Quick Links
Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement/Subsequent Environmental Impact Report
June Public Meetings Notice
Public Meeting Presentation
Public Meeting Informational Boards
Project Description
The Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project will extend Trolley service from Santa Fe Depot in Downtown San Diego to the University City community, serving major activity centers such as Old Town, the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), and Westfield UTC. The proposed project would be funded in partnership by SANDAG (utilizing the TransNet half-cent sales tax) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) New Starts Program. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2015, with service starting in 2018.
The Trolley extension project and route - known as the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) - was approved by the SANDAG Board in July 2010. It begins just north of the Old Town Transit Center, and travels in existing railroad right-of-way and alongside Interstate 5 to Gilman Drive, then crosses to the west side of I-5 just south of Nobel Drive and continues on to the UCSD campus, crosses back over I-5 near Voigt Drive to the UCSD east campus and medical centers on the east side of I-5, transitions into the median of Genesee Avenue, and continues down Genesee Avenue to the Westfield UTC transit center (view map).
Eight stations are proposed as part of the project at Tecolote Road, Clairemont Drive, Balboa Avenue, Nobel Drive, Pepper Canyon (serving UCSD west campus), Voigt Drive (serving UCSD east campus), Executive Drive, and the Terminus Station (at the Westfield UTC transit center). A station at the VA Medical Center also is included as an option in the project’s environmental document.
The project will connect corridor residents with other Trolley lines serving Mission Valley, East County, and South County. As an extension of the existing Blue Line, it will offer a one-seat (no transfer) ride from the international border and communities south of Downtown San Diego all the way to University City. This new service will enhance direct public access to other regional activity centers and improve travel options to employment, education, medical, and retail centers for corridor residents, commuters, and visitors.
Take a tour of the Mid-Coast Corridor, see the landmarks, follow the LPA, and get a bird's eye view. (23MB WMV file, right click the link and select 'Save Target As ...' to download)
Project Need
Freeways and arterials in the Mid-Coast Corridor are generally congested and traffic congestion is projected to increase more as the region grows. The population along the corridor is predicted to increase 19 percent by the year 2030 while employment is predicted to increase 12 percent. 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 project will provide an effective alternative to congested freeways and roadways for travelers and will reduce vehicle miles traveled.
The University City area has developed as a major employment and high density residential area, similar to downtown San Diego. Although University City is considered San Diego’s second downtown and UCSD is one of the region’s largest trip generators, neither is directly served by regional transit. The Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project will provide efficient transit connections to University City, UCSD, and reliable, higher speed trolley service throughout the corridor. 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 draft environmental review document for the project – called the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement/Subsequent Environmental Impact Report (Draft SEIS/SEIR) – has been completed, and is available for public review and comment from May 17 – July 17, 2013. (Please note: additional day was added to the comment period.) This document is the result of years of technical study and public input. It identifies potential impacts that may result from the implementation of the project, as well as proposed mitigation measures to address impacts.
To facilitate public comment on the document, SANDAG is hosting four public meetings and one public hearing during June 2013 in locations throughout the Mid-Coast Corridor. These meetings provide an opportunity for the public to learn more about the project and offer comments. Meeting details are as follows:
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Open House from 4 to 7 p.m.
Caltrans District 11 Office, Garcia Conference room
4050 Taylor Street, San Diego, CA 92110
(Bus 8, 9, 10, 28, 30, 35, 44, 88, 105, 150 at Taylor St./Juan St. & Green Line Trolley and COASTER at Old Town Transit Center)
Friday, June 21, 2013
Public Hearing at 9 a.m.
SANDAG Board Room (7th Floor)
401 B Street, San Diego, CA, 92101
(Bus 3, 120 at 4th Ave./B St. & Bus 2, 7, 15, 30, 50, 150, 923, 992 at Broadway/5th Ave. & Blue and Orange Line Trolley at 5th Ave. Trolley Station)
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Open House from 4 to 7 p.m.
Cadman Elementary School, School Auditorium
4370 Kamloop Avenue, San Diego, CA 92117
Meeting Presentation
Monday, June 10, 2013
Open House from 3 to 6 p.m.
UCSD, Price Center East, The Forum, Level 4
9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093
Meeting Presentation
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Open House from 4 to 7 p.m.
La Jolla Country Day School, Community Room
9490 Genesee Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037
Meeting Presentation
Public Meeting Informational Boards
Purpose & Need Station
Public Involvement Station
Alternatives Evaluated in the Draft SEIS/SEIR Station
Transportation Station
Construction Station
Environmental Station
Property Acquisitions & Relocations Station
Comments may also be submitted via mail, email, fax and voice mail.
All comments must be received or postmarked between May 17 and July 17, 2013, to be included in the Final SEIS/SEIR:
Leslie Blanda, Project Development Program Manager
SANDAG
401 B Street, Suite 800
San Diego, CA 92101
midcoast@sandag.org
Fax: (619) 699-1905
Voice Mail: (619) 595-5620
Public Involvement
In 2008, SANDAG initiated 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 community input during the environmental review process. SANDAG encourages the public to get involved in the project development process.
Here are some ways you can become involved:
• Attend meetings of the Project Working Group (PWG). The PWG is composed of a variety of members representing constituencies in the Mid-Coast Corridor, including UCSD, community planning groups, environmental groups, employers, and transportation advocates. They are providing input to SANDAG throughout the environmental review process. Members of the public are invited to view meeting agendas, minutes, and meeting materials, as well as attend meetings.
• Sign-up for the Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project eNewsletter.
• Participate in one or more public meetings.
• 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. See the 'Project Status' section for instructions to submit comments on the Draft SEIS/SEIR.
• Request a presentation by SANDAG staff for your neighborhood association or civic group by contacting midcoast@sandag.org or (619) 595-5620.
Funding Status
The project has been identified as a high-priority project by SANDAG and is part of the TransNet Early Action Program. TransNet will provide a 50 percent local match to federal New Starts funding. TransNet also will provide operating funds for the service through the year 2048.
The current project budget is $1.7 billon, exclusive of financing costs. The project budget will be updated for inclusion in the Final SEIS/SEIR and updated again during Preliminary Engineering prior to entering Final Design in the FTA New Starts process.
Scoping/Environmental Documents
Draft SEIS/SEIR - May 2013
Notice of Availability: English | En Español - May 2013
Notice of Completion - May 2013
NEPA Scoping Report - October 2011
CEQA Scoping Report - July 2010
Final Comparative Evaluation of Alternatives Report
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
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
Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project E-newsletter
Fall 2012 | Spring 2012 | Fall 2011 | 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 Map - May 2013 [JPG, 1390 KB]](/uploads/projectid/projectid_250_15921.jpg){kind=link}