Drivers on Interstate 5 between La Jolla and Oceanside know that gridlock happens too often. Transportation officials know that, too, and are poised to do something about it. But from the first hint that the freeway could be widened to accommodate more traffic, opposition has been vehement.
Guests
Arturo Jacobo, Caltrans
Elyce Lowe, Move San Diego
Transcript
This is a rush transcript created by a contractor for KPBS to improve accessibility for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. Please refer to the media file as the formal record of this interview. Opinions expressed by guests during interviews reflect the guest’s individual views and do not necessarily represent those of KPBS staff, members or its sponsors.
DRIVERS ON INTERSTATE FIVE BETWEEN LA JOLLA AND OCEAN SIDE KNOW THAT GRIDLOCK HAPPENS TOO OFTEN. TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS KNOW THAT TOO. THEY ARE POISED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. FROM THE FIRST HINT THAT THE FREEWAY COULD BE WIDENED OPPOSITION HAS BEEN OUT THERE. JOINING ME NOW TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSED EXPANSION IS THE INTERSTATE FIVE PROJECT MANAGER FOR CAL TRANS AND MOVE SAN DIEGO. WELCOME. WHEN WE FIRST HEARD OF THE OPTIONS THEY INCLUDED AS MANY AS 18 LANES. NOW THEY SEEM TO BE DOWN TO FEWER. BUT, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU ARE HEARING ABOUT THE CRIES TURNING SAN DIEGO INTO A LOS ANGELES? WHAT ARE THE CURRENT OPTIONS?
THE CURRENT OPTIONS FOR I-5 IS TO PROVIDE CHOICES FOR PEOPLE. WE KNOW I-5 IS THE LIFELINE TO SAN DIEGO AND NORTH COUNTY CITIES. PROPOSAL IS TO PROVIDE EXPRESS LANES UNDER THE PROPOSED BILL. THE PURPOSE OF THE EXPRESS LANES IS TO PROVIDE CHOICES TO PEOPLE TO MOTIVATE THEM TO USE CARS AND TO BE ABLE TO PUT TRANSIT ON I-5. BY USING EXPRESS LANES WE CAN GUARANTEE A SAFER COMMUTE TIME IN THAT PERIOD THAT IS FREE OF CONJUNCTION AND CAN BE FLEXIBILITY. EXPRESS LANES WILL ACOME DATE THOSE PEOPLE.
WE HAVE CAR POOLS, TRANSIT, YOU HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE OPTIONS. WHAT'S MISSING?
IT IS INTERESTING THAT WE THINK TRANSPORTATION CHOICES BECAUSE TRANSPORTATION CHOICES IS WHAT WE NEED THROUGH TRANSIT. WE NEED TO SEE AN EVALUATION OF EXISTING LANES FOR TRANSIT BEEN WE DO AN EXPANSION.
IS THERE NOTHING THERE FOR TRANSIT UNDER THE EXISTING LANES?
THERE IS. BUT YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN WHICH IS A BLUEPRINT. VISION FOR THE FUTURE TRANSPORTATION OF THE REGION. THE ORIGINAL PLAN WILL INCREASE MASS TRANSIT. THE REGION IS PROPOSING TO PROVIDE TRACKING ON THE RAIL CORRIDOR FROM SAN DIEGO TO THE NORTH COUNTY LINE WHERE THEY ARE PROPOSING TO PUT TRANSIT ON THE EXPRESSED LANES PROPOSED FOR I-5. THERE ARE OPTIONS FOR HAS TRANSIT.
THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF OPPOSITION EXPRESSED DURING PUBLIC MEETINGS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKING PLACE. HOW IS CAL TRANS RESPONDING?
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM THE STAKEHOLDERS AND THE ELECTED OFFICIALS . OUR MAJOR TASK IS TO EDUCATE THE PEOPLE TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THE DOCUMENTS ON THE STREETS NOW IS FOR THE WIDENING OF I-5. THERE IS A BIGGER VISION FOR THE WHOLE CORRIDOR.
THE INTERESTING THING IS DURING THESE PUBLIC MEETING WE HAVE HEARD A LOT ABOUT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OPTION. PEOPLE TEND NOT TO USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION A GREAT DEAL IN THIS COMMUNITY. WHAT GUARANTEE IS IT, EVEN IF THERE IS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE, PEOPLE WON'T CHOSE TO USE THEIR OWN CARS.
YOU HAVE TO MAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FAST SO IT IS COMPETITIVE WITH THE CAR. IF YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE A BUS TRIP AND IT WILL TAKE YOU TWO HOURS YOU ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT. IF YOU CAN DEDICATE LANES TO BUSES AND DO THE DOUBLE TRACKING SO WE CAN HAVE MORE TRAINS IT IS FASTER AND MORE CONVENIENT FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE.
YOU HAVE HAD AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT. WHAT ARE THE KEY FINDINGS IN THAT?
ONE IS THAT THERE IS THE NEED TO PUT A TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IN THE FUTURE. WE HAVE PROPOSALS. EACH HAS A DIFFERENT CAUSE. THE REGIONS HAVE TO EVALUATE ALL THE INPUT AND TRY TO COME UP WITH A PLAN FOR TODAY AND THE FUTURE.
WHAT WOULD IT TAKE FOR YOU TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT?
IT WOULD TAKE A TRANSFER OF SOME OF THE FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT TO SUPPORT TRANSIT. RATHER THAN SPENDING ALL FOUR BILLION ON FREEWAY EXPANSION.
WHO WILL MAKE THE FINAL DECISIONS? WHEN WILL IT BE MADE?
IN TERMS OF THE PROPOSAL FOR THE I-5 CORRIDOR, THE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION WILL MAKE THE DECISION FOR WHICH ALTERNATIVE WILL BE BUILT FOR I-5. THAT COMES FROM THE INPUT IN THE STAKEHOLDERS.
IS THERE ANY WAY THE EXPANSION WON'T HAPPEN?
ABSOLUTELY. WE HAVE FOUR ALTERNATIVES. AT THE END OF THE DAY IT IS THE ORIGINAL CHOICE WE HAVE TO MAKE GIVEN THE PATTERN IN THE REGION AND SAN DIEGO AND NORTH COUNTY IN IF FUTURE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
