SANDAG approves Regional Transportation Improvement Program

The San Diego Association of Governments board of directors unanimously approved the 2008 Regional Transportation Improvement Program.

The RTIP approved July 25 covers major highway, transit, arterial, and non-motorized projects and their funding from Fiscal Year 2008-09 to FY 2012-13.

The $8.8 billion program includes $173 million of committed funding for State Route 76 and $2 million for East Mission Road as well as $401 million for the privately funded State Route 241 toll road which will possibly be routed through Camp Pendleton.

The widening of State Route 76 from two lanes to four lanes between Melrose Drive and Mission Road has an estimated total cost of $88.7 million, and funding for the entire project has been committed.

The $21.3 million for project engineering and environmental work and $64.7 million for right-of-way acquisition and construction includes $35.4 million of previously committed funding as well as $32.7 million of programmed FY 2009-10 funding and $7.8 million of FY 2010-11 programmed funding.

The funding will be provided by $71.9 million of TransNet sales tax revenue, $15.8 million of Federal money from the Regional Surface Transportation Program and the High-Priority Demonstration Program, and $1.0 million of State Transportation Improvement Program funds.

The widening of Highway 76 from Mission Road to Interstate 15 will not be completed prior to the end of the five-year period, and programmed funding currently covers $85 million of the $246.1 million estimated cost, including $10.7 million of previously committed funds and $2.8 million of 2008-09 funding.

The committed funding covers $24 million for project engineering and environmental work and $61 million for right-of-way acquisition and construction.

TransNet has provided $33.4 million of that amount while the Regional Surface Transportation Program is responsible for $51.6 million of the committed funding.

TransNet revenue has been programmed for the entire $2 million estimated cost to reconstruct East Mission Road between Hill Street and Main Avenue.

Prior year commitments generated $1.7 million of that amount while $300,000 has been programmed for 2008-09. The cost covers $300,000 for project engineering and environmental work and $1.7 million for construction.

The Transportation Corridor Agencies plan to extend State Route 241 to Interstate 5.

The San Diego County portion of constructing three toll lanes from the San Diego County line to Christianitos Road and two toll lanes from Christianitos Road to Interstate 5 has an estimated cost of $401.9 million which consists of $87.9 million for project engineering and environmental work, $21 million for right-of-way acquisition, and $293 million for construction.

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