The San Diego Association of Governments Transportation Committee gave the green light at its Nov. 14 meeting for a trolley line that would run from Old Town to the UCSD campus. The proposed line will run north of the Pepper Canyon Apartments, following another alignment at Voigt Drive, and extend to University Towne Center. The light rail transit line would transition to an alignment that will run parallel to Interstate 5.
“”This alignment would provide direct trips to the center of campus for UCSD students, faculty and staff, as well as service to both sides of campus,”” said Christine Rychel, project manager for the Metropolitan Transit and Development Board. “”There would also be connections between campus and the community, particularly central University City at University Towne Center shopping center.””
The proposed alignment is part of the Mid-Coast Light Rail Transit Project that will add a new 11-mile line, scheduled to be completed by 2013. There are currently two options for the location of the East Campus station, including one on Voigt Drive adjacent to Scripps Memorial Hospital, and another located east of Campus Point Drive and Voigt Drive.
Acting Chancellor Marsha Chandler, the Campus Community Planning Committee, the Associated Students and the Commuter Student Advisory Board support the line along with the committee’s endorsement.
According to Milton Phegley of the Campus Planning Office, student population is likely to increase from 22,300 to 29,100 in the next 15 years, making transportation a crucial issue.
“”Having the trolley will mean the possibility of greater housing opportunities for students, faculty and staff because of the ability to have access to other areas of the region,”” Phegley said. “”The light rail will create a better linkage between the campus and the community, allowing greater access to the campus by community members and allowing members of the UCSD community to participate more in community affairs.””
Costs for the project are estimated to range from $638 million to $665 million and will depend on any variations of the alignment. Funding for the project comes from federal sources as well as funds from the TransNet sales tax. Since the TransNet tax will expire in 2008, a measure for a 30-year extension will be added to the 2004 November election ballot.
“”If it passes, then [San Diego’s Association of Governments] will be able to use TransNet funds for the local project share and possibly provide additional funding to accelerate the project schedule,”” Phegley said.
Though the project was initially scheduled to be finished in 2013, SANDAG is studying different ways to advance the project’s completion to 2010.
“”We are looking for ways to shave time off the schedule,”” Rychel said.
The next steps for the project include a confirmation of the endorsement by the SANDAG Board of Directors on Dec. 19. The project will then enter preliminary planning, engineering and environmental documentation. According to Phegley, UCSD consultants will also be working on an updated University Center/Sixth College neighborhood plan.
Rychel said there have been some concerns regarding the project coming from the Lawrence Jewish Community Center.
“”The center has expressed concerns about traffic circulation, noise and vibration, and visual issues,”” Rychel said.
However, for John Muir College senior Jeremy Bamberger, who participated in petitions for commuter alternatives, the project is a desirable one.
“”Our public transportation system in San Diego is nowhere close to being able to handle the current population, much less the projected growth we are going to see here in the next 10 years,”” Bamberger said. “”This will undoubtedly serve the students well, and it will get plenty of positive feedback as soon as the students know about it or start to use it.””
