Route 94 Improvement Plans

In this morning's San Diego Union:

People concerned about the condition of state Route 94 will have a chance to tell Caltrans planners what they think of a plan for improvements on an 18-mile stretch from Jamul to Tecate.

Officials with the California Department of Transportation will be available to explain the proposal and take comments in a meeting scheduled from 4:30 to 8 p.m. today at Jamul Primary School, 14567 Lyons Valley Road in Jamul.

The proposed improvements include passing lanes, widening the road and realigning curves, said project manager Sam Amen, who estimated they would cost $90 million to $100 million to build.

There isn't enough money for the project in state and federal budgets right now, he said, but the planning is important for any eventual improvements. More information is available online at www.rural94.com.

I checked out the web site above; there's a bit of information, but nearly all of it is included on the map I've linked to above (click on it for a full-sized view). All of the improvements listed are for the section of 94 that lies between Jamul and Tecate, so for all of us who commute from Jamul toward San Diego, these have no benefit at all. It's another story altogether for those folks who travel between San Diego and Tecate, Campo, or points beyond – this stretch of 94 is (and has been for years) a notoriously dangerous route. Adding large numbers of trucks from Mexico isn't going to make it any safer, either…