Transit advocates say that outdated road widening plans contradict the city's Climate Action Plan.
Despite the city's stated commitment "to cut back on car dependence by making streets safer and more oriented towards pedestrians, cyclists, and public transit" San Diego continues to widen roads based on outdated plans, reports Andrew Bowen.
One of the city's deadliest streets, El Cajon Boulevard, is slated to receive a new right-turn lane that would also shrink the footprint of the adjacent Fair@44 pedestrian plaza. Meanwhile, the permit for a trolley extension on Morena Boulevard required the re-widening of the street, creating dangerous conditions for pedestrians trying to reach the trolley station. Pedestrian and transit advocates say these and similar projects go against the city's 2015 Climate Action Plan, "which legally binds the city to cut back on driving by prioritizing less polluting modes of transportation."
"A lot of cities, including San Diego, haven't caught up to the value statements that their elected officials have signed onto," says Colin Parent, executive director of the nonprofit think tank Circulate San Diego. "Parent added that the city had to find a balance between redoing its old plans while not letting that work delay important projects like the trolley extension through Bay Park or the affordable housing project on El Cajon Boulevard."
FULL STORY: San Diego Pledged To Shift Away From Cars. So Why Is It Still Widening Roads?
Report: San Diego Transportation Plan Won't Meet Climate Goals
A regional plan announced by the San Diego Association of Governments will fall short of the city's goals to increase alternate mode trips to 50 percent, report finds.
San Diego Region Plans for Rail Expansion, New Border Crossing, More Bike Lanes
The budget proposed by the San Diego Association of Governments focuses on a new port of entry, expansion of the regional bikeway system, and mitigating coastal erosion.
Free Transit for San Diego Youth
The Youth Opportunity Pass program provides free transit to San Diego County youth in an effort to boost ridership and improve transportation options for young residents.
‘Forward Together’ Bus System Redesign Rolling Out in Portland
Portland is redesigning its bus system to respond to the changing patterns of the post-pandemic world—with twin goals of increasing ridership and improving equity.
Plan to Potentially Remove Downtown Milwaukee’s Interstate Faces Public Scrutiny
The public is weighing in on a suite of options for repairing, replacing, or removing Interstate 794 in downtown Milwaukee.
Can New York City Go Green Without Renewable Rikers?
New York City’s bold proposal to close the jail on Rikers Island and replace it with green infrastructure is in jeopardy. Will this compromise the city’s ambitious climate goals?
700-Acre Master-Planned Community Planned in Utah
A massive development plan is taking shape for lakefront property in Vineyard, Utah—on the site of a former U.S. Steel Geneva Works facility.
More Cities Ponder the End of Drive-Thrus
Drive-thru fast food restaurants might be a staple of American life, but several U.S. cities are actively considering prohibiting the development of new drive-thrus for the benefit of traffic safety, air quality, and congestion.
Air Pollution World’s Worst Public Health Threat, Report Says
Air pollution is more likely to take years life off the lifespan of the average human than any other external factor, according to a recent report out of the University of Chicago.
Placer County
City of Morganton
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Dongguan Binhaiwan Bay Area Management Committee
City of Waukesha, WI
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Indiana Borough
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
