Be In the Know


Action Alerts


State Legislation


Federal Legislation


Mark Your Calendar


JULY 2006


Be In the Know

SPRINTER Budget Receives a Boost
The milestones just keep piling up for the SPRINTER light rail project. Last month, a budget amendment of $55 million was approved for the SPRINTER, which required more funding to complete largely due to the rising costs of construction materials and management fees. Construction on the Vehicle Maintenance Facility in Escondido is progressing nicely and the first of the SPRINTER vehicles are on track to arrive later this summer, where they will undergo final assembly at the facility. A 3-mile test track is nearly done near the maintenance facility on the eastern end of the alignment where the first SPRINTERs will begin testing this fall. People in the area will notice active crossing gates and signals during the daytime, where previously trains only operated at night. The foundations for many of the SPRINTER stations are also starting to appear along the 22-mile line. NCTD is still on track to begin operations in December, 2007

Agua Hedionda Bridge in Carlsbad Nearing Completion
Passengers traveling between the Carlsbad Village and Carlsbad Poinsettia stations may have noticed the flurry of activity taking place around the Agua Hedionda lagoon railroad bridge, which is being re-built. In mid-June ten concrete beams for the new bridge were delivered by rail flat car. Overnight, the beams were unloaded and set into place for the bridge. The bridge is being replaced because the 60 year old timber trestles have been infested by marine borers. The rail has not been installed yet, but construction should be completed by September, 2006.

Regional Transportation Project Update
Each quarter, SANDAG issues a transportation progress report to highlight the multitude of dynamic projects underway in the San Diego region. By leveraging state, federal, and local TransNet dollars, SANDAG funds transportation improvements and services designed to give commuters more choices and reduce growing traffic congestion. The progress report focuses on several project areas: Highway; Transit; Arterial and Freeway Interchange; and Traffic and Demand Management.

From new auxiliary lanes on I-15, the completion of a transit center parking structure in Oceanside and funding for the Solana Beach Transit Center Parking structure, to a new SR 78 interchange and the lauded Freeway Service Patrol, the third quarter of 2006 was full of transportation highlights. For more information about regional transportation projects, go to www.sandag.org/progress.

US Transit Ridership Rises 1.3% in 2005
Nationally it has been reported that public transportation agencies have seen an increase in ridership of 1.3 percent in 2005 in comparison with the previous year. APTA also has reported that transit use is growing at a faster rate than highway travel and that there were more than 9.7 billion trips provided on public transportation last year. Over the course of 10 years it has been recognized that transportation choices are definitely in demand and Americans will part with their automobiles when quality public transit services are available. Transit ridership increased in 2005 despite the dramatic disruption of public services, including transit, in the Gulf Coast region following Hurricane Katrina. Light rail led the modes of transit for the year with a 6% increase followed by 2.8% for commuter rail; 2.5% for demand response or paratransit, 2.3% for heavy rail and 2.2% for all other modes.
Action Alerts

San Luis Rey Transit Center and North River Village, Oceanside
The San Luis Rey Transit Center project is proposed to be located at the intersection of North River Road and Vandegrift Blvd. The proposed 12 bay transit center is part of a larger mixed-use project called North River Village and includes 106 condos and 13,000 square feet of retail and office space. The transit center would serve Routes 303, 309, 313, 315, 325 and 403 when the transit center opens.

One of the principal concerns expressed by some opponents was that the project was too dense (although the density was actually less than adjacent housing projects) and the lack of a park-and-ride facility. Based on a site survey at Town Center North and a previous 2002 SANDAG survey, the estimated need is for three park and ride spaces. This can be accommodated by on-street parking. The transit center's principal use is to transfer local transit passengers from local neighborhoods making eight mile trips.

While the Planning Commission denied the project, City staff recommended its approval. Over the last four years, NCTD and the Loranda Corporation have worked together to develop a well designed mixed-use project that is compatible with existing development densities in the neighborhood, provides good transit access, housing and retail opportunities, and sets a high standard that most communities are striving to meet in terms of reasonable development.

There will be another opportunity to provide input before a final decision is made by the Oceanside City Council probably in September. Should the City Council vote to deny the project, NCTD may lose the opportunity to develop the transit center at this site and present a showcase example of a suburban mixed-use project in North County.

For more information about the project, please contact Stefan Marks at NCTD at 760-966-6539. People wanting the council to hear their position on the project should arrive at the council chamber at 5 PM or contact Oceanside City Council members. The Oceanside City Hall is located at 300 North Coast Highway, Oceanside. Be sure to fill out a speakers form and give it to the city clerk before you take a seat.

SPRINTER Right of Way Warning
Everyone should know that the area on either side of the railroad tracks, also known as the railroad right-of-way is private property and unauthorized entry into this area is considered trespassing. Warnings and citations with fines may be issued to any person not authorized to be in these areas.

The construction now under way to build the SPRINTER project makes the railroad right-of-way a particularly dangerous area to trespass. There is construction equipment and machinery, trucks and on- track equipment moving along the railroad right of way and the railroad tracks between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday. There are also freight trains running during the evenings and weekends at any time in any direction along the rails between Oceanside and Escondido.

Please do not place yourself or your family in danger by illegally crossing the railroad tracks or by trespassing along the railroad right-of-way. Use an approved crossing at each street intersection to drive, walk or bicycle across the railroad tracks. Your safety and the safety of your families depend on your adherence to the no trespassing rules.
State Legislation

State Budget Will Ignite Transportation Projects
The recently approved 2006-2007 State of California legislative budget will provide a much-needed shot-in-the-arm to San Diego's transportation infrastructure. In particular, the region stands to gain just over $289 million in funding for transit, highway, and local street and road projects. "This financial support should allow us to move forward more easily on projects that are crucial to offering more travel choices and relieving congestion in the region," said Ellen Roundtree, SANDAG Director of Governmental Relations. "The money can be leveraged with federal and local TransNet dollars to accelerate projects currently underway and start new projects on or ahead of schedule." Potential projects in-line for funding include I-5 improvements, the Solana Beach parking structure, a variety of coastal rail upgrades, the Mid-Coast Trolley, SR 905, and the SR 94/SR125 interchange. The budget provides a huge boost in transit funding through the State Transit Assistance (STA) program, which is up about 214 percent. For more information on the budget, go to http://www.govbud.dof.ca.gov.

Federal Legislation

House Passes FY 2007 Transportation Spending Bill
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Fiscal Year 2007 Transportation appropriations bill on June 14 by a vote of 406-22. No changes were made to the level of funding in the bill for transit programs, and most Department of Transportation programs were not affected by amendments with the exception of the $214 million added to Amtrak by an amendment sponsored by Rep. Steven LaTourette (R-OH). In other Capitol Hill news, the Senate moved a step closer in their annual appropriations (spending) process by adopting a provision including a cap on discretionary spending. By a vote of 98-1, this provision was accompanied with the Iraq and Katrina emergency funding bill allowing Senate subcommittees to begin their preliminary spending review
Mark Your Calendar

You are invited to attend the next General Meeting on July 27th at 9 AM.
The meeting will be held at NCTD, 810 Mission Avenue.