CalTrans and SANDAG Public Hearing on Tuesday, January 26

CalTrans and SANDAG are holding a public hearing on January 26 at the Encinitas Community Center about amending the North Coast Corridor Public Works Plan / Transportation and Resource Enhancement Program (yes, that's a mouthful for sure). This is basically a sort of transportation master plan. Some of the proposed changes are related to the Coastal Rail Trail, including but not limited to the Cardiff segment. CalTrans and SANDAG basically want to make some minor language tweaks to redefine where it's permissible to build the Coastal Rail Trail. The current language in the master plan specifies that all segments of the trail absolutely, positively have to be built inside the railroad right of way. The proposed amendment will widen the definition so that the trail can also be built adjacent to the railroad right of way. The new language will apply to all segments. These changes are actually important and beneficial for the Cardiff segment of the CRT regardless of where you stand on the alignment issue: The changes need to be made for both the east-side alignment we favor and the alignment along the 101 which was proposed as an alternative. We are not planning to be at the meeting because the changes are very minor and don't favor one alternative over another. Really, it's just about giving CRT planners more flexibility. Also, the CRT is one tiny part of the meeting... the proposed amendments to the master plan touch many different projects from the railroads to the highways. With all that said, we've gotten wind that some trail opponents may show up and try to take over the meeting. My understanding is that the moderators will try to keep the meeting on topic. I don't think it's helpful or productive to create a brawl between supporters and opponents at a meeting that's not even really about the Cardiff Rail Trail... so I'm appealing to supporters to avoid picking a fight there. Let CalTrans and SANDAG get their business done. Our $.02.