The public gets to weigh in on a proposed trolley line extending the public transit system to UC San Diego and Westfield UTC Mall.
Construction is expected to begin in 2015 on the Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project. The extension of the trolley would add eight trolley stations between Old Town San Diego and in University City.
The shopping center on La Jolla Village Drive and Genesee Avenue is already a transit hub for buses from different parts of the county and shorter routes linking UC San Diego and the VA Medical Center.
San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) has been proposing this trolley extension to reduce the need for some of those buses.
Then there are new facilities under construction like Scripps Hospital and a new UC San Diego Health emergency room which are expected to add to the thousands of students and employees that visit the area every day.
Some residents have voiced concerns about the addition of a double track through Rose Canyon, a popular recreational area.
“You will have a visual impact the poles, all the wires, the noise, so it's going to have a big impact on the wonderful open space park we have,” said Deborah Knight with Friends of Rose Canyon.
Knight is also concerned about the environmental impact to animals and vegetation in the area.
“Rose Creek watershed is extremely important to the entire reason because what happens to the water quality here affects Mission Bay,” Knight said.
Nancy Groves of the University City Community Planning Group said there are many unanswered questions including the details of the project.
“Where are we going to see retaining walls? How many trees they're going to take out? Where are they going to plant to keep the noise down? I think these are all things that the planning group is really concerned about,” Groves said.
Public meetings are scheduled in June to allow residents to ask questions and voice their concerns.
- Tuesday, June 4, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Cadman Elementary School
- Monday, June 10, from 3 to 6 p.m. at University of California, San Diego
- Wednesday, June 12, 4 to 7 p.m. at La Jolla Country Day School
- Tuesday, June 18, 4 to 7 p.m. at Caltrans District 11, Office on Taylor Street
- Friday, June 21, 9 a.m. Public Hearing at SANDAG on B Street