Important San Diego infrastructure projects at risk could set the County back decades.
When the California Legislature passed The Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 in April, it became a vital source of funding for San Diego infrastructure. Finally, some much-needed repairs and upgrades could be addressed.
Importance of San Diego infrastructure
Attention to roadways and other transportation projects is especially important now. The economy has rebounded in San Diego County and led to traffic congestion. “San Diego’s transitioning from being a fairly small city to becoming a much larger city,” said Mark Jacobsen, a professor at UC San Diego who studies transportation. “There will be some growing pains as we figure out how to move people around.”
Thanks in part to funding from SB 1, 14 traffic relief projects are currently underway. These include 27 miles of express lanes on I-5 from La Jolla to Oceanside and improvements along I-5 from San Diego to Oceanside. More than 30 highway overpasses will also be repaired in the North Coast Corridor. Additionally, 16 miles of HOV lanes will be constructed in Encinitas and another eight miles in Carlsbad.
Potholes and repaving projects are planned for 71 miles of pavement on SR 78, 14 miles on I-805, and 30 miles on SR 52. But projects are not limited to the freeways. There are 120 miles of pavement improvements on San Diego city streets, 11 zero-emission buses will be purchased and station improvements will be made for the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. While all of these are positive steps toward improving how San Diegans get around, it also helps reduce congestion. Everything on the slate to be funded by SB 1 is at risk of elimination if Proposition 6 passes.
Safety also at risk in San Diego
In addition to halting progress for transportation efforts, 103 projects that address local road and bridge safety face elimination as well. These include plans to improve medians on El Camino Real in an effort to prevent collisions in Carlsbad, constructing four through lanes, installing lighting, building a 250-foot bridge and adding signals at major intersections in the City of Escondido. Sidewalk improvements in Del Mar as well as safe pedestrian routes to schools in El Cajon, National City, Imperial Beach, and Encinitas are also scheduled. Safety improvements to 17 bridges on I-8 and State Routes 86, 98, 11 and 186 in Imperial County would be in jeopardy as well as two bridges on SR 79 near Warner Springs in San Diego County.
Learn more about Prop 6
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 2017 Infrastructure Report Card graded California as one of the worst states in the nation. As ASCE noted, deciding to delay on investments “only escalates the costs and risks of an aging infrastructure system.” It is an option that San Diegans and all residents of California can no longer afford. Learn more about why it’s important to vote NO on Prop 6 this November.
Below are projects currently underway in the San Diego that are at risk if Prop 6 passes.
Filling Potholes and Repaving roads
- 120 miles of pavement improvements on San Diego city streets
- 115 pavement repair and resurfacing projects throughout San Diego County
- 71 miles of pavement improvements on SR 78 between the cities of Escondido and Banner
- 14 miles of pavement improvements on I-805
- 30 miles of pavement improvements on SR 52
- Repair and replace sections of pavement on I-805 between San Diego and National City and on I-5 between the San Ysidro Port and Chula Vista
- 50 miles of pavement improvements on SR 125
- Citywide pavement repairs and filling potholes in Chula Vista
- 200 miles of resurfacing on unincorporated area roads
Traffic Congestion Relief
- Traffic congestion relief on North Coast Corridor: 27 miles of Express Lanes on I-5 from La Jolla to Oceanside, improve more than 30 highway overpasses and upgrade rail stations and platforms
- Improvements along I-5 from San Diego to Oceanside
- Install signals and ramp metering on I-5 from San Diego to Oceanside
- Improvements along the border to facilitate construction of new Otay Mesa East Port of Entry
- Construct 16 miles of HOV lanes in Encinitas and 8 miles in Carlsbad
Bridges
- Safety improvements to 17 bridges on I-8 and State Routes 86, 98, 11 and 186 in Imperial County
- Erosion control and revamp 5 bridges on SR 98 and SR 111 in Imperial County
- Replace 2 bridges on SR 79 near Warner Springs in San Diego County
- Seismic retrofitting for bridges across Imperial County
- City-wide bridge restoration in San Diego
Road Safety
- Adding lighting, advance curve warnings, flashing signs and rumble strips to improve safety throughout Imperial County
- Improve medians on El Camino Real to prevent collisions in Carlsbad
- Repair and replace drainage culverts along I-8 from Midway Drive Undercrossing to Flinn Springs Road Undercrossing in San Diego County
- Construct rumble strips, upgrade guardrail and improve 23 miles on I-8 from Viejas Creek Bridge to Pine Valley Creek Bridge in San Diego County
- Restripe 679 miles of I-5 from the international border to Riverside County line
- Restripe 703 miles of I-15 in San Diego to the Orange County line
- Construct 4 through lanes, install lighting, construct a 250-foot bridge and signalize major intersections in the City of Escondido
Public Transportation
- Procure 11 zero-emission buses, 24 coach buses and station improvements for the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System
- Replace 10 COASTER locomotives with cleaner, more efficient locomotives
- Improve on-time performance and capacity for Pacific Surfliner and Coaster Amtrak trains
- Increased Blue Line trolley frequency and the addition of a new Rapid Bus service connecting Imperial Beach and the Otay Mesa International Border Crossing
- Construct multi-modal ADA compliant improvements along 2.3 miles of University Avenue in the City of San Diego to improve service, increase ridership and improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists
- Double tracking of the LOSSAN rail corridor to improve commuter travel times
- Increased light rail service on the Blue Line Corridor, improved safety and performance, introduce new Rapid bus feeder service, and replace aging infrastructure for the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System
Pedestrian Safety
- Safe pedestrian routes to schools in El Cajon, National City, Imperial Beach, and Encinitas
- Widen sidewalk, construct 2 blocks of new sidewalk, add crosswalks and new Americans with Disability Act (ADA) sidewalk ramps to improve safety in Imperial Beach
- Sidewalk improvements in Del Mar to improve pedestrian safety
- Pedestrian improvements near National City schools to include high visibility crosswalks, American with Disability (ADA) ramps and improved signage and sidewalks
