Bilbray Increases Safety and Commerce in San Diego

(Washington D.C.)- North County Congressman Brian Bilbray, in an effort to increase safety and commerce while decreasing local congestion, has made the following requests for San Diego in the Surface and Transportation Reauthorization bill in Congress.

“If we are successful in securing these funds, San Diego will see a decrease in traffic congestion, a reduction in air pollution, the creation of local jobs and an enhanced quality of life.”

Congressman Bilbray’s requests are each provided by a local entity.  The following requests have been made:

Nordahl Bridge Replacement/SR 78 Widening

The City of Escondido and the City of San Marcos, with public support from Palomar Pomerado Health, has requested the replacement of the Nordahl Bridge and its exit ramps to accommodate present and future traffic volumes and to improve the flow of traffic, while reducing congestion, at the SR 78/Nordahl Road interchange.

Request Amount: $5,000,000

Encinitas Boulevard and I-5 Interchange Study

The City of Encinitas has requested this project study, along with environmental documentation, to meet the long-term CalTrans goal of widening Interstate 5 in San Diego County. In a letter to Congressman Bilbray, Encinitas Mayor Maggie Houlihan said, “It makes financial sense to address all issues concurrently. The City has a preferred alternative conceptually designed, and is requesting federal funding to prepare a Project Study Report and conduct the Environmental Review for this preferred alternative. This preferred alternative addresses Interstate ingress back-up and egress alignments, both of which will reduce the likelihood of exit traffic back-up onto the Interstate. This section of the Interstate accommodates traffic between Los Angeles, the largest port on the west coast, and the Mexican border.”

Request Amount: $665,000

Rancho Santa Fe Roundabouts

The County of San Diego has requested federal assistance with the environmental analysis, design, right-of-way and construction of roundabouts at the intersections of Paseo Delicias and Via De La Valle, El Montevideo and El Camino del Norte. Chairwoman of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, Diane Jacob, said, “Paseo Delicias experiences high traffic volumes during morning and evening commute times. Constructing roundabouts in Rancho Santa Fe is an important step to alleviate congestion and improve mobility in the area.”

Request Amount: 6,000,000

I-5/SR 56 Connector

The I-5 to SR 56 Connector project has been requested by the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) to relieve congestions associated with transferring between SR 56 and I-5. San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders also publicly supports the project, saying, “Completion of the project will relieve congestion and reduce travel times on the two major freeways that link Southern California to the Mexican Border, serving both as a primary goods movement and commuter route.”

Request Amount: $8,000,000

I-5 HOV Lane Extension - Manchester Avenue to Encinitas Boulevard

The I-5 HOV Lane Extension from Manchester Avenue to Encinitas Boulevard project has been requested by the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG). The Mayor of Encinitas has also publicly supported the project, saying, “SANDAG’s systematic approach to infrastructure improvements has helped to insure a fair distribution of highway funding throughout the county and to address the most critical infrastructure needs. This project is another step in this approach, and has regional benefits for commuters, tourists and commerce by reducing traffic delays.”

Request Amount: $8,000,000

SR 78 Corridor Study

The SR 78 Corridor Study, requested by the San Diego Associations of Governments (SANDAG) and supported by the cities of San Marcos and Escondido, proposes to determine the feasibility of constructing HOV lanes, a formal environmental study and the establishment of a preliminary scope, cost and schedule for installing HOV lanes. In his letter of support to Congressman Bilbray, Jim Desmond, Mayor of San Marcos, wrote, “SR 78 serves as the primary transportation corridor East-West through North San Diego County cities. About half of the north-bound I-15 traffic approaching the SR 78 uses the North to West connector to get onto SR 78. As a result, SR 78 experiences unsatisfactory levels of congestion due to the volume of traffic from I-15 and from the major arterials between I-5 and I-15 every day during both the morning and evening rush hours.”

Request Amount: $4,800,000
 

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