How do you prepare to meet the commuting preferences of the workers of tomorrow, many of whom have not yet been born? What if advancements in technology lead to driverless or automated cars? What if tomorrow's workers gravitate toward mass transit?
Prognosticators believe that by 2030, the San Diego County region will have more than 1 million more residents, and transportation needs will continue to increase and evolve. How do you plan today for the future's needs?
SANDAG, the regional planning agency, and Caltrans are dealing with these issues as they work on the North Coast Corridor, the name that's been given to a blueprint that will guide comprehensive improvements along a 27-mile stretch from La Jolla to Oceanside. It includes upgrades to Interstate 5, work on coastal rail and transit as well as environmental and coastal enhancements.
Combine, the projects have a $6.5 billion price tag and a 40-year construction schedule (See sidebar for more information).
Allan Kosup, corridor director for Caltrans District 11, said one of the challenges those working on the project face is planning for unknown demands.
The I-5 was built in the '60s and the current rail dates back to 1910-1930. Original highway planners couldn't have imagined the growth the area went through.
"We haven't kept up with those changes," Kosup said. He added that in working on the North Coast Corridor, the idea is to allow flexibility to accomodate for uncertainties.
The North Coast Corridor is a comprehensive plan that has to be approved by 10 different regulatory agencies, one of which is the California Coastal Commission. This month, Caltrans released the Public Works Plan/Transportation and Resource Enhancement Program (PWP/TREP). The Coastal Commission will use this umbrella document as it decides on approving the project.
The public has until April 29 to submit their comments on the PWP/TREP for the commission to use during its consideration of the plan. Input will also be collected at two public meetings, including one that will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, April 4 at the Carlsbad Senior Center, 799 Pine Ave.
"This is the largest, longitudinally speaking, most complex program they have ever seen," Kosup said.
The project will affect everyone, residents, commuters and even businesses. This project is key to a thriving future economy, Kosup said.
"There are only two major north-south corridors in the region, and (the I-5) is our lifeline, our connection to the rest of the nation and to other ports in L.A. through which we move goods up and down," he added. "It's a major commuter highway … 22 percent of the region's jobs are along this corridor."
Most of the region's largest employers, companies with international reputations, are along the route. Transportation plays an important role in keeping and attracting those types of companies to the region, Kosup said.
Prognosticators believe that by 2030, the San Diego County region will have more than 1 million more residents, and transportation needs will continue to increase and evolve. How do you plan today for the future's needs?
SANDAG, the regional planning agency, and Caltrans are dealing with these issues as they work on the North Coast Corridor, the name that's been given to a blueprint that will guide comprehensive improvements along a 27-mile stretch from La Jolla to Oceanside. It includes upgrades to Interstate 5, work on coastal rail and transit as well as environmental and coastal enhancements.
Combine, the projects have a $6.5 billion price tag and a 40-year construction schedule (See sidebar for more information).
Allan Kosup, corridor director for Caltrans District 11, said one of the challenges those working on the project face is planning for unknown demands.
The I-5 was built in the '60s and the current rail dates back to 1910-1930. Original highway planners couldn't have imagined the growth the area went through.
"We haven't kept up with those changes," Kosup said. He added that in working on the North Coast Corridor, the idea is to allow flexibility to accomodate for uncertainties.
The North Coast Corridor is a comprehensive plan that has to be approved by 10 different regulatory agencies, one of which is the California Coastal Commission. This month, Caltrans released the Public Works Plan/Transportation and Resource Enhancement Program (PWP/TREP). The Coastal Commission will use this umbrella document as it decides on approving the project.
The public has until April 29 to submit their comments on the PWP/TREP for the commission to use during its consideration of the plan. Input will also be collected at two public meetings, including one that will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, April 4 at the Carlsbad Senior Center, 799 Pine Ave.
"This is the largest, longitudinally speaking, most complex program they have ever seen," Kosup said.
The project will affect everyone, residents, commuters and even businesses. This project is key to a thriving future economy, Kosup said.
"There are only two major north-south corridors in the region, and (the I-5) is our lifeline, our connection to the rest of the nation and to other ports in L.A. through which we move goods up and down," he added. "It's a major commuter highway … 22 percent of the region's jobs are along this corridor."
Most of the region's largest employers, companies with international reputations, are along the route. Transportation plays an important role in keeping and attracting those types of companies to the region, Kosup said.