Lobbying for SR 56 Connectors

by Councilman Scott Peters
August 2003

Last month, I traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with lawmakers to seek funding for connectors between Interstate 5 and State Route 56, set to open in a year. Since these connectors will be important in keeping westbound traffic off of Carmel Valley’s neighborhood streets, I want to give you an update.

The history of SR 56 is a story of how not to build a highway. At the end of the years of wrangling over funding, environmental issues, permitting and community disputes, the highway was designed and approved without direct connectors from and to the northern portions of I-5. Today, even as construction proceeds, we are trying to retrofit the highway with a ramp project that ultimately could cost $139 million.

Through a dedicated and creative collaboration of Caltrans, the City of San Diego and community members, we have devised a three-phase implementation plan for the connectors. Phase one is to improve City streets by adding turn lanes and implementing signal timing and coordination. Phase One will improve operations on eastbound Carmel Valley road to permit an improved flow of southbound to eastbound traffic, and make operational improvements on I?5 and SR 56 by widening off and on ramps where feasible. Phase two is the northbound connector, to move traffic from west to north. Phase three is the connector that will move southbound traffic to eastbound 56. We are continuing to seek configurations for a connector that will be less imposing than the early plans for a 70-foot high flyover ramp.

This year’s federal discretionary highway funding for the entire nation is approximately the cost of our ramps. Our best long term strategy for funding the entire project is to get it included in the reauthorization of the federal transit program that is expected to take place this year or next year. However, the reauthorization has brought out major policy disagreements within Congress, including how much money to allocate to transit projects versus roads. Within the majority party, there is also a dispute over whether to raise gas taxes by five cents per gallon, which would significantly affect the amount of money available. Many people I spoke with are skeptical that there will be any reauthorization until next year.

In the meantime, we have been able to keep momentum for the connectors through smaller allocations each year for specific purposes. Two years ago, Congressman Cunningham was able to bring San Diego $2 million to complete all of the environmental analyses that will support the connectors. Last year, he obtained another $1.5 million to aid in the relocation of fiber optic lines that will permit the widening of I-5 and the completion of the northbound connector.

This year, we have asked for $5.2 million in federal funds to construct a dedicated exit lane for traffic headed west on 56 to I-5 north. Traffic engineers anticipate that when SR 56 opens next year, westbound traffic wanting to head north will be delayed by a line of cars wanting to get through the meters to head south. Our idea is to construct a third westbound lane beginning just east of Carmel Country Road, dedicated to northbound traffic. This would provide a direct conveyance to Carmel Valley Road where cars can proceed to I-5 north. Although it is not a direct conveyance to the highway, it will be more direct than allowing drivers to filter off through the neighborhood streets.

Now is a critical time in the federal budget process for us to make this request, and I felt it was important for me to be in Washington personally. I met with the entire San Diego delegation, Senator Boxer’s office, as well as key members of the Appropriations Committee, which will make the final budget decisions. I was able to explain the importance of this issue to Carmel Valley families and to the entire region, and to emphasize that funding for SR 56 and its missing connectors have been assigned first priority for the entire region by the San Diego Association of Governments. I hope that my visit will help bring these important projects forward for our neighborhood, and I will continue to keep you up to date on the issue.