SUBJECT:

Public Meeting regarding Extension of Trolley System

UC San Diego will be the site of a San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) public meeting from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. on May 11 to receive comments regarding a proposed 11-mile extension of the existing San Diego Trolley system from the Old Town Transit Center to the North University City community, serving UC San Diego and nearby activity centers.

We welcome this opportunity to host the second of five community workshops during the public “scoping” period scheduled May 3 through June 1 to discuss the Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project, which has been identified as a high-priority project by SANDAG. The project will expand transportation capacity in the corridor to accommodate existing and future travel demand, particularly for peak-period commutes, providing an effective travel alternative to congested freeways and roadways. The project also will make a diverse number of destinations throughout the county available by mass transit to our campus community.

Half the approximately $1.2 billion project cost will come from TransNet, the half-cent sales tax for local transportation projects that was first approved by voters in 1987, and then extended in 2004 for another 40 years. The remaining half of the project cost will be paid by matching Federal funding. Operation of the trolley line extension to the campus could begin as early as 2015.

The public meeting will be held in UC San Diego’s Price Center East Ballroom. The meeting will feature information stations about the Mid-Coast Project that will show the alternatives and alignments under consideration. SANDAG and consultant staff will be present to answer questions. Written and verbal comments from the public will be accepted by SANDAG at the meeting. In addition, comments may be emailed to SANDAG at midcoast@sandag.org or sent via U.S. Mail to: Mid-Coast Comments, SANDAG, 401 B Street, Ste. 800, San Diego, CA 92101.

SANDAG has created a website that is being regularly updated with new information at http://www.sandag.org/midcoast

The Campus/Community Planning Committee, which is responsible for campus land use planning, has reviewed the proposed route alignments. The committee, composed of students, faculty and staff, will advance comments indicating the advantages and disadvantages of each alternative. This information will be formally communicated to SANDAG during the public scoping period.

The university, often in collaboration with SANDAG, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), has made great strides over the past several years in providing a wide range of transportation alternatives. These improvements have significantly decreased the number of single-occupancy vehicles coming to the campus, which lowers our emissions of greenhouse gases. This proposed project will add significantly to those efforts.

We welcome SANDAG to our campus for this meeting, and we encourage students, faculty and staff to attend.

Marye Anne Fox Chancellor Gary Matthews Vice Chancellor - Resource Management and Planning