SANDAG MEETING FRIDAY ON DRAFT 2025 PLAN
Photos and story By Karen Pearlman
July 17, 2025 (San Diego County) – There won’t be any light rail coming to Alpine to zip people out to downtown San Diego, but the planners at the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) have unfurled some grand ideas in its Draft 2025 Regional Plan to improve transportation in both rural and urban areas in East County as well as countywide.
SANDAG leadership offered some insight into the plan at an hourlong Zoom meeting on Wednesday, July 16. The meeting was geared to those in the unincorporated parts of East County, and while it offered opportunities to ask questions, the SANDAG hosts mostly shared information about its long-term blueprint aimed at shaping the region’s transportation, housing, land use and climate goals over the next two decades.
The meeting hosts encouraged residents to visit an interactive project map on SANDAG’s website at https://www.sandag.org/regional-plan/2025-regional-plan
The proposed Regional Plan shows six “neighborhood shuttles” being proposed for unincorporated areas: Alpine, Casa de Oro/Spring Valley, Borrego Springs, Lakeside, Ramona and Fallbook/Pala.
The plan also includes increasing rural transit service to two or more trips a day with six new “Rapid” routes proposed, including San Diego State to Cuyamaca College via College Grove and Spring Valley; Spring Valley to Clairemont via La Mesa; El Cajon to Otay Mesa via Jamacha and Otay Lakes; El Cajon to Lemon Grove; Ramona to Poway; and Temecula to San Marcos with “park and ride” stops on Interstate 15 at Pala Mesa and Deer Springs
The group is accepting written comments from residents through Friday, July 18 on the plan, available here, including during SANDAG’s Transportation Committee meeting starting at 9 a.m. Friday. A public hearing on the draft plan is the fourth item on the agenda. The Zoom link for the meeting is here and more information about the meeting can be accessed here.
Comments can be sent by visiting SANDAG.org/2025regionalplan, emailing regionalplan@sandag.org or calling (619) 515-1169 and leaving a voice message. For the meeting on Friday, public comments can be made in person or virtually or submitted online. Visit SANDAG.org/meetingassistance for instructions.
SANDAG officials say that the plan’s associated Draft Environmental Impact Report will also be open for public comment later this summer.
The final plan is expected to be presented to the SANDAG board in December.
Updated every four years, the federal- and state-mandated plan ensures eligibility for billions in funding that will affect the more than 3.3 million people living in the San Diego region, spread among 18 cities, the County of San Diego, and 17 federally recognized tribes.
SANDAG projects a current cost of $126 billion, with the plan emphasizing equitable, safe and sustainable transportation options while targeting climate goals that include a 19% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks by 2035.
Key components of the 2025 Regional Plan include transportation improvements, with prioritization on expanding transit options, such as rail and bus rapid transit, to reduce reliance on solo driving. (It includes projects like the Otay Mesa East Port of Entry and enhancements to existing transit corridors, aiming to improve connectivity and reduce congestion.)
The plan aligns with the Sustainable Communities Strategy to promote compact development near transit hubs, increase housing affordability and preserve open spaces. It supports the region’s housing goals by streamlining development and rezoning for diverse housing types.
The plan also emphasizes zero-emission vehicles and transit-oriented development to curb emissions.
East County faces unique challenges and opportunities under the 2025 Regional Plan. El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells has been vocal in concerns that East County is being overlooked in SANDAG’s transportation priorities.
The plan aims to expand transit access, but East County has historically been underserved by trolley and rail systems. SANDAG is focusing on bus rapid transit (BRT) over rail expansion, which drawn criticism from some residents who see rail as a more effective solution for reducing traffic congestion.
No specific East County transit projects such as San Diego Trolley extensions to El Cajon have been detailed.
During Wednesday’s Zoom meeting, SANDAG officials said while there is no rail service to Alpine in the plan, it does have a “neighborhood shuttle” included. Other rural areas across the county will also be looking at this type of shuttle and more.
When asked if the plan included the building of a barrier or divider lane to separate the curvy, dangerous state Route 67 road, SANDAG officials said there was none.
Regarding SR-67, CalTrans has been working on plans with SANDAG and developing a Comprehensive Multimodal Corridor Plan for operational improvements emphasizing mobility and safety, especially during the case of evacuation conditions such as wildfires.
Rural East County areas such as Alpine and Ramona may face some pressure to preserve open spaces while accommodating growth. The plan emphasizes reducing urban sprawl, and SANDAG officials highlighted the group’s environmental side. Its habitat conservation efforts include preserving over 1 million acres in unincorporated areas.
SANDAG’s Housing Acceleration Program supports local jurisdictions in streamlining development, which could help East County address housing shortages. However, the lack of robust transit infrastructure may limit the feasibility of transit-oriented housing in some areas.
SANDAG has found some pushback from East County’s car-centric communities, where 79% of commuters drive alone. The region looks like it will be impacted by the plan’s push for reduced vehicle miles traveled. SANDAG officials have championed initiatives like expanding zero-emission vehicle options and transit, encouraging shifts away from solo driving.
The plan also focuses on preserving natural resources, such as through the Multiple Habitat Conservation Program.