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SANDAG study outlines costly grade‑separation options to reduce trolley delays in Downtown La Mesa
Summary
A city‑commissioned study presented options including an elevated guideway, a trench, and a shortened aerial segment to reduce trolley/road conflicts; while full grade separation offers the largest safety and mobility gains, consultants warned of high costs, lengthy construction and visual impacts.
A SANDAG consultant told the La Mesa City Council the most effective ways to reduce trolley‑related traffic delays in the village would be to separate rail from road, but the measures carry large costs and long construction timelines.
“Full grade separation certainly brings a lot of benefit,” Cecily Taylor, senior regional planner, said during a July presentation. Taylor outlined three long‑term concepts — a full aerial guideway, a full trench, and a shortened aerial guideway focused on two congested intersections — and a set of lower‑cost near‑term improvements such as signal upgrades and enhanced crossing equipment. She said the aerial guideway performed better against the project goals in the study and estimated the elevated option could take roughly 50 months of construction.
Taylor emphasized the tradeoffs between safety, visual impacts and community character. “There’s no doubt that this is a visually prominent structure,” she said, and cautioned that trench options raise concerns about visibility, security and encampments. The study removed a roadway‑trench concept early after outreach and technical review because it would be most disruptive and least beneficial to local visitors.
Council members pressed staff and the consultant on community preferences, cost estimates and possible funding. Taylor said public outreach showed mixed responses: roughly 70% reacted positively to an elevated option in early, high‑level feedback, while the roadway trench drew more negative responses. She also warned that because the site has fewer severe crashes than other locations, the project may be less competitive for some discretionary safety grants.
The council received the report as a planning‑stage evaluation; staff said future phases would require detailed technical and cost analyses, environmental review, and a funding strategy. No funding or final design was approved; Taylor said the report is intended to provide a foundation for future decisions and grant applications.
