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    1. Management

    MTS releases $24 billion draft expenditure plan scenarios for November 2020 ballot

    Dec. 17, 2019
    The draft plans focus on immediate improvements and look at building capacity on the freeway system.
    Rendering courtesy of MTS
    Rendering of El Cajon Blvd. & 30th Street.
    Rendering of El Cajon Blvd. & 30th Street.

    The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System’s (MTS) Board of Directors has been presented with the first look at two draft expenditure plan scenarios for a local half cent, 50-year revenue measure, and MTS staff will now present the draft plans to the general public, industry trade groups and other stakeholders for further input.

    “Getting to this point has been an exciting process,” said MTS Board Chair and San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher. “San Diego residents have really stepped up in a big way, providing us with vital information about what they’d like to see for the future of transit in San Diego. That information is reflected in these draft expenditure plan scenarios. We look forward to the public and our board’s continued involvement over the next few months to help us decide on a final plan to put before voters in November 2020.”

    “Participants in the public process made it clear they wanted investments in the transit system that expands and enhances the current system to provide a viable alternative to the car,” said MTS CEO Paul Jablonski. “The scenarios aim to make a quick turnaround on some key improvements, better connect residential communities to job and education centers and add mobility options in areas traditionally underserved by transit.”

    A comprehensive list of the items included in the draft expenditure plan can be accessed at ElevateSD2020.com.

    Highlights include:

    • Trolley to the airport
    • Extended service hours
    • Improved safety and security
    • More rapid bus routes (rendering of El Cajon Blvd. & 30th Street above)
    • Bus service increases including frequency, span, 24-hour service and new local routes
    • New freeway transit connections
    • I-5 transit lane and express service (South Bay – Sorrento Valley)
    • I-805 transit lanes and express service (South Bay to Sorrento/UTC)
    • SR-56 transit lane and express service (Sabre Springs-Carmel Valley-UTC)
    • SR-52 transit lane and express service (El Cajon – Santee-Kearny Mesa-UTC)
    • Sorrento Valley Skyway
    • Free fares for youth 18 and under

    Public participation in the development of the draft expenditure plan included more than 6,500 responses to a Vision Builder public survey, 2,300 people at community events and hundreds involved in working groups and workshops. MTS will take the draft plans back out for public comments over the next few months. The MTS Board is expected to decide on a final expenditure plan in April 2020. Information on all projects, outreach results and commenting opportunities can be found at ElevateSD2020.com.