Printer-friendly version
By Miriam RafterySeptember 17, 2019 (Escondido) – For months, officials in East County and North County have assailed as “highway robbery” a plan announced by the San Diego Regional Association of Governments (SANDAG) to cancel some highway projects and instead, spend TransNet extension funds approved by voters in 2004 on transit projects such as high-speed rail and shared electric vehicles instead.
Now, Assembly Republican Leader Marie Waldron of Escondido has introduced Assembly Bill 1398. It would require three steps before SANDAG could make any substantive changes to its transportation spending plans:
- A 2/3 vote by SANDAG’s board,
- Public hearings in four county regions (north coastal, north inland, south coastal, and south inland), and
- Approval by 2/3 of voters countywide in a special election, which could be consolidated with an already scheduled election.
Waldron states, “Unfortunately, SANDAG cannot be trusted to look out for people in all parts of our diverse county. Our community deserves confidence that their tax money is being used appropriately and that SANDAG is keeping its promises to voters. No agency should be able to operate in the dark.”
Voters first passed a sales tax increase for transportation funding in 1988 for 40 years, which was extended by voters in 2004 for another 40 years. SANDAG members say the agency has been aware for years that the TransNet extension does not provide enough money for all projects listed when voters cast ballots for highway and transit projects. SANDAG officials also face pressure from the state to reduce greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change, such as reducing vehicle traffic and boosting transit powered by clean, renewable fuels.
In June, the agency announced plans to cancel 14 freeway and highway projects to instead fund creation of bike lanes. The agency has also proposed a new sales tax hike and a “congestion tax” for motorists despite a poll showing voters oppose these changes by a two-to-one margin, even in urban areas, KUSI reported on June 25.
Some elected officials have reacted with outrage to the proposed roadway cuts.
“We paid the sales tax. We paid the gas tax. Now fix the damn road!” Poway Mayor and Supervisorial candidate Steve Vaus exclaimed in exasperation at a press conference in June held in Ramona, where a project to widen State Route 67 is among those on the chopping block .He said the high number of accidents on the dangerous stretch of highway has led to the nickname “Blood Alley.”
Supervisor Dianne Jacob said the highway is a “lifeline” that became gridlocked when thousands of residents were fleeing the 2007 Witch Fire.
El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells sent a letter to SANDAG on behalf of the City Council opposing the highway cuts, noting that many are in East County including key improvements to Interstate 8, Interstate 15, State Route 67 and State Route 52 connectors to State Route 125.
Santee’s elected officials have also voiced concerns over the Transnet funding shifts, noting that new housing built and in the pipeline is adding to gridlock on State Route 52.
The Alpine-Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce recently formed a committee to address concerns over freeway funding for I-8 improvements.
Some SANDAG board members support the shifting of funds from freeways to mass transit, arguing that it will be impossible to meet goals for cutting greenhouse gas emissions without projects such as new Coaster cars for train service along the coast.
Encinitas Mayor Catherine Blakespear stated earlier this year, “I urge my colleges in the strongest possible terms to support funding for the new trains and reject any plan that does not do that. There’s no chance that expanding the roadways and taking away the transit is going to meet the goals.”
But officials in areas slated to lose highway funds argue that it’s unfair to force voters countywide to pay for projects that they are not benefitting from, which failing to complete projects that were previously approved to improve transportation in North and East County.
For many, the TransNet slogan, “Promises made, promises kept,” rings hollow.
Recent comments