to build a route north of the freeway but that idea has stalled because of the impact on residents. The new idea is for the route to be south of the freeway and that is the proposal that has been agreed-on by the three parties, Banning, county and Morongo Indians.

Ashley said the southern route has advanced thanks to the tribal alliance.

“The spirit of cooperation, at this level has been new to us,” said Robert Martin, tribal chairman. He added that the north route, which would have simply been an extension of Ramsey Street east, was “too close to the community of Morongo.”

Ashley estimated the project would take about three years to complete. “That's warp speed for a highway project of this magnitude,” he said.

Banning and the Morongo tribe had been unable to reach an agreement on the original project, the northern route or the extension of Ramsey, as the tribe said it crossed land currently used by residents of the reservation.

Other officials praised the new spirit of cooperation.

“I am very encouraged to see these three entities, Riverside County, the City of Banning, and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, coming together on a project of this magnitude,” said David W. Newton, chairman of the West Desert Municipal Advisory Council, after the event. “With the current growth we are witnessing in the Pass area, an unhindered thoroughfare linking the Community of Cabazon and the City of Banning will be a welcome and necessary improvement.”

He said another benefit of a southern route, which would start at about Hargrave Street in Banning and connect with Main Street in Cabazon, will be to residents of Cabazon who are now cut off from access to the interstate by train crossings.

The letter to Rep. Lewis basically asks the definition of the route be changed for legal reasons from the Ramsey Street extension to the “Airport Drive” route, in other words making the route a southerly one rather than the former northerly route. Such a change would designate the $1.75 million from voter-approved funds originally earmarked for the north route to the south route.

Juan Perez, director of transportation for the county, said the route is “not directly mapped out yet.” He said planning for the southern route could begin in two months. “The project still needs to be aligned and designed,” said Perez.

The route needs to be approved, property acquired and there are two creeks to cross, he said. “Then once the plans are drawn the project will need to go through environmental studies,” said Perez.