The dream of a rail system, or a people mover, connecting to San Diego International Airport seems further away than ever.
Recent statements from a Port of San Diego executive highlight that one previously favored concept, a people mover connecting the airport to the port’s property on Pacific Highway, is unlikely.
It is the latest chapter in years of attempts to connect the trolley to the airport or, at least, have some type of people mover that takes travelers to, for example, Santa Fe Depot.
The airport, undergoing a $3.8 billion remodel, has engaged in some wishful thinking: Planning 1.61 acres next to the new parking garage for space in case regional planners fund a light rail extension, or people mover, to the airport.
Q: Will San Diego’s airport ever get a light rail connection or people mover?
Economists
Norm Miller, University of San Diego
YES: A free and frequent people mover system is something that should have been agreed upon long ago, but peace in Ukraine and the Middle East may happen first. The NAVWAR redevelopment project will be so big and will benefit enough from such a connection that they might force the implementation of such a system and in turn connect to Old Town, seaport, the airport parking facility and downtown.
David Ely, San Diego State University
NO: Decisions on whether to build a rail connection and its location do not appear imminent. Even if a decision on its route is made within the next several years, the planning and construction of a light rail system with an airport connection will have lengthy timelines. It is difficult to be optimistic. Despite the benefits of a connection, it will probably be sometime in the distant future before one is in place.
Kelly Cunningham, San Diego Institute for Economic Research
YES: It is more a wonder why it is not already built. The Middletown trolley station is about 1.5 miles from Terminal 1 of the airport. Directly connecting mass transit would dramatically lessen traffic congestion to and from the airport’s single access of Harbor Drive. The main opposition to building it comes from bus and taxi services and the airport losing parking revenue. The only thing lacking seems to be the political will to do it.
James Hamilton, UC San Diego
NO: It was a nice idea. But the cost per passenger for the proposals being floated just didn’t make economic sense. And I don’t expect those calculations to improve by delaying because costs for projects like this tend to rise faster than inflation. I recommend looking at more modest ideas, such as offering free rides to anyone with a trolley ticket in frequent small buses or vans powered by electricity or natural gas.
Ray Major, economist
NO: Too many higher priority regional transportation projects exist making the airport people mover connector a “nice to have” that costs too much and has too little return on the investment. The connector will cost billions of dollars and face numerous environmental and construction feasibility hurdles. An extension of the trolley might be more feasible but faces similar hurdles to a people mover. The project is extremely complex and unlikely to be built in the foreseeable future.
Executives
Chris Van Gorder, Scripps Health
NO: At least not anytime soon unless federal funding can be made available for the project. There are already so many current tax proposals on the table locally and statewide. And there are higher priority projects that would benefit more people daily. So, I don’t think the local public will be in the mood for even more increases in taxation for a short connection from the trolly for a people mover or trolly extension.
Jamie Moraga, Franklin Revere
YES: But it won’t happen anytime soon, especially with the continued turmoil at SANDAG. To make this connection happen it will take visionary thought, land-use planning, leadership, funding and political will, all of which are lacking. Connecting the airport via a people mover hasn’t been a priority, which is a detriment to both residents and our tourism industry. The connection should be a no brainer being so close to the city center, trolley, train and rental car facilities.
Phil Blair, Manpower
NO: At this time it seems a very expensive addition to the current trolley system. It appears to be a very laborious way to get to the airport from anywhere other than if you live in Old Town. Travelling from throughout the county, either via car or a current trolley route to get to Old Town to park and then plan enough time to get to your flight seems unreasonable. Plus with the thousands of new parking spaces, and the ease of Lyft rides I think people want a way that is less of a hassle to get to the airport.
Gary London, London Moeder Advisors
YES: This appears to be a good example of “planning paralysis,” where policy makers just can’t get their act together to solve an obvious problem with an obvious solution. Normally I am a critic of the boondoggle spending on the trolley system and the quest for fixed rail transportation solutions. But there are some cases where moving people just makes too much sense. A better way to get to the airport is such a case.
Bob Rauch, R.A. Rauch & Associates
NO: San Diego needs strong leadership to get this done. If we could get SANDAG, the Port Authority, the mayor’s office, and strong leaders together in a meeting, we could at least get some solution. This might be a transit link via bus, trolley, or people mover. Nothing will be done until all the players get on the same page — but that airport will be beautiful.
Austin Neudecker, Weave Growth
YES: I hope a rail or substitute system that connects the airport and downtown can be devised in the next decade. Until then, schedule regular, express buses to downtown and the Santa Fe Depot as a test. If well signed and promoted, this can prove the case for rail or not. Several cities have figured out an extended bus system cheaply and effectively. Why can’t we copy?
Not participating this week:Caroline Freund, UC San Diego School of Global Policy and StrategyAlan Gin, University of San DiegoHaney Hong, San Diego County Taxpayers Assoc.
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