Packard Drive for Route 78 Funding Backed by Board

San Diego County supervisors voted unanimously Wednesday to support an effort by Rep. Ron Packard (R-Carlsbad) to obtain $12 million in federal money for improvement of California 78.

Supervisor Paul Eckert, who represents the North County area surrounding the congested link between Interstates 5 and 15, said that the action committed the county “to finding the funds for meeting their local share of the project,” which is expected to cost $27 million. But Eckert pointed out that the proposed federal legislation “has no strings attached to it,” so that if a local government failed to meet its commitment, the federal funds would still be granted.

Eckert has opposed local financing of California 78 between Oceanside and Escondido. Although he concedes that the road is in dire need of improvement, Eckert contends it is a state problem and should be upgraded with state highway funds, not local monies.

A similar proposal for federal participation in the California 78 project was vetoed by President Reagan last year, Eckert noted, “and it was felt that a strong show of local support was needed” to prevent a similar veto this year.

Packard now has pledges of local support from the five cities along the 16.5-mile highway--Oceanside, Carlsbad, Vista, San Marcos and Escondido--and from the county. He said Wednesday that he will now propose the unusual funding structure to the House Public Works and Transportation Committee in an attempt to win $12 million as a demonstration project showing the need to improve roads connecting federally financed interstates.

Although they have approved the joint funding proposal, neither the county nor any of the five cities along the route has committed money for the highway project. Under the Packard proposal, the county’s share would be $1.125 million.

The supervisors deleted a proposal in the resolution that would have made county financial support of the highway widening contingent upon passage of a countywide ballot measure raising sales taxes and earmarking the money for Highway 78 and other transportation projects.

Eckert said that although the county’s support did not hinge on passage of the sales tax increase, it might aid in passage of the measure, which will probably go before county voters in November, 1986.

Gary Maloney, an aide to Packard, expressed the congressman’s pleasure that Eckert “has done a double flip-flop” and has come out in favor of the Packard plan.

John Sweeten, director of the county Department of Intergovernmental and Public Affairs, interpreted the supervisors’ Wednesday vote as indicating that the county board “is supportive of the concept (of widening Highway 78) but does not have the funds to pledge” its proposed share of $1.125 million.

Maloney said the supervisors’ vote was the final link in forging “a united local commitment” to the unusual financing package.

“Everyone familiar with the congestion on Highway 78 is in favor of a widening project,” Maloney said, “and all of us would rather see 100% state funding. But the project is not on the state transportation program, and will not be in line for state funds for five years at least unless this federal demonstration project is approved.”

Under Packard’s proposal, which has gained the formal support of local governments and informal state consent, $12 million in federal funds would be matched by a $7.5-million state grant, by $1.125 million each from the county and Vista; $825,000 each from Carlsbad and San Marcos; $1.95 million from Oceanside, and $1.65 million from Escondido.