Transportation

By Todd Gloria

Efficiently moving people and goods is a challenge we must address if we are to preserve San Diego's famous high quality of life.

This predicament is a reflection of poor planning and placing all of our eggs in one basket. Too often, if you want to get from Point A to Point B, your only real option is to hop in your car, even if your destination is just a short distance away. We must strive to give San Diegans a number of options to choose from when considering how they will get to where they are going. Walking, bicycling, public transit, and car sharing must be made into viable options if we are to address our mobility challenges.

The good news is that District 3 is perfectly situated to facilitate transportation alternatives to private vehicles. Our neighborhoods are pedestrian oriented by design. They once featured an extensive street car system and currently have heavily used bus routes. Until recently, we had a number of car sharing locations that residents found useful. We can make a multitude of mobility options work in our community if we make the commitment to do so.

As your Councilmember I would:

Prioritize Pedestrian Improvements. We must invest in our public infrastructure in a way that reflects the pedestrian oriented nature of our neighborhoods. This means rebuilding our sidewalks, installing more street lighting, and other enhancements that facilitate walking. At the corner of University and Fifth Avenues in Hillcrest, a number of pedestrian improvements have been implemented that prioritize pedestrian mobility. Pedestrian countdown signals, lead indicators, enhanced striping and other improvements found at this intersection should be replicated throughout the District 3. These efforts would make walking a more appealing option when considering how to get somewhere.

Champion an Improved Public Transit System. I will work to earn a seat on the transit agency board and demand system improvements that will attract "choice riders" to take buses and trolleys. Frequent service by transit vehicles that are on time, not overcrowded, and reasonably priced will make transit attractive to a wider number of potential riders.

Oppose Bus Fare Increases and Reinstitute Transfers. When transit officials moved to raise bus fares, cut service, and eliminate transfers earlier this year, I spoke out against these decisions. I will work to keep the cost of riding our public transit system accessible to low-income riders and fight to restore transfers.

Build the Centerline on I-15 in City Heights. The center median of Interstate 15 through City Heights is purposely wide to allow for a mass transit vehicle to take residents to job centers in Downtown and the Golden Triangle. This project was promised as mitigation for the construction of the freeway through Mid City. We must work with CalTrans and MTS to ensure that this promise to the people of District 3 is kept.

Promote the Complete Streets Concept. Roads should be more than two lanes heading in opposite directions. Following the Complete Streets Model, we must demand that where appropriate, our roads include pedestrian amenities, transit infrastructure and bicycle lanes. Our roads should work for pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit riders, not just drivers.

I believe that once we quit spending all of our resources on one form of transportation, we can begin to solve our mobility problems. It is clear that our future must be characterized by a diversity of transit options. If I am entrusted to be your Councilmember, I will work to make the most difficult part of getting from A to B not the traffic we currently experience, but having to choose between a variety of appealing options to do it.