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SANDAG report details who
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stabilization project update

Transportation
progress report
2006 average daily
traffic volumes released

September Board
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Transportation progress report

Each quarter, SANDAG issues a transportation progress report to its Board of Directors to keep them informed of the many projects underway in the region. By leveraging state, federal, and local TransNet dollars, SANDAG funds transportation improvements and services designed to give commuters more choices and reduce growing traffic congestion.

April to June 2007 was full of transportation highlights and accomplishments. More information also is available at www.sandag.org/progress.

Highway Projects
Caltrans awarded the construction contract for the TransNet Early Action Program (EAP) I-5/Lomas Santa Fe Widening project. This project will extend HOV lanes from Via de la Valle north to the San Elijo Lagoon. This is the first project delivered for construction to receive funding from the State of California Proposition 1B Corridor Mobility Improvement Account, which was approved by voters last November. Construction is scheduled to being in early fall, with completion scheduled for December 2009.

The effort for a Tier I environmental document for the SR 11 and proposed new East Otay Mesa Port of Entry (POE) continues under an aggressive schedule to complete by the end of 2007. This Tier I program level document will cover both facilities and once approved, it will allow for the preservation of right of way for both facilities as well as to support the Presidential Permit application necessary for the new port of entry.

The design work for the widening of the TransNet EAP SR 52 between I-15 and SR 125 continues, with completion scheduled for October 2007. This project will provide three through lanes in the eastbound direction from Santo Road all the way to SR 125, and it is scheduled to open in 2008.

At its September 5, 2007, meeting, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) allocated $79.5 million in construction funds for the west half of the TransNet EAP SR 52 Extension project. This project will add a new section of four-lane freeway between SR 125 and Cuyamaca Street in the City of Santee. This project will extend to SR 67 and is scheduled to open by late 2010.

Caltrans has begun shifting traffic from the temporary lanes on the SR 54 “Gap” project to the permanent lanes. Opening of these lanes comes shortly before the opening of the “Connector” section of the project, which will open concurrently with the SR 125 South Bay Expressway toll road this fall.

At its September 20, 2007, meeting, the CTC allocated $85.3 million for the SR 905 Freeway. This initial phase of the SR 905 will build a six-lane freeway between Britannia Boulevard and Siempre Viva Road. This eastern segment of SR 905 is expected to be completed by 2010. The remainder of the project, to I-805, is currently unfunded. Pending identification of the $131 million for this segment, the project could be under construction in early 2009 and completed by mid-2011.

Transit Projects
The construction contract for the I-15 Bus Rapid Transit Stations has been awarded. This project, funded with a combination of State Transportation Improvement Program, federal formula funds, and TransNet funds, will construct interim stations at Sabre Springs, Rancho Bernardo, and Del Lago, with expanded parking facilities planned for a future phase. The construction is scheduled to be complete by 2008.

The City College Station at Smart Corner project opened in July 2007. Completion of this station finishes the project for reconstruction of several East Village Trolley stations, including Gaslamp and Park and Market. Construction of additional track and streetscape improvements continue along C Street and Park Boulevard and are scheduled to be complete by December 2007.

The CTC allocated $3.9 million in STIP funds to begin the environmental and preliminary engineering work on the Sorrento-Miramar Double Track project. This effort will identify options and costs to double track, straighten the curves, and make this segment of track more reliable for the current and projected rail traffic.

The CTC also allocated $3.69 million in STIP funds for construction of the Oceanside Double Track project between Vista Way and Oceanside Boulevard in the south side of Oceanside. This project will add 1.2 miles adjacent to an existing siding for a total double track length of 2.5 miles, and will provide immediate benefit to Amtrak, COASTER, and freight trains by creating a longer passing track at a location where there are a significant number of train meets. Construction of this project is scheduled to be complete by August 2009.

Arterial and Freeway Interchange Projects
The City of San Diego awarded the construction contract for the Genesee Avenue Widening project. This project will widen Genesee Avenue from I-5 to Campus Point Drive in the University of California – San Diego area from four lanes to six lanes. The project is scheduled to be opened to traffic by spring 2008.

The City of San Diego opened to traffic in July the SR 163/Clairemont Mesa Boulevard Interchange improvements project. This project widened the Clairemont Mesa Boulevard Bridge over SR 163, widened and re-aligned entry and exit ramps, and improved the operations of this heavily used interchange.

Transportation Demand and Incident Management
Transportation Demand Management programs averted an estimated 81,400 pounds of smog-forming pollution during the fourth quarter of FY 2007, an increase of three percent over the last quarter. During this same time period, the Freeway Service Patrol assisted approximately 15,000 motorists, about 9.5 percent more than last quarter.

The SANDAG Vanpool Program participation rate grew 1.5 percent in the last quarter, from 549 vanpools to 566 vanpools. Vanpools originating in Riverside County continue to be a large and fast-growing component of the program, accounting for 44 percent of all the regional vanpools. Average ridership per vanpool was approximately 8.2 passengers, with 4,638 daily passengers participating in the program.

Project Manager:
José Nuncio, Senior Engineer/Financial Programming
Phone: (619) 699-1908, E-mail: jnu@sandag.org