A tug of war is brewing over $204 billion for countywide transportation projects that comes up for a vote Friday by the San Diego Association of Governments.
Public transit activists say not enough of that money is going toward alternatives to freeway travel, especially in communities south of downtown San Diego.
"Unfortunately, our elected officials haven't quite heard that message as loudly as they need to hear it,” said Nicole Capretz, executive director of Climate Action Campaign. “So we'll continue to tell them what we believe is important, and what the public wants."
On Thursday, elected officials representing National City, Lemon Grove and South Bay gathered at MTS Trolley headquarters in East Village to speak out against the $204 billion "San Diego Forward" strategy proposed by regional planners.
They said it won't get around to upgrading trolley travel and bus rapid transit in their communities for nearly two decades.
And they'd like to see the light rail lines in downtown installed underground, to separate the travel from inner-city traffic and intersection delays.
In response, SANDAG board members argue the plan balances the greater needs of the region's residents with the funding as it comes available over the years ahead.
"The first five years of this plan, 75 percent (of the spending) is going to be for transit,” said Santee City Councilman Jack Dale. “And you need to understand that every new highway lane but one is for transit. For bus, carpool lanes, vanpool lanes, that type of thing."
The money involved -- $204 billion — will be allocated over 35 years to expand transportation for a regional population that's expected to grow 25 percent to four million by 2050.
Dale explained that the allocations are made according to how state and federal agencies earmark their shares of various projects.
"The dollars that we get from the taxpayers,” he said, “we take and leverage with what we get from Sacramento and D.C. and build these projects. And we realized, when we put our plan together, that there's a timeline when that cash is going to go."
But that timeline tests the patience of transit and climate change activists.
"In order for San Diego to compete in the 21st century, we have to create a world-class transportation system,” Capretz told NBC 7. “We have to allow people who are moving to San Diego, living in San Diego and visiting San Diego to feel they don't need a car to get around."
