Public opinion not the determining factor for SR76 route, says Caltrans; officials will hold meeting tonight on project - Open house meeting to be held tonight, Sept. 23

While the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is currently encouraging input on the development and expansion of State Route 76, Mark Phelan, Highway 76 project manager for Caltrans, has stated that public opinion for the project is “only one of the deciding factors” that will determine which of the two alternatives will be selected for the east segment of the highway.

The new route, which would continue to serve as a major east-west corridor between Interstate 15 and Interstate 5, has been divided into three segments, the second of which is nearly completed, with the third (East) segment, located between South Mission Road and I-15 being in the design and environmental review phases of development.

After discussing the possibilities for SR 76 at its board meeting on September 20, the Fallbrook Community Planning Group (FCPG) has turned in its suggestions regarding the East Project, highlighting serious concerns about certain elements of the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) that the group feels may have been based on “flawed” studies.

“The main concern the FCPG has is the fact that [Caltrans] is only considering four lanes for the 5.5 mile stretch,” stated Jim Russell, FCPG chairman. Russell explained that Caltrans has bought sufficient land and designed both sides of the project for a six-lane highway, though 76 currently only has two lanes.

“When Caltrans needs to grow the road, they’ll merely have to come up with the funds and pour concrete,” said Russell. “The East Project is only being designed for four lanes. The justification in the DEIR comes from data that is 11 years old. That’s ridiculous.”

The FCPG has asked Caltrans to prepare an addendum to the DEIR to consider the impacts of a six-lane roadway on the existing alignment.

“If the existing alignment is selected from the current DEIR, Caltrans would be required to do a new DEIR when that route becomes impacted and needs to be expanded to six lanes,” stated the FCPG motion on the DEIR. “The DEIR work has already been done for the western 2/3 of the roadway and should be done for this final segment as well, now.

However, if Caltrans is unwilling to do that work now, leaving the southern alternative as the only way to achieve six lanes for an effective east-west corridor, then the FCPG, by default, is forced into the position of supporting it.”

“Either route alternative has problems that someone won’t like,” said Russell. “Still, the road has to go someplace, and someone is not going to be happy with it.”

Eileen Delaney, a FCPG board member, believes that the northern SR76 alternative needs to address fire, service and traffic concerns.

The current DEIR does not study major traffic issues, especially on busy intersections without stoplights, said Delaney.

“One example of this is the Via Monserate intersection,” she said. “Imagine how difficult it will be for drivers who are headed east. They will have to cross two westbound lanes, while watching the two eastbound lanes to merge.”

Additionally, the DEIR did not take into account the amount of traffic that would impact local roads as drivers attempt to find an alternative route to signalized routes, said Delaney.

“If SR76 is built on the existing route, the highway will not be able to handle the volume for future growth,” stated Delaney. “There are a lot of concerns being raised.”

Phelan attended the FCPG meeting, and took in the comments of the board.

"We’re glad to receive feedback; it’s how the process works,” said Phelan. “Once we have received all the comments from the community, we will begin working to respond to the comments.”

While Phelan has not read all of the comments made on the East Project, he has stated that Caltrans has received more letters in favor of the southern alternative.

“Public opinion is just one of the deciding factors to determining the route,” said Phelan. “Some of the core issues we consider are the cost, biological and community impacts, and conformity to regional and community plans. Elements that have less influence but are still important include noise studies, visual studies and impacts to parks and Native American sites.”

While Caltrans does not write an individual response to each comment made, the responses to each comment will be found in the final environmental impact report (EIR).

“We look at the comments and make sure that our proposals are validated within the DEIR,” said Phelan. “As for the comment on whether or not we have used current data, which was brought up at the FCPG meeting, we are looking to see if there is a significant difference in traffic volume from 2005 to 2009.”

Caltrans is asking the public for its input, tonight, September 23, at a meeting for the review of the draft environmental document for the State Route 76 East Project.

The “open house-style” public meeting will be at the Bonsall Community Center, 31505 Old River Road, from 5 to 8 p.m. and will focus on providing information about the project’s Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement.

No formal presentation will be made, but instead interested individuals may ask specific questions and get personalized service from experts in the fields of engineering, traffic, noise and real estate. They will then have the opportunity to give their comments on the project to either a court reporter or submit them on a comment card.

The comment period for the SR 76 East Segment ends Nov. 2. Comments may be e-mailed to [email protected], or mailed to the Caltrans District Office at 4050 Taylor Street, San Diego, Calif. 92110.

The SR 76 East Project environmental document is available online at http://www.keepsandiegomoving.com/home.aspx. CDs of the document are free and available at the Caltrans District Office in Old Town San Diego or by mail. For more information, call the Caltrans Public Information Office at (619) 688-6670.