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Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project: Public Transit
Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project

Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project

The Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project will extend light rail transit (LRT) service from the Old Town Transit Center to the University City community serving major activity centers such as the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), Westfield UTC, Old Town, and Downtown San Diego.

Take a tour of the Mid-Coast Corridor, see the landmarks, follow the alternative routes, and get a bird's eye view. (23MB WMV file, right click the link and select 'Save Target As ...' to download)

On July 23, 2010, the SANDAG Board of Directors unanimously reconfirmed the previously selected Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) for the Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project. One of three LRT alternatives considered during scoping, LRT 1 is the previously adopted LPA as refined to include direct service to UCSD and UTC. The LPA follows the railroad right-of-way north from Old Town Transit Cetner to Gilman Drive, then crosses to the west side of I-5 to a station at Nobel Drive and continues on to serve the UCSD campus, medical centers on the east side of I-5, and terminate at the Westfield UTC transit center (see map). The Board's motion for approval also included a direction to study the feasibility of an additional station at the VA Hospital. This will be studied as part of the environmental review process.

Project Updates

Project scoping to comply with NEPA: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) published a new Notice of Intent (NOI) in the Federal Register on July 19, 2011, to supplement the previous scoping period on the Mid-Coast Corridor Transit project’s environmental document under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). No scoping meetings were required for this NEPA scoping effort. 

NEPA Scoping Report - October 2011

Preliminary Engineering: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has approved the Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project’s entry into Preliminary Engineering. This milestone means that the project is officially in the pipeline and eligible to receive federal New Starts funding.

  • Draft SEIS/SEIR: Preparation of the Draft SEIS/SEIR continues with circulation for public comment anticipated in early 2012.

    Environmental Process

    SANDAG is now preparing a Draft SEIS/SEIR for the project in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Draft SEIS/SEIR is anticipated to be released for public review and comment in summer 2011.

    After the public comment period, SANDAG will respond to comments received and prepare a Final SEIS/SEIR for approval. The SANDAG Board of Directors will approve the final environmental document under CEQA. The FTA will approve the final environmental document under NEPA.

    Final Alternatives Report

    The Final Comparative Evaluation of Alternatives Report for the Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project includes a summary of the process for selection of alternatives for scoping; a summary and analysis of scoping comments; and a recommendation on selection of a Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) and alternatives for review in the Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project Draft SEIS/SEIR. Please review or print a downloadable copy of the report organized in sections below. A CD also is available by request from SANDAG at (619) 595-5620.

    Table of Contents and Executive Summary
    Chapter 1 Purpose and Need
    Chapter 2 Process for Development and Screening of Alternatives
    Chapter 3 Identification and Screening of Initial Alternatives
    Chapter 4 Conceptual Alternatives Considered
    Chapter 5 Analysis of Transportation, Environmental, Cost and Financial Considerations (pages 1 - 50)
    Chapter 5 Continued (pages 51 - 102)
    Chapter 6 Evaluation of Conceptual Alternatives
    Chapter 7 Review and Selection of Alternatives for Scoping
    Chapter 8 Public Outreach, Scoping Process, and Scoping Comments
    Chapter 9 Recommended Locally Preferred Alternative and Alternatives for Evaluation in Draft SEIS/SEIR
    Appendix A Conceptual Plans
    Appendix B References

    View the conceptual maps taken from the Final Comparative Evaluation of Alternatives Report. Light Rail Transit Alternatives 1, 4, and 5 make up the Locally Preferred Alternative for the Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project.

    Public Involvement Plan

    SANDAG has embarked on a comprehensive public involvement effort - detailed in the Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project Public Involvement Plan - to communicate information about the Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project and to provide opportunities for input during the environmental review process. The goal of the Public Involvement Plan is to foster a public involvement process that will support the development of the project. The plan is designed to ensure that the public receives timely and useful information about the project, has a broad range of opportunities to provide input on draft plans and environmental documents, and understands how comments have been responded to and utilized in the decision-making process.

    Get Involved

    This Web site contains up-to-date information on project status, as well as meetings, workshops and other public involvement opportunities.  Here are some ways you can become involved:

    • Attend meetings of the Project Working Group (PWG). The PWG will provide input on the Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project purpose and need, alternatives for consideration in the environmental review process, the draft environmental document (SEIS/SEIR), and the draft Public Involvement Plan. You are invited to view meetings agendas, minutes, and meeting materials.
    • Sign-up for the Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project eNewsletter
    • Participate in one or more public meetings. Notices of upcoming meetings will be available on this Web site.
    • Attend SANDAG Transportation Committee and Board of Directors meetings when the Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project is presented.
    • Provide written comments on draft documents when they become available for public review.  Draft documents will be posted on this Web site along with instruction on how to submit comments.
    • Request a presentation by SANDAG staff for your neighborhood association or civic group by contacting midcoast@sandag.org or (619) 595-5620.

    Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project E-newsletter

    Summer 2011
    December 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    December 2009/January 2010
    November 2009
    October 2009

    Project Need

    The Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project would improve public transit services between University City and Old Town and Downtown San Diego and connect corridor residents with other Trolley lines serving, Mission Valley, South County communities to the international border, and East County communities to Santee, thereby enhancing direct public access to other regional activity centers. The project will improve travel options to employment, education, medical, and retail centers for corridor residents, commuters, and visitors.

    Freeways and arterials in the Mid-Coast Corridor are generally congested and traffic congestion is projected to increase as the region grows. Population in the entire corridor is forecast to increase 20 percent and employment is forecast to increase 14 percent by the year 2030.

    The Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project will expand transportation capacity in the corridor to accommodate existing and future travel demand, particularly for peak period commute trips. The proposed project will provide an effective alternative to congested freeways and roadways for travelers.

    The University City area has developed as a major employment and high density residential area, similar to Downtown San Diego. Even though University City is considered San Diego’s second downtown and UCSD is one of the region’s largest trip generators, neither is served by direct or fast transit. In addition, existing transit throughout the Mid-Coast Corridor follows slow, circuitous and/or congested routes and is not competitive with auto travel.

    The Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project will provide efficient transit connections to University City, UCSD, and throughout the corridor through reliable, higher speed transit improvements. Effective transit that is competitive with the automobile will attract riders to transit, improve regional mobility, and help maintain and enhance San Diego’s quality of life.

    Project Status

    The current project development phase includes the preparation of a Draft and Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement/Subsequent Environmental Impact Report for the Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

    The SANDAG Board of Directors will approve the final environmental document prepared under CEQA. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will approve the final document prepared under NEPA.

    Preliminary Engineering is additionally included in the current project development phase.

    Preparation of the environmental document will include: development and evaluation of alternatives; conducting CEQA public scoping for the environmental document; selection of alternative(s) for detailed analysis in the draft environmental document; preparation of the draft environmental document; preparation of the final environmental document; and approval of the final environmental document.

    The alternatives to be considered include a revised Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA), additional LRT alignment variations, a commuter rail shuttle alternative, bus rapid transit (BRT) alternatives, a no build alternative, and a transportation systems management (TSM) alternative. The LPA previously adopted by the SANDAG Board of Directors will be re-evaluated. The LPA will be revised to reflect changes in the planned I-5 improvements as well as other changes to maximize the cost-effectiveness of the LPA for funding by FTA under the Section 5309 New Starts Program.

    Funding Status

    The Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project has been identified as a high-priority project by SANDAG and is part of the TransNet Early Action Program. 

    TransNet includes capital funds for the Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project and operating funds for the project through the year 2048.

    SANDAG would be seeking FTA New Starts capital funding for the project. The current Plan of Finance assumes that 50 percent of the capital funding would be provided by TransNet and 50 percent would be provided by FTA New Starts funds.

    The current cost for the Mid-Coast Corridor LPA is estimated to be $1.2 billion in year of expenditure dollars.

    Environmental Documents

    2001

    Mid-Coast Corridor Project
    Balboa Extension and Nobel Drive COASTER Station

    Volume I | Volume II

    1995

    Mid-Coast Corridor
    Alternative Analysis / Draft Environmental Impact Statement /
    Draft Environmental Impact Report / Final Environmental Impact Statement

    Cover | Executive Summary
    Chapter 1 - Purpose and Need
    Chapter 2 - Alternatives Considered
    Chapter 3 - Affected Environment
    Chapter 4 - Transportation Impacts
    Chapter 5 - Environmental Consequences
    Chapter 6 - Financial Analysis and Evaluation of Alternatives
    Appendices

    Final Environmental Impact Report for the Mid-Coast Corridor

  •  

    Project Manager

     

    Greg Gastelum, Project Development Program Manager
    Phone: (619) 699-7378 , E-mail: greg.gastelum@sandag.org

     

    Leslie Blanda, Project Development Program Manager
    Phone: (619) 699-6907, E-mail: lesle.blanda@sandag.org

    For media inquiries, please contact David Hicks at (619) 699-6939 or david.hicks@sandag.org.

     

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