The following is an open letter to District 2 City Councilman Kevin Faulconer:

The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) has reported its responses to public comments on the Draft 2050 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP)/Sustainable Communities Strategy. We are extremely disappointed that [the Peninsula Community Planning Board’s] comments had little, if any, impact on SANDAG. Although we cited the fact that roads like Rosecrans Street are “gridlocked” now at rush hour, Liberty Station development is not completed, a new terminal at Lindbergh Field will open soon and SANDAG forecasts a population increase in Point Loma of more than 17,000 residents, the RTP has placed the 1-8/1-5 improvements in the “unconstrained network.” This, despite our statement that one of the improvements could be done at 1/20th of SANDAG’s cost estimate. One example of the present problem is that there are 10 signal lights on Rosecrans Street between Nimitz Boulevard and Interstate 5 north. At rush hour, it can take 30 minutes for this 3-minute trip without traffic, and Sea World Drive is no better. When cost in lost manhours, gasoline prices and pollution are considered, new ramps are a bargain! SANDAG referred the rest of the proposal to the city to incorporate in the General Plan. Moving highway improvements from the “unconstrained network” to the “reasonably expected network” and incorporating street improvements to the city’s General Plan are political issues and require your assistance. This issue could be of political significance since an incumbent or candidate in the 2nd District could earn great favor with the Peninsula, Ocean Beach and Mission Beach communities if this project could be advanced. The City Council may believe that all San Diego residents benefit from carpool lanes, express buses and high-speed rail serving North County residents, but the occasional trip to the north by a Peninsula resident is more than offset by the thousands of commuters traveling to the southern end of Point Loma each day. We support the addition of mass transit to our county but do not support the commitment of all funds to mass transit at the expense of older communities that have struggled with current and growing traffic problems. The people in these communities pay their share of the taxes in support of highway construction, yet SANDAG expects to spend nothing in the next 40 years to relieve an existing and escalating problem. We solicit your assistance in advancing this project. Helen Kinnaird Chairwoman, Peninsula Community Planning Board