Potential Transit Solution for Sports Arena Area Met with Skepticism by Midway Planners
The Midway-Pacific Highway Community Planning Group was recently updated on a potential transit solution for the Sports Arena area’s redevelopment, but planners were hesitant to endorse the proposal at this time.
Manny Rodriguez, executive director of RideSD, a nonprofit advocating for improving San Diego public transit, presented the idea of a dedicated bus lane from Old Town Transit Center to the Sports Arena area. The goal is to provide convenient, reliable, and competitive alternatives to driving in order to reduce traffic congestion in the area.
Rodriguez emphasized the importance of making public transit a preferred option for connecting communities, especially with the anticipated increase in traffic due to the redevelopment of the Sports Arena site. He highlighted the need for a dedicated bus lane to improve the reliability and accessibility of public transportation in the area.
However, Midway planners expressed skepticism about the proposal, questioning the benefits of bringing more buses and people to the already congested area. They also raised concerns about the lack of collaboration with Midway Rising, the group leading the redevelopment project.
Midway Rising, which includes Zephyr, Legends, and Chelsea Investment Corp., aims to deliver new affordable homes, a new sports arena, retail space, and park upgrades in the neighborhood. The redevelopment project is expected to take eight to 10 years to complete once construction begins.
Despite the skepticism from Midway planners, RideSD and Midway Rising continue to work towards finding transportation solutions for the Sports Arena area. The development team is currently working on an environmental report for the project, with plans to release it for public review in the fall.
For more information on the potential transit solution and the Sports Arena area redevelopment, visit ridesd.org.