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Council hears SANDAG pause on stopover purchase; NCTD moves to public hearing on route cuts
Summary
Council members reported that SANDAG will pause plans to repurpose a site for offices and focus transit funding on infrastructure; NCTD set a public hearing to consider dropping two local bus lines, and a public commenter raised health and safety concerns about electric transit vehicles and related infrastructure.
Council members updated the San Marcos City Council on regional transit matters at the March 25 meeting, including a SANDAG pause on a planned bus stopover property purchase, a set public hearing by North County Transit District (NCTD) on proposed route cuts, and public comment raising concerns about electric transit infrastructure.
A SANDAG representative reported that land originally intended for agency offices will no longer be used for that purpose and that SANDAG will pause plans to convert the site for other uses. The representative said SANDAG staff emphasized that funds and land should be used for transit needs—such as stopover facilities with bathrooms and parking—rather than economic development projects, and that the agency’s preliminary budget includes hiring three staff (two in an independent auditor office and one director of internal controls).
Deputy Mayor Sunella told the council that NCTD staff is proposing to discontinue two bus lines (one in Vista and one running along Palomar Park Road in Carlsbad) and that the board voted to set a public hearing on the proposed eliminations. The NCTD item will proceed through the public hearing process before any service changes are implemented.
Public commenter Audra criticized some regional transit initiatives and questioned the safety and health impacts of electric transit vehicles and associated infrastructure, saying lithium batteries can present combustion risks and encouraging the city and agencies to study health effects. The council did not adopt a policy in response to the public comment during the meeting.
No city budget or local ordinance change was adopted at the meeting; council members said they will report back on regional meetings and hearings in future sessions.
