Investing in Our Transportation Infrastructure

A Vision for the Future

Using Our Resources Wisely

Working With Our Neighbors

Information and Technology

Public Safety

Streamlining Decisions

Focus on the Future

The San Diego Region

The SANDAG Board of Directors

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Investing in Our Transportation Infrastructure

With the help of the existing TransNet program, expanded freeways, more trolley service, an east-west commuter rail line, new technology, and local street improvements are among recent successes.

While federal and state funding remain a major unknown on the transportation horizon, SANDAG is working to keep improvements on freeway, transit, and streets projects on schedule. In summer 2003, when the state budget crisis was threatening to halt transportation construction projects, SANDAG approved a plan to use TransNet local transportation sales dollars to keep major projects going. While SANDAG did not have to take that action, the state budget crisis demonstrated that SANDAG may need to step in and issue bonds, reallocate funds, and postpone some projects to keep priority transportation construction projects underway.

SANDAG continues to make progress on implementing the $42 billion Regional Transportation Plan, known as Mobility 2030. Among recent transportation milestones were the groundbreaking for a new transit center in Rancho Bernardo along the 20-mile “freeway within a freeway” up the middle of I-15 from Kearny Mesa to Escondido. The new facility will provide dedicated lanes to new bus rapid transit vehicles as well as carpools, vanpools, and FasTrak™ drivers. Other highlights include continued work on the I‑5/I‑805 merge; more highway lanes added to SR 125; and environmental work on route 905 along the U.S.-Mexico Border. SR56, linking Interstates 5 and 15 opened to traffic in July 2004.

The Mission Valley East trolley expansion continues with the completion of the tunnel through San Diego State University campus. This five-mile extension will take the trolley east from Qualcomm Stadium in Mission Valley to La Mesa via SDSU. This new extension will be put in service during 2005. Construction also has begun on the Sprinter, the Oceanside-Escondido Light Rail Project. In service by 2006, the new commuter rail line will serve 15 stations along the route from Oceanside to Vista, San Marcos, and Escondido, including stops at MiraCosta College, Palomar College, and California State University San Marcos.

More than 200 projects funded by the TransNet half-penny sales tax are underway each year throughout the region to improve and expand our local streets and roads. The TransNet program will allocate more than $1 billion to local streets and roads for jurisdictions to make repairs, construct and widen roads, install traffic signals, and improve interchanges.

TransNet also contributes one million dollars each year to support and expand the nearly 1,000 miles of bikeways in the San Diego region. Projects are ongoing to provide access to transit, build additional bikeways, and expand the entire network for safe and convenient bicycle travel.