San Diego’s Regional Safe Routes to School Strategic Plan
February 3, 2012 1 Comment
Students at Porter Elementary in San Diego. Photo Credit: Safe Routes to School National Partnership
Sign onto our comment letter to Regional Transportation Planning Agency in San Diego County – help strengthen Southern California’s first Countywide Safe Routes to School Strategic Plan
Safe Routes to School Southern California Network and signatory organizations congratulate San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) for releasing the Draft San Diego Regional Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Strategic Plan. It is an excellent start for a regional strategy to improve safety, increase walking and bicycling trips to school and further integrate those trips into Regional Transportation and Land Use Planning.
SANDAG can play a vital role by adopting clear data standards and providing technical assistance for SRTS programs. We recognize SANDAG does not implement SRTS projects. However, SANDAG has the authority to execute valuable planning and policies, monitoring, collaboration, and evaluating that supports counties, cities, communities, researchers, organizations and community groups. SANDAG can play a vital role by adopting clear data standards and providing technical assistance for SRTS programs.
View SANDAG’s Draft Regional Safe Routes to School Plan
San Diego County misrepresents our area in General Plan as does the City of La Mesa in their General Plan for Noise elements. Poor design engulf our La Mesa San Diego County residential community. The Amaya-Severin Trolley rail intersection is a joke. Everyday confused motorist pose safety issues. Grossmont High is nearby. The noise is against the law and is over the limits
and rail trip frequency is a waste and not needed. The trains could double back from Grossmont
or Amaya station as those areas have structures designed to withstand the nosie environment. Our area has not been protected.
The intersection should be a bridge-tunnel to eliminate congestion and excessive horn blowing. There are 280 trolley trips per day-night with horns blowing at the intersection.(1000 horns per 24 hrs) A tunnel would be safer for everyone. With proper design, the freight could still run
the few trips per week. The trolley trips are excessive.
The Public Utilities commission found nosie decibels over the limit but did nothing to remedy. Other areas are getting quiet zones and improvements. Eighty two residents signed a petition and spoke before Boards of MTS and La Mesa on a few occasions. San Diego County was also given petitions as was Caltrans and SanDag. Nothing is being done and they all are aware of the situation.