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"Destination Lindbergh" Unveils Plans

San Diego area leaders have reached an agreement with the Airport Authority on how to approach expanding capacity at Lindbergh Field. The vision is called "Destination Lindbergh. " KPBS reporter Aliso

"Destination Lindbergh" Unveils Plans

San Diego area leaders have reached an agreement with the Airport Authority on how to expand capacity at Lindbergh Field. KPBS reporter Alison St John has more.

The Airport Authority has agreed to build ten new gates at Lindbergh Field but wait on their plan for a multi story parking garage on Harbor Drive.

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Mary Sessom, chair of the planning agency, SANDAG , says that allows time to explore the idea of an Intermodal Transit Center - or ITC -on the north side of the airport. 

Sessom: The ITC would provide access to the airport by rail which is Amtrack, Coaster and the Trolley..these are services that already passes the airport but do not effectively serves it .. there will also be for automobiles direct access off Interstate 5, with new ramps on the north. 

It’s not clear where the money for this project would come from. The Airport Authority is not volunteering to pay for it.

The mayor will lobby for federal funds. City leaders want to avoid future  gridlock on downtown city streets as airport traffic grows on Harbor Drive. They also hope to avoid building a multi story concrete parking garage on the Bayfront. But the Airport Authority reserves the right to go ahead with that plan if the Transit Center on the North side does not materialise in time

Alison St John, KPBS News