University City: Improving Traffic Circulation and Increased Mobility

by Councilman Scott Peters
for the La Jolla Village News
August 2005

Traffic remains a top concern among residents and businesses in the greater University City area. Despite our City’s fiscal challenges, I remain committed to working with the community to bring improved traffic circulation and increased mobility to University City. I’d like to give you an update on some transit and transportation projects moving forward in North City.

Nobel Coaster Station. For years, the metropolitan transit agency has planned a Coaster stop in University City, at Nobel. Now that the region has spent over $2 million to design that station and it’s ready to be built, the transit planners have changed their minds! In April, I drove up to Oceanside to the meeting where the Joint Committee on Regional Transit heard the staff’s proposal to block the Nobel Coaster. At the meeting, staff blamed a $3 million anticipated cost overrun to suggest that San Diego Association of Governments (“SANDAG”) take the $13 million already budgeted for the Nobel Coaster station and redirect it to other regional transit projects. While that that motion failed on a 3-3 vote, the staff will make the same recommendation to the SANDAG Transportation Committee for a final decision in October. If you’re concerned about SANDAG abandoning these long standing plans for transportation choice in University City, please let them know at gga@sandag.org.

Trolley. Another transportation project moving along is the Mid-Coast Light Rail project, a planned extension of the existing trolley line. The 10.7-mile extension will stretch north from Old Town’s Transit Center through UCSD’s west and east campuses, terminating at UTC, as early as 2011. Last January, the Mid-Coast project was listed as a Tier 1 Project for early application of funds from TransNet. This is great news for UC (although the trolley will certainly come more slowly and at many multiples of the cost of the Coaster station).

Super Loop. I am also happy to announce that the SANDAG Transportation Committee recently endorsed adding the Super Loop to the TransNet Tier 1 program. Planed as a distributor for the Mid-Coast project, the Super Loop is a 6.5-mile, high-quality bus circulator designed to provide frequent service, connecting UCSD with the heart of University City’s high intensity employment and residential areas. The Super Loop is expected to be operational as early as 2008 or 2009.

Road Work. I’ve heard from many of you who are frustrated with the construction detours and traffic delays along La Jolla Village Drive. I agree, the construction has been bothersome for us all, but in remaining committed to bringing improved traffic circulation to the area, I’m glad to see this project on its way to completion. Once complete, I hope you find the enhanced interchange at Gilman and the additional lanes, new sidewalks and bike paths along La Jolla Village Drive helpful in improving the overall safety and traffic flow in the area.

In serving University City and La Jolla, I will stay committed to fight for smarter, creative and more effective solutions to mobility in the North City. Our economy and our quality of life depend on it.