SANDAG approves 2012 RTIP

The San Diego Association of Governments board approved the 2012 Regional Transportation Improvement Plan.

SANDAG’s 17-0 vote Sept. 28, with the representatives from Chula Vista and Santee not present at the time of the voting, approves the new RTIP which will cover fiscal years 2013 through 2017 and will include approximately $12.3 billion of projects funded by federal, state, local, and private sources. The RTIP covers major highway, arterial, transit, rail, and non-motorized projects in San Diego County. SANDAG had approved the previous update, which covered fiscal years 2011 through 2015, in September 2010.

The middle portion of the State Route 76 widening project, which will widen the highway from two to four lanes from Melrose Drive in Oceanside to just east of South Mission Road, has $171.3 million in programmed funding consisting of $16.8 million for project engineering, $42.6 million for right-of-way, and $98.6 million for construction. The funding includes $155.5 million of prior-programmed funds and $7.8 million for Fiscal Year 2012-13. The widened segment is expected to be open to traffic in December 2012, but funding also includes $7.2 million during 2013-14, $347,000 for 2014-15, $304,000 during 2015-16, and $132,000 in 2016-17.

The $201.5 million for the widening of Highway 76 between South Mission Road and Interstate 15 includes $26.2 million for engineering, $16.3 million for right-of-way, and $159.1 million for construction. In addition to $63.4 million of prior funding and $116,722 of 2012-13 planned expenditures, the project’s earmarks include $6.6 million during 2013-14, $11.6 million for 2014-15, $3.0 million in 2015-16, and $161,000 for 2016-17. The scheduled date for initial public use is July 2014.

The Transportation Corridor Agencies, which is building the State Route 241 toll road from the Orange County border to Interstate 5, expects Phase 1 to be open to traffic in June 2016. The $490.0 million in programmed funding covers $98.0 million for engineering, $17.4 million for right-of-way, and $374.7 million for construction. The $89.1 million in prior funding and $16.1 million in 2012-13 programmed funding will be complemented by programmed funding of $135.0 million in 2013-14, $124.9 million for 2014-15, and $124.9 million during 2015-16.

The Eastbrook to Shell double-tracking of the railroad line from Milepost 225.3 to Milepost 225.9, which also includes replacing the 700 foot long bridge over the San Luis Rey River, is in the project engineering stage and has $7.0 million of funding programmed including $5.7 million from prior years and $1.3 million for 2012-13. The San Onofre to Pulgas double-tracking between mileposts 212.3 and 218.1 has $42.0 million of programmed funding including $7.6 million for engineering from prior years and $34.4 million for construction during 2012-13.