SANDAG Plans to Widen Highway 67

Highway 67 is tentatively on the books to be widened to four lanes somewhere between 2021 and 2030. Currently, the project is ranked No. 8 with the Regional Transportation Plan for the San Diego Association of Governments.

SANDAG representatives Heather Adamson, senior regional planner, and Anne Steinberger, public outreach manager, made a presentation at the Ramona Community Planning Group’s June 2 meeting about the countywide traffic improvement plans expected to take place through the year 2050.

Locally, the plan calls for the widening of Highway 67 to four lanes from Dye Road in Ramona south to Mapleview Street in Lakeside. Adamson said the cost for the project is $570 million, based on today’s economy. By 2050, the cost relates to $781 million. It will be funded, approximately, by 60 percent from local taxes, 20 percent from federal funding and 20 percent from the county.

Once the Highway 67 project is approved, Adamson said the plans will be finalized as to when it will start and whether it will start in Ramona or Lakeside.

 “We do update this plan every four years,” Adamson said.

Public workshops are scheduled for several areas in the county. There will not be one in Ramona. The closest meetings will be June 9 in Santee and June 16 in San Marcos. Other meetings are set for June 7 in Encinitas, June 8 in San Diego and June 13 in National City.  

More information about SANDAG’s projects is available by calling (877) 277-5736, or at the Web sites www.sandag.org/2050rtp or www.envision2050sd.com.

In other business, a request was denied from Dyocore alternative energy products that county applications for administration permits bypass reviews required by the planning group.

A representative from Dyocore said his company installs wind turbines on residential properties and that all the permit applications are similar. It is a requirement by the county’s Department of Public Works that the permits be reviewed by the planning group in each area. However, Eric Gibson, DPLU director, informed the planning group that his department would be willing to amend the processing procedures for Dyocore’s applications if it met with the group’s approval.

Dyocore’s request lost by one vote; the motion needed eight votes in favor to pass. Seven members voted in favor of the request, three were against it and two members abstained from voting. Three members of the group were absent.

Among the other items on the agenda, RCPG had sent a request to the county Department of Public Works on March 1 that a traffic safety study be conducted on Haverford Road, including its intersection with Elm Street. Residents on Haverford Road complained at planning group meetings in January and February that drivers were speeding and driving in unsafe manners along their street.

Murali Pasumarthi, from DPW, wrote to the planning group on May 25, stating the 45 mph speed limit is awaiting approval from the Board of Supervisors at its June 20 meeting. Once approval is given, the signs will be installed.

The study concluded that the intersection of Haverford Road and Elm Street “is operating as intended and additional traffic control devices such as LED signage or rumble strips are not necessary,” Pasumarthi wrote in her letter.

However, the existing T-intersection warning signs from both approaches to the intersection will be replaced with cross-road warning signs within the next four weeks by road crews, according to Pasumarthi’s letter.

In another communication from the county, the planning group was informed that a request for a 45 mph speed limit sign on San Vicente Road was denied for radar speed enforcement.

“After considering the request, the Board (of Supervisors) directed the speed limit posting not be certified for radar speed enforcement,” wrote Kenton R. Jones, secretary of the San Diego County Traffic Advisory Committee, in a letter dated May 6, 2011.

The request was for a sign to be posted from “a point one mile east of Wildcat Canyon Road easterly to Barona Mesa Road.” The existing 45 mph speed limit will remain in effect.

Jim Piva, planning group chairman, reported on recent meetings some of the members have had with county Supervisor Dianne Jacob regarding areas in Ramona that are prone to flooding during heavy rains. Studies are being conducted and local input will be requested at a public workshop that will be held locally.

Sid Tesoro, from the county Department of Public Works, will be in attendance at the next planning group meeting to discuss the flooding issues. A date for the workshop will be determined following Tesoro’s presentation.

The next meeting of Ramona Community Planning Group begins at 7 p.m. on July 7 at the , 1275 Main St.