Notes from Morena Boulevard Station Area Planning Study – First Meeting and Request for Your Input

This was written by District 2 resident and BikeSD members, Kelly Cummings

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Thanks to BikeSD.org for the heads up on their events listings, I was able to attend the First Public Workshop for the Morena Boulevard Station Area Planning Study, that was scheduled for Wednesday, April 3, 2013 from 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM. The Workshop was held at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice on the campus of USD. There was a very good turn out and the meeting was well organized by KTU+A. It was informative and interactive with lots of opportunity to make suggestions and comments about the impacts on the local area.

I received a follow up email from Josie Calderon, telling me that the City of San Diego had posted the information on the web. There is a lot of good information and is worth the time to read all the .pdf’s on the history and proposals for the area. If you are at all interested in having input, be aware there is a time constraint for the end of April 2013. They are looking for good input from users of the area infrastructure, biking, walking, multi-modal etc.

At our April 3rd workshop for the Morena Blvd Station Area Planning Study we went over Existing Conditions and I wanted to make you aware that the City has posted those workshop materials on its web page. Please check out the following direct links to the City’s pages with the information:

www.sandiego.gov/planning/community/profiles/clairemontmesa/

www.sandiego.gov/planning/community/profiles/lindavista/

Please know that public comment on the Existing Conditions materials will close the end of April 2013 so we can move forward with alternatives development. Also, the City is adding a link to the Mobility Survey, please we ask that all community participants provide their input via the online version:

Thank you for your input,

Josie Calderon
Community Outreach Consultant under KTU+A

From the Clairemont Mesa web page (same as the Linda Vista web page)

The Morena Boulevard Station Area Planning Study will engage the community to make future community plan policy changes and physical multi modal mobility improvements in order to increase access to transit at the two programmed Mid-Coast Light Rail Transit stations at Tecolote Road and Clairemont Drive. The study will identify strategies to achieve sustainable transit rider ship for new and existing services, improve neighborhood walkability and bicycle routes, and support transit-oriented development that will provide high-quality housing, employment, and community spaces for residents of Clairemont and Linda Vista consistent with the City’s General Plan.

One of the stated goals of the study: “A multi modal mobility concept plan that works in concert with the land use and contains a prioritized non-motorized mobility and multi-modal connectivity improvements with planning level cost estimates needed at the planned and existing LRT stations as well as the surrounding areas aimed at creating an inviting and safe pedestrian, bicycle, and transit environment and facilitating traffic circulation.”

The Morena Boulevard Station Planning Area is within the communities of Linda Vista and Clairemont Mesa as shown on the Station Area Boundary map (in or on the edge of SD District Two). This includes the planned Mid-Coast Light Rail Transit (LRT) stations at the intersections of Morena Boulevard with Clairemont Drive and with Tecolote Drive and the existing Green Line LRT station at Morena Boulevard and Linda Vista Road.

A view from the Clairemont Drive bridge looking south along Morena Boulevard. The proposed Trolley Station will be this side of Ingulf Street, at the light and crosswalk right where the tracks bend, and will be right up close to Morena Boulevard. photo: Kelly Cummings
A view from the Clairemont Drive bridge looking south along Morena Boulevard. The proposed Trolley Station will be this side of Ingulf Street, at the light and crosswalk right where the tracks bend, and will be right up close to Morena Boulevard. photo: Kelly Cummings
A view from the Tecolote Road bridge over Highway-5 and the train tracks. The Tecolote Trolley Station will be right here and a little under the bridge. photo: Kelly Cummings
A view from the Tecolote Road bridge over Highway-5 and the train tracks. The Tecolote Trolley Station will be right here and a little under the bridge. photo: Kelly Cummings

On Saturday April 6, 2013, community members, City staff, and the consultant team participated in a walk audit of the Study Area to:

1) foster discussion with community stakeholders about the topics of mobility and land use/urban form;

2) provide stakeholders a “walking perspective” of the study area; and

3) provide a forum where community stakeholders can identify the location of both successful areas as well as those in need of improvement. The walk is designed to allow participants to respond to questions and record their own observations.

If you would like to conduct the walk audit on your own, you can submit your comments to Michael Prinz via email at mprinz@sandiego.gov Please provide any comments by the end of April 2013.

How To Get Involved? — There are several ways to get involved in the Morena Boulevard Planning Study:

Study Web site – This website will be updated regularly as the study progresses to provide more information on the alternatives, the analysis, and next steps.

Contact Us – All comments received will be considered in developing and analyzing the land use and transportation proposals. Email Michael Prinz at mprinz@sandiego.gov

Next up: Community Workshop #2 – Analysis (Sometime in June 2013)

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A lot of the focus at the first meeting understandably seemed to be on what impacts the local neighborhood would have to deal with. I suggested that these stations would become a destination for citizens coming from Mission Valley, La Mesa and El Cajon and points east as well as citizens coming up from south San Diego Bay, National City, Chula Vista and such. They would want to access Mission Bay Park but would find it very difficult and dangerous crossing the Tecolote Road and Clairemont Drive bridges. If we are to share Mission Bay Park with our neighbors from other parts, we have to make it safe for families to walk, bike and skate into the park from Morena Boulevard.

Soon we’ll be seeing studies for the Morena Boulevard and Balboa Avenue Trolley Station. This is another very difficult area for bicyclist and pedestrians. Give it some thought and be prepared to suggest some good fixes.