News Release

 On Friday, SANDAG officially released an environmental impact report of the draft 2021 Regional Plan for public comment. 

The draft Environmental Impact Report, known as an EIR, reviews the effects the plan will have on the community, including factors such as air quality, noise, land use, and more. Preparing the EIR is a requirement of the California Environmental Quality Act.

“We have reached another major milestone for the 2021 Regional Plan with the release of the draft EIR,” said SANDAG Chief Executive Officer Hasan Ikhrata. “The 2021 Regional Plan will transform transportation for generations to come. I encourage everyone to take this opportunity to review the document and provide feedback to help the region meet our transportation and environmental goals.”

The draft 2021 Regional Plan will enhance quality of life by making the region’s transportation system faster, fairer, and cleaner than ever before:

• Faster by optimizing traffic flow and making transit more reliable and convenient

• Fairer by improving social equity with expanded transportation options and job opportunities for historically underserved communities

• Cleaner by meeting state and federal requirements related to climate change and clean air, investing in greener transportation options, and helping to implement local climate action plans and housing goals

Members of the public, public agencies, and other interested individuals have 45 days to comment on the draft EIR. The public comment period will close on October 11, 2021. All comments postmarked by October 11 will be accepted as timely.

The draft EIR can be viewed on the SANDAG website at SDForward.com or at the SANDAG offices in downtown San Diego at 401 B Street, Suite 800, 92101, once offices are reopened to the public, or at the San Diego Central Library downtown San Diego at 300 Park Boulevard, San Diego, 92101.

Comments may be submitted through an online comment form; by emailing RegionalPlanEIR@sandag.org; by calling (619) 699-1934, toll free (877) 277-5736, and TTY (619) 699-1904; or through the mail.

Written comments can be addressed and sent to:
SANDAG Regional Plan EIR
C/O Kirsten Uchitel, Associate Planner
401 B Street, Suite 800
San Diego, CA 92101

After the public comment period closes, SANDAG will prepare written responses to comments in the final EIR, anticipated to be released in late 2021. Late this year, the SANDAG Board of Directors will be asked to consider adoption of the 2021 Regional Plan and its Sustainable Communities Strategy and certification of the final EIR.

For media inquiries, please contact Stacy Garcia at 619.699.1950 or PIO@sandag.org