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.
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.
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
