Torrey Pines corridor project is under way

By Sherri Lightner

Councilwoman, 1st District

I’m very pleased to report that the Torrey Pines Corridor Project is moving forward. The city recently received $500,000 in stimulus funds for the design of the project and has released $167,000 of these funds to hire a consultant who will be breaking the project down into three separate phases, creating cost estimates for each item contained in the plan, and completing the preliminary design for the project.

Within the next few months, the consultant and the city will be presenting the draft plans to the Traffic and Transportation Board. The community will have the opportunity to provide input on its top priorities, and the city will begin working to secure funding for the construction of these priority items first.

As many of you know, the La Jolla Shores boat launch was washed out in the recent storms. The city has been working with the Coastal Commission to secure an emergency permit to do a permanent repair to the boat launch. This repair should be completed within the next few weeks, and we appreciate everyone’s patience as we work to get this important access restored.

In news from downtown, the city is currently in negotiations with a developer to build a new city hall and redevelop the civic center site. I recently joined with three of my council colleagues in signing a memo stating that I will not vote to move forward with any action related to a new city hall until the project is put to a public vote first. The public vote could occur as early as this November.

I feel strongly that the council should not be approving any major capital improvement projects, including a new downtown library, stadium or city hall, until these projects are put to a public vote first.

I always look forward to hearing from you. Please contact my office at (619) 236-6611 or sherrilightner@sandiego.gov if I can ever be of assistance.