Growth in commercial and retail development traffic in northern University City, as well as an increase in commuter traffic through the community, has resulted in serious traffic congestion on Genesee Avenue, which is the primary link between the two communities of University City. With continued development in northern University City, as well as the overall metropolitan area, this traffic congestion is expected to worsen substantially in the future. The University City North/South Transportation Corridor (UCNSTC) Study was therefore initiated by the City of San Diego to evaluate a series of transportation improvements which could improve traffic flow between the southern and northern portions of the community of University City by providing local solutions for community and regional traffic congestion in the area. The purpose of this project is therefore to relieve traffic congestion in the area. Specific objectives related to this purpose are: Improve AM/PM intersection level of service; Improve street segment level of service; Decrease the duration or severity of peak hour traffic; and Increase traffic/pedestrian safety. Urban Systems was retained to prepare transportation analysis for the various alternatives proposed by this project.

Urban Systems Associates, Inc. was responsible for completion of the environmental impact and mitigation analysis for traffic and parking. The project proposed an eight gate expansion of the airport by constructing a new terminal just west of the existing west terminal at Lindbergh Field. The project is adjacent to North Harbor Drive, Laurel Street and Pacific Highway. A trolley station under construction at Palm Avenue is planned to serve the proposed expansion. Both on-site and remote parking facilities were also evaluated as part of the project evaluation. The coordination of intermodal transfers was a critical element of the overall evaluation. Urban Systems efforts included the evaluation of airport access roadways, feasibility studies of proposed interchanges and development of both daily and peak period traffic estimates. Urban Systems Associates, Inc. was also responsible for extensive coordination of city, Port, and MTDB transportation planning efforts.

Urban Systems was responsible for off-site roadway mitigation efforts including the widening of Laurel Street and the redesign of the Solar Turbines parking lot access and layout as well as signals, traffic control, and striping and signing for the West Access, North Harbor Drive Detour and North Harbor Drive Improvements. In addition to these activities we managed “express processing” and issue resolution for the issuance of permits for the Ports public improvement plans through the City of San Diego.

The Paseo project is envisioned as a mixed use anchor for Campus-Community activities. The Paseo’s almost 11-acre site will provide opportunities for living, eating, shopping, working and entertainment.

Current concept plans for the project include 465 apartments, and 110,000 square feet of campus-serving office space, a sixteen screen, 2,900 seat multiplex movie theater which will also serve as University lecture halls on weekday mornings, a market, commercial bookstore, music/video store, clothing stores totaling 152,500 square feet, quality sit-down restaurants totaling 50,000 square feet, and 7,500 square feet for religious organizations.

Urban Systems prepared the traffic report for this combined City of San Diego / Caltrans project.  The analysis included existing conditions, Year 2020 evaluation with and without project, ILV/HR evaluation, ramp weave evaluation, and I-805 corridor demand-deliverable evaluation.

The interchange project included the construction of a half diamond interchange with access to and from the south at I-805 and Nobel Drive, and the extension of Nobel Drive from Judicial Drive, through the I-805 interchange to connect with Miramar Road. This first phase of the project has been constructed and is now in operation.

The second phase of the interchange is to widen Miramar Road/La Jolla Village Drive over I-805 and to remove the loop ramps in the northwest and southeast quadrants.  These loop ramps will be replaced by ramps connecting directly to Miramar Road and to La Jolla Village Drive at signalized ramp junctions.