Jackson Drive

The commentary by Lori Saldana suggesting that San Diego’s environmental community, developers and elected officials can and should work together on mutual interests was a welcome relief to the usual lambasting of one side or the other. All parties have legitimate concerns that must be addressed and can be accommodated if those parties work constructively and in good faith.

Ms. Saldana points out the many instances where we have worked together very successfully and suggests that the same could be true on Mission Trails Parkway (formerly Jackson Drive). She presents some of her ideas to improve the concept of Mission Trails Parkway. They were excellent ideas, and I am pleased to say that many of them already have been incorporated into the road design.

Those of us who have spent the last 10 years working on the master plan for Mission Trails Regional Park (which has always included a park access road along the western perimeter of the park) agonized over the issue of how to design a road that would address the concerns of neighbors, commuters, park users and wildlife. Believe me, all ideas are welcome.

As Ms. Saldana suggested, special wildlife corridors were incorporated into the road design to allow wildlife to cross safely to their traditional feeding and breeding areas. Rather than filling two canyons, bridges were chosen to allow free movement of hikers and animals through these sensitive and beautiful areas. Engineering studies carefully calculated shadows cast by the bridges to minimize their impact on plant life. The road alignment was moved to reduce the visibility of the road to homes that look out over the park. The width of the road was reduced to minimize grading and damage to habitat. Active uses of the park for camping and picnicking were concentrated at the west end to maximize the wilderness experience in the bulk of the park.

Furthermore, the city manager estimated that Mission Trails Parkway will allow commuters to substantially reduce the number of vehicle miles traveled, thereby reducing gas consumption and air pollution. The savings to the motorists in reduced vehicle operating costs because of the shorter distance to California 52 is projected to be $2.5 million annually.

Per year, San Diegans will also be spared 469,680 pounds of pollutants because of Mission Trails Parkway.

The master plan for Mission Trails Regional Park includes an interpretive center not only to educate visitors, but also to instill in them a protective interest in the environment.

JUDY McCARTY, Councilwoman, District 7