In which we dissect the "conceptual planning study" of a high-speed rail line in San Diego, and consider the risks of dangling mega projects in front of marginalized communities with no realistic plan to build them: www.kpbs.org/news/environ... - ThreadSky

acbowen.bsky.social • 12 days ago

In which we dissect the "conceptual planning study" of a high-speed rail line in San Diego, and consider the risks of dangling mega projects in front of marginalized communities with no realistic plan to build them:
https://www.kpbs.org/news/environment/2025/02/13/san-diegos-purple-line-subway-and-the-dangers-of-planning-fatigue

Comments

todoscojones.bsky.social•12 days ago

Does anybody else remember covering the press conference where Byron Weir announced a study to extend the trolley to the beach?

obcycler.bsky.social•12 days ago

No, i don't. I've seen plans for one going down the 8 but imo they should run it right down Harbor to Nimitz and stop at the airport and liberty station then the beach.

todoscojones.bsky.social•12 days ago

It was back in the day when councilmember Byron Weir had a very skinny blonde intern who had the vibe of a trailer park Calista Flockhart.

She inspired in my young reporter such a yearning for her he could hardly turn around in a narrow corridor.

I wonder whatever happened to Dana Perino.

todoscojones.bsky.social•12 days ago

That's way too practical. LOL

ccollins.org•12 days ago

A BRT from Santa Fe station to Terminal 1 could have been up and running, in an embryonic stage, as the infrastructure is simultaneously constructed.

brerbear.bsky.social•12 days ago

I appreciate this perspective but it omits the entire chapter where the same community groups organized and lobbied SANDAG to move the planned line from North Park to City Heights. Those groups pulled the project from another community that had been promised, and then ultimately denied the line.

acbowen.bsky.social•11 days ago

I don’t think there would be any significant cost savings to routing through North Park vs. City Heights — though perhaps it would have higher ridership forecasts. And I don’t think North Park was ever “promised” the Purple Line. City Heights was just better organized and lobbied effectively.

brerbear.bsky.social•11 days ago

You're right, they didn't "promise" any further than presenting the alignment and saying it would be an important project for the neighborhood and that the community should support appropriate density in its planning. Which we did.

brerbear.bsky.social•11 days ago

As far as organizing, it was a coalition of groups from across the San Diego equity and environmental landscape. They work together on many issues and there really isn't a way to "out organize" the advocacy industry.

acbowen.bsky.social•11 days ago

I hear your frustration and it’s totally valid. But what’s the use in arguing over hypotheticals 30+ years in the future when there are things we could be doing to benefit both North Park and City Heights today?

brerbear.bsky.social•11 days ago

I don't mean to sound argumentative. There are reasons I'm sounding this way that have nothing to do with your good work.

wesleysaur.bsky.social•12 days ago

Apologies for my ignorance but was quick build BRT on the 805 ever studied? If the purple line is too pie in the sky, a BRT on the 805 seems like it would cover a lot of similar use cases for a fraction of the cost? Or is taking a car lane away considered untenable lol

acbowen.bsky.social•11 days ago

It definitely hasn't been studied to any significant degree, though it probably will be. The problem with BRT on freeways is that freeways are incredibly unpleasant to be around. The 805 is so wide, the number of people who live within the walkshed of a given station would be pretty small.

wesleysaur.bsky.social•11 days ago

Thanks! This is a great point which I had not considered. I’m excited to see what they come up with, and transit in that corridor would be fantastic for my own use cases

oliverasis.bsky.social•12 days ago

I like the idea of the purple line, but mega projects like this one have repeatedly clouded the waters of our infrastructure needs. The money could be spent elsewhere, like making buses more frequent, expanding our bike infrastructure, and improving walking paths between places.

obcycler.bsky.social•12 days ago

💯

sageolson.me•12 days ago

I live in Kearny Mesa and all I want is for the 928 and 25 busses to have later hours and better frequency 😭 (the 25 in particular has a ridiculous schedule – last bus is at 6pm)

oliverasis.bsky.social•12 days ago

I hear you. We can make things happen that isn’t going to cost us billions of dollars. Bus frequency and bus lanes should be the first step in improving infrastructure verses building a whole new rail line.

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