I-805 South Project Frequently Asked Questions
1. What area of Interstate 805 does the I-805 South project cover?
The project area begins just south of East Palomar Street in Chula Vista, proceeds north along I-805 through the I-805/ State Route 15 (SR-15) Freeway Interchange and ends at the Landis Street overcrossing in the City of San Diego. Improvements to this corridor will provide expanded transportation choices for travelers in the region.
2. What freeway and transit improvements are planned for the southern portion of I-805?
The project will include dedicated lanes to provide more reliable travel scheduling and rapid travel times; added High Occupancy Vehicle and Single Occupancy Vehicle lanes to encourage carpooling and reduce traffic congestion; and convenient transit stations (East Palomar Street, East H Street and Plaza Boulevard) and a Direct Access Ramp (East Palomar Street), which also connects the Bus Rapid Transit from the Otay Mesa Border Crossing to downtown San Diego. Collectively, these improvements will serve as an integral part of a modern, new transportation backbone that will meet the future needs of travelers in our region.
3. Will this project succeed in reducing traffic congestion?
Increasing choices for travelers will help to reduce traffic congestion by encouraging carpooling and providing more convenient access to public transportation. For example, the addition of dedicated transit lanes and in-line stations will provide more reliable travel scheduling and rapid travel times.
4. How much will the entire I-805 South Project cost and where does the money come from?
The anticipated cost of the project is approximately $1.3 billion. The funding will come from federal, state and local programs, including TransNet, a half-cent sales tax approved by San Diego County voters in 2004 to pay for transportation projects.
5. When will construction start and when will all the improvements be completed?
The current schedule shows construction starting as early as 2012 and ending by the end of 2020.
6. Why is this project needed?
The population along the I-805 south corridor is expected to increase by nearly 40 percent over the next 20 years, leading to added congestion. Commercial truck traffic is also likely to increase due to federal trade agreements. The I-805 South Project will serve as an integral part of a modern, new transportation backbone that will meet the future needs of travelers in our region.
7. When is the environmental phase expected to be completed for the south segment?
The environmental phase of the project is expected to be completed in early 2011.
8. Why did you decide to build managed lanes rather than just building more general use lanes or adding more mass transit, such as expanding the trolley lines?
This project is a direct result of planning by SANDAG, the 18 cities and County of San Diego that is reflected in the 2030 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and is based around four main components: Land Use, Systems Development, Systems Management and Demand Management. You can get all of the details on the 2030 RTP at SANDAG's Web site, www.sandag.org. The above analysis considered all potential options, including building more general use lanes.
9. What will the traffic impacts be to nearby surface streets during construction?
This will vary throughout the life of construction. Caltrans is committed to minimizing the impacts to nearby surface streets during construction. Caltrans requires Transportation Management Plans (TMPs) for all planned construction activities on the State Highway System. A TMP is a program of activities for alleviating or minimizing work-related traffic delays by the effective application of traditional traffic handling practices and an innovative combination of various strategies encompassing public awareness campaigns, motorist information, demand management, incident management, system management, construction methods and staging, and alternate route planning.