SANDAG passes $1.3 billion back-to-basics budget for coming year

A park and ride that is part of the million Build NCC North Coast Corridor project a SANDAG collaboration as seen in File photo courtesy of SANDAG A regional board on Friday approved a billion budget to sponsorship the planning and delivery of transportation infrastructure across San Diego County The budget for the San Diego Association of Governments better known as SANDAG covers Fiscal Year beginning July Like communities across the country SANDAG is facing rising costs and demanding decisions mentioned SANDAG Chair and Solana Beach Mayor Lesa Heebner This budget focuses on the basics making practical investments to ensure populace dollars are managed responsibly as we prepare for an uncertain economic future The spending plan includes more than projects across the region Here s a breakdown of bulk of the allocations million for the capital activity covering more than projects including highway bike rail edge mobility and environmental protection and preservation million passed to city county and transit the TransNet funds are for local street and road projects new transit operations transit system improvements and more million for nearly planning projects and programs to help guide future transportation decisions million for regional operations and services including ongoing management of key programs the state Passage Toll Road Freeway Facility Patrol and the SANDAG Vanpool Effort SANDAG s board made up of elected personnel from cities and other agencies throughout the county also positioned the budget so local projects remain eligible for future state and federal funding The FY budget is backed by a combination of state federal and local funding including TransNet the region s voter-approved sales tax