When I first ran for election in 2000 I did not support what I understood to be “the tunnel.” I did not win in 2000 but ran again this time successfully in 2004. During that time I educated myself on what the whole SR 75/282 Corridor project was all about. It is not just about whether we build a tunnel or not. It is about CORONADO having a seat at the table when decisions about land use in Coronado happen.
When the bridge was completed in 1969 many Coronado residents had not supported the process. The bridge was advocated by developers that wanted to expand development in Coronado and the U.S. Navy, who needed to get people to NAS North Island to work. The Federal and State Governments stepped in and solved “their” problem. If we walk away from this planning effort now, we are telling the State and Federal Governments that we don’t care and we will leave it up to them again. It isn’t hard to guess what they will do. As the traffic increases they will just expand third and fourth streets to get the traffic off of Interstate 5 and dump it on Coronado to queue up for the security at the base. Just last week I happened to have a 6:30 am meeting and the other participants were stuck on I-5 for over an hour because traffic was backed up all the way from the base.
To expand the streets requires eminent domain. All of the folks concerned that some of the tunnel study options would require eminent domain haven’t thought through the alternative. The traffic has to go somewhere. If we don’t create, in essence, another street (i.e. the tunnel) then it has to stay on surface streets. Every time I drive through Rosecrans in Point Loma I look at the beautiful stately homes on what was a grand entrance to the town, properties with a bay view at one time. Now they have a view of a busy state highway that Navy personnel use to get to the Sub base. The residents of Point Loma didn’t volunteer to turn their streets over to the control of the Navy or CALTRANS. It just happened. Remember:
Coronado did not exercise eminent domain to direct the traffic from the bridge to Third Street. The State of California did.
Coronado did not fund the bridge or its maintenance. The State of California did and through CALTRANS still does.
Coronado did not put the tolls on the Bridge to reimburse the tax payers for the bridge. The State of California did.
If Coronado walks away from solutions to ameliorate the traffic caused by commuters going to NAS North Island, the State of California (CALTRANS) and the U.S. Navy will choose a solution for us.
Vote Yes on Prop H to preserve your place at the table as traffic solutions are being found. Vote yes on H to Save Our Streets. Email [email protected] if you are willing to go on record to save our streets.
Carrie Downey
