By Tom Fudge
A plan to downsize the expansion of Interstate 5 in San Diego has freed up money to spend on walking, biking and rail transit. The Board of the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) made it official today when they approved a redistribution of $800 million in transportation funds.
The savings resulted from a decision by CALTRANS to expand I-5 by only four lanes. SANDAG had originally budgeted for a six-lane expansion. The $800 million in savings will be divided among three transportation programs in SANDAG’s 40-year Regional Transportation Plan.
It will also allow SANDAG to expedite some transit projects. The first phase of the mid-city, light-rail line, which will run from downtown to San Diego State along El Cajon Blvd, will move up from 2050 to 2035.