SR-67 Highway Improvements Project
SR-67 Highway Improvements Project
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is analyzing transportation improvements at State Route 67 (SR-67) between Mapleview Street, Post Mile (PM) R5.48, to Highland Valley/Dye Road, PM 21.35, through the City of Poway and unincorporated San Diego County including the communities of Lakeside and Ramona. Several agencies have partnered on the project, these include Caltrans District 11 as the lead agency, the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the consultants working under the direction of these agencies.
Project Description
The SR-67 Highway Improvements Project is primarily an operational improvements project with an emphasis on improving typical and emergency highway operations while under evacuation conditions such as wildfires. Various travel modes are considered during typical and emergency highway conditions, including emergency access, recreational access, and wildlife connectivity. The improvements will address deficiencies in multimodal transportation along with recreational and wildlife movement. Multimodal transportation includes bus as well as active bicycle and pedestrian options. Three improvement alternatives and a No-Build alternative are being evaluated and considered as potential improvements to the SR-67 Highway Improvements Project.
Purpose
The purpose of the State Route (SR-67) Improvements Project is to improve the safe and efficient movement of people and goods utilizing various modes of travel during typical highway operations and emergencies such as wildfires.
The objectives of the proposed Project are to:
- Enhance traveler safety;
- Maintain or reduce travel times within the project limits;
- Increase temporary emergency evacuation capacity during wildfires and other emergencies;
- Encourage multimodal transportation by providing active options such as bike paths and/or lanes where feasible;
- Facilitate recreational and wildlife movement along and across the route; and
- Actively preserve the human and natural environment along the route.
Need
Highway travelers experience increased travel times and overall delays during everyday highway operations. This condition is exacerbated during emergencies such as wildfires due to a lack of temporary evacuation capacity. In addition, multimodal infrastructure is lacking despite the public demand for bus, bicycle, and pedestrian accommodations. The existing highway also limits the movement of recreational users and wildlife, including many endangered wildlife species. Access to recreational areas along SR-67 has insufficient parking, few dedicated crossings, and limited trail-network connectivity. There are no dedicated crossings for wildlife within the project limits.
San Vicente CMCP
The San Vicente Comprehensive Multimodal Corridor Plan (CMCP) studied ways to improve transportation safety, enhance emergency evacuation options, maintain rural community character, increase mobility options, and create greater trip reliability and efficiency. The plan was developed in partnership with the City of Poway, the County of San Diego (Ramona and Lakeside communities), and tribal governments. The completed CMCP will help the San Diego region compete for local, state, and federal funds, including SB 1.
The San Vicente CMCP project team examined and analyzed the corridor’s performance and estimated its future use based on the complex geographic, demographic, economic, and social characteristics of the area. The project team collected community and stakeholder feedback via public meetings and the virtual engagement hub.
Major transportation facilities included in the San Vicente study area are State Route 67 (SR 67) from Mapleview Street in Lakeside to State Route 78 (SR 78) in Ramona, SR 78 within the Ramona Community Plan Area, and other arterial roadways including roadway connections to tribal lands.
Information on the SR-67 San Vicente CMCP can be found here: https://www.sandag.org/regional-plan/comprehensive-multimodal-corridor-plans/san-vicente-cmcp