Request for Proposals
San Diego - Imperial County I-8 Corridor Strategic Plan RFP 07-001
San Diego – Imperial County I-8 Corridor Strategic Plan
Introduction:
Due to recent heavy growth in population and housing between Imperial County and the San Diego region, it is necessary to develop a strategic plan to address transportation-planning issues between both regions. The California Department of Transportation – District 11, the San Diego Association of Governments, and the Imperial Valley Association of Governments will work collaboratively to address issues of common concern. The strategic plan will identify issues, establish goals and objectives and will develop interregional strategies, based on the study findings, in the areas of transportation, housing, and employment that will ensure adequate level of service on the I-8 corridor, provide employment opportunities in Imperial County, and integrate smart growth principles in to planned land use/transportation projects that benefit the quality of life in the two regions.
Background:
In recent years a variety of interregional issues have emerged which have brought SANDAG and IVAG together to examine the feasibility of developing an I-8 Corridor Strategic Plan. In December of 2005, members of the SANDAG Borders Committee toured the Imperial Valley to understand some of these issues first hand. Part of this tour included a joint meeting with members of the IVAG Regional Council and the SANDAG Borders Committee and a discussion on the High Speed Magnetic Levitation (Maglev).
Imperial County is one of the fastest growing counties in California. It experienced a 30 percent growth in population between 1990 and 2000 compared to approximately 13 percent for the state and the nation. It is projected to have an even more dramatic growth of 50 percent for the period from 2000 to 2010. It faces significant challenges in addressing growth related issues, as well as the pressures it faces from the neighboring regions, including San Diego and Mexico. The IVAG Regional Council is striving to develop integrated planning strategies which will result in a dynamic and prosperous economy to benefit its residents without sacrificing their regional identity and quality of life.
Strategically situated on the border with Mexico, San Diego and Imperial Valley share a set of concerns related to border infrastructure as well as homeland security. The City of Calexico in Imperial County forms a cross-border metro area with Baja California’s capital city of Mexicali, as San Diego and Tijuana shares a transfrontier metropolitan area. Imperial County has the potential to take advantage of its role as a portal for global trade and commerce. Calexico-East Port of Entry represents almost 30 percent of the value of U.S.-Mexican trade through California land ports of entry. An interregional planning partnership could enable the two regions to evaluate and pursue compatible strategies to capitalize on their unique proximity to Mexico.
Just as in the case of southwestern Riverside County in the 1990s, Imperial County is currently in the initial stages of a housing boom. This is due in part to the lack of affordable housing in surrounding areas, including San Diego County, but also to the conversion of agricultural land to urban use. The price differentials for housing between San Diego and Imperial counties make it economically feasible for San Diego workers to buy new homes in Imperial Valley. The increasing amount of agricultural land being converted to urban land use offers a unique opportunity to incorporate smart growth principles in the planning process. IVAG welcomes this urbanization, but is concerned about the implications of Imperial Valley becoming a bedroom community to San Diego. Efforts need to be made early to provide employment opportunities in Imperial County, and integrate smart growth principles into planned land use/transportation projects that benefit the quality of life in the two regions. The two regions need to assess the characteristics of these changes and develop equitable strategies to provide access to housing and opportunities for smart growth development, while ensuring adequate level of service on the I-8 corridor. At the same time, environmental factors such as the effects of transportation facilities and urban land uses on sensitive lands should be taken into consideration.
The 2000 Census collected information about where people live and work – providing origin-destination information about commuters as well as other characteristics. In 2000, just over 400 people commuted from Imperial County to San Diego County for work.
Eighty-seven percent of those commuters drove through San Diego County and into the western half of the region. Of the total commuting from Imperial to San Diego County, the two principal destinations were downtown San Diego (31 percent) and North City (19 percent). This indicates an increased pressure on the I-8 corridor. In addition, 67 percent of these commuters drove alone.
Interestingly, nearly double the amount (793) made the reverse commute. Twenty-nine percent of those workers live in North City and travel to Imperial, while 24 percent are coming from East Suburban San Diego. The I-8 corridor is the primary travel route between San Diego and Imperial County, and is the study area.