Not a new weekly feature, just a title for today’s blog thoughts/post.
Saturday a significant fire broke out in Yolo County. It quickly grew to 1700 acres in just a few hours. While these “far-away” fires do not directly impact Big Sur, they do indirectly impact us due to the drawing down of resources available for other fires, statewide.
It is an earlier than expected (by me) start to the fire season, given the amount of cold and rain we had all the way through Memorial Day weekend — just 2 weeks ago. It feels as if we went from winter straight to summer. (And there are still a few people who doubt we are in a climate crisis?) Given this developing situation, and also given that I am working on another piece for Voices http://www.vomb.org, my time will be spent doing more research, keeping an eye on fire conditions through out the state, reporting on some of them, and less focus on daily blog posts.
I have one more Tourist Tuesday planned that will take a look at a light-hearted approach Amsterdam is taking toward its own overtourism problem, but otherwise, I am focusing my energy on our issues and the solutions we need to look at and reporting on those. I also will be devoting time on community involvement in projects aligned with my interest in preserving the natural beauty and environment of Big Sur, by attending more meetings, interviewing more people, and working with others to find meaningful solutions.
I do my best to make sure all my important Big Sur related posts are shared with social media, and will continue to do so to through: two facebook accounts, my personal one (in which I do get vocal on national politics) here: https://m.facebook.com/BigsurKate; my “business” page (solely a recap of my non-nationally-political blog) here: https://www.facebook.com/BigSurKatePage/; my twitter account (warning, this is my most political social media account, and I am very vocal here regarding my political opinions); https://mobile.twitter.com/bigsurkate; or my instagram account (I am very unskilled in this arena, but I keep trying) https://www.instagram.com/bigsurkate/
I would like to note, however, that if a fire breaks out in our neighborhood this season, I can only promise to update the blog posts, so I would suggest you sign up on the right at the bottom for email notifications of any new posts.
That’s my Monday and the direction I expect this blog to take in the coming months. Thanks for your continued support.
The part we might be most concerned with is this: “Also Monday, the board agreed to back a proposal from board chairman John Phillips to devote $1.4 million in transient occupancy tax revenue to the Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau. They also directed the organization to conduct a range of economic development initiatives, including a Big Sur tourism study and shuttle, and promotion of county destinations such as the Salinas Valley and River Road wine corridor, Lakes Nacimiento and San Antonio, the Pinnacles National Monument, and more.” From Monterey Herald http://www.montereyherald.com/supervisors-wrap-up-county-budget-hearings
CALTRANS TO BUILD VIADUCT AND RETAINING WALL ON HIGHWAY 1 NEAR RAGGED POINT
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY – Caltrans will begin preliminary geotechnical work on a project to construct a viaduct and retaining wall on Highway 1 near Ragged Point on Monday, June 10.
This emergency project located between the San Carpoforo Creek Bridge and the Ragged Point Inn. (For those who know, it is at the Polar Star) It will result in intermittent lane closures through July 2019.
A temporary traffic signal will be activated by August allowing traffic to move in each direction 24/7until project completion.
Roadwork will take place Monday through Thursday from 6 am until 6 pm and from 6 am until 2 pmon Fridays. Electronic message boards will alert travelers about this roadwork.
The contractor for this $4.1 million project is Souza Engineering of San Luis Obispo, CA. It’s scheduled to be complete by Spring of 2020.
Caltrans reminds motorists to move over and slow down when driving through highway construction zones.
The Monterey Ranger District of the Los Padres National Forest, in partnership with the Forest Fire Lookout Association, will be exploring the possibility of activating the Chews Ridge Lookout and staffing it with local volunteers in order to provide firefighters with early fire detection, as well as other assistance to the National Forest. In many circumstances, catching a fire when it is still young can prevent it from becoming large and destructive. This project gives volunteers the opportunity to help improve fire safety in Monterey County rural areas, the Ventana Wilderness, and the Los Padres National Forest.
In preparation for the 119th U.S. Open Championship, the United States Golf Association (USGA) and Pebble Beach company unveiled a comprehensive transportation plan to ensure the safe and efficient movement of traffic and pedestrians during the championship, scheduled for June 10-16.
More than 16,000 satellite parking spaces have been secured to help ensure that the anticipated 250,000 fans at the U.S. Open experience trouble-free travel to and from the Pebble Beach. Local traffic representatives from the California Highway Patrol, Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, and California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) have been involved in the 18-month-long planning process with the USGA and Pebble Beach Company.
All fans traveling by car during U.S. Open week should follow event trailblazing signage to California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB) in Marina, CA, where complimentary parking and shuttle transportation will be provided to and from Pebble Beach. Shuttles will run continuously beginning at 5:30 a.m. PDT each day and continue for one hour following the conclusion of play. One-way shuttle times are expected to take approximately 30-35 minutes, depending upon traffic.
There is no general parking for fans with disabilities available in the immediate vicinity of Pebble Beach Golf Links. All other parking is by permit only. Parking restrictions surrounding the championship grounds and within the Del Monte Forest will be closely monitored and enforced. 17-Mile Drive will be closed to tourist traffic June 9 through June 16, 2019.
Handicapped-accessible parking spaces will be available at all championship parking areas for vehicles displaying appropriate HP/DP license plates or placards. Individuals requiring lift-equipped transportation are encouraged to contact the USGA Admissions Office at 800-698-0661 for more information.
The cities of Carmel, Monterey and Pacific Grove are offering express shuttle bus services to the U.S. Open for residents and community guests. For more information on fees, daily schedules, frequency, and locations of service, please visit the Carmel Chamber of Commerce (carmelchamber.org), Cannery Row Company (canneryrow.com) and Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce (pacificgrove.com) websites.
Fans and local residents wishing to utilize ride-share options to be dropped off at the championship should utilize the designated Passenger Drop-Off area along Forest Lake Road, located near Gate 1 within the Del Monte Forest. There is no parking or staging for vehicles, so pickup times will need to be coordinated accordingly. Vehicles proceeding to the Passenger Drop-Off are instructed to enter the Del Monte Forest through the Pacific Grove Gate or Morse Gate located on CA-68. Please follow directional signs and attendants to the appropriate pickup and drop-off location. Due to traffic restrictions, access is limited to vehicles no larger than a 12-passenger van or limousine. Passenger Drop-Off vehicles are not permitted to pick-up or drop-off at any other location around the championship grounds.
For the week of Monday, June 10 through June 16, local residents and through traffic are encouraged to adjust travel around peak U.S. Open arrival and departure times (7-11 a.m. and 3:30-7:30 p.m.) if possible. The local residents and area commuters from Castroville Blvd. to eastbound Hwy. 156, there will be no left turn out of Castroville Blvd. onto eastbound Hwy. 156 from Wednesday, June 12 at 10 am through Monday, June 17 at 10 am. There will be a detour to turn right from Castroville Blvd. onto westbound Hwy. 156 traffic will exit at SR-183/Merritt Street then a left at Merritt Street and a left turn back onto eastbound Hwy 156.
Local residents and area commuters from the Salinas Valley are encouraged to follow alternate routing and trailblazing signage to General Jim Moore Boulevard, avoiding CSUMB and CA-1. Due to U.S. Open traffic, delays can be expected along the primary routes of CA-1 from Exit 399A (Pebble Beach) to Exit 414 (Nashua/Molera Road). Monterey and Pacific Grove commuters should avoid the use of Exit 399A and CA-68 during peak times.
One reader was having trouble finding, making, and reading the comments on one of my blog posts with this new format, so I thought others might be having the same problem. It is in small print, at the very bottom of the post. Here is a screen shot to make it easier. Comments is followed by red dots in the shot below:
