Bay to Bay Link Feasibility Study Results Revealed
Public Meeting to be Held Wednesday, September 10

SAN DIEGO - On September 10, 2003, the City of San Diego will hold a public meeting to discuss the long-awaited "Bay-to-Bay Feasibility Study." At the meeting, to be held from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn at 3737 Sports Arena Boulevard, City representatives will discuss the results of the study, which looks at the feasibility and cost to construct a canal between Mission Bay and San Diego Bay. The study also analyzes two alternatives: a greenbelt that runs from Bay to Bay, and a similar greenbelt that includes a decorative, non-navigable waterway.

The Bay-to-Bay concept was initiated in the 1990s. Proponents of the concept view it as a way to improve the livability in Point Loma and Midway, although some community members are concerned about the potential cost of the project. In 2001, the City initiated the Feasibility Study, using $250,000 in Redevelopment funds. The September 10 meeting will be the first time that the results of the study will be discussed publicly in detail.

The layout of the Bay to Bay concept falls within the North Bay Redevelopment Project Area. The Redevelopment Project Area centers around the junction of Interstates 5 and 8, with large development sites located on Pacific Highway, Midway, Morena Boulevard, and other major streets. It is centrally located, just minutes from Downtown San Diego, San Diego International Airport, Sea World, and Old Town. The Redevelopment Agency has targeted this area to become a major regional center for market-rate housing, high-technology office/R&D, retail, light industry and mixed-use development. New traffic and civic improvements will augment the area's easy access to freeways and major thoroughfares.

The Bay to Bay Link Feasibility Study consists of an Appendix, an Executive Summary, and the Draft Report. For questions about the Bay to Bay Feasibility Study, contact the Engineering and Capital Projects Department at (619) 533-3769. For questions about the North Bay Redevelopment Project Area, contact the Community and Economic Development Department/Redevelopment Agency at (619) 533-5458.

# # #