To Protect and Serve...Drive to Survive!

To Protect and Serve...Drive to Survive!
Train as if your life depended on it! It does!

Saturday, April 10, 2010

EVOC Ride and Drive Event

On Wednesday April 7th, San Diego Regional EVOC staff set up the proposed NTC EVOC footprint in the parking lot at Qualcomm Stadium.  We wanted to give EVOC staff and members of the JPA Workgroup an opportunity to view the size of the layout and discuss design.  Both the AM and PM sessions were well attended and many good suggestions were noted.  Everyone was impressed with the physical size of the track, with the longest straightaway measuring over 1,300 feet in length.  Our instructors took several laps around the track, providing active dialogue with many of our JPA Workgroup members as they rode along at speeds up to 70 mph.  This event proved to all of us the importance of a safe driver training area, free of outside distractions like unauthorized pedestrians and vehicle traffic, joggers, etc.

The JPA Workgroup met later this same afternoon to talk about the experience.  Work actively continues with the EVOC Project.  The College District is working to relocate their Fire EMT Program from NTC to the Miramar College campus - a critical move for full development of the EVOC.  Not only has the college committed to building EVOC at NTC, they are also expending substantial funds to relocate the Fire EMT Program. 

Discussions are narrowing in on the Specifications of the Project.  This includes everything from track design, safety equipment, EVOC building needs, training props - the actual line items necessary to make this a successful driver training facility.  A draft document is currently circulating within the JPA Workgroup to clearly define our focus on the project.  It is our hope we can finalize the Scope of Project next month so our Project Manager has as much information as possible to continue moving forward.

Another pressing assignment for the team is to develop and finalize a Memorandum of Understanding specific to the buildout, operation and maintenance of the new EVOC Facility.  Each JPA member has specific needs, roles and responsibilities.  A draft MOU is in development and we will be discussing it at future JPA meetings. 

That's the latest.  My sincere thanks to all the great EVOC instructors who volunteered to help us out with the Ride and Drive Event!