San Diego's Transit Future Looking Brighter

It's no small feat to declare a sunny future for transit in auto-centric San Diego, but recent developments - including the court victory over the San Diego Association of Government's 40-year transportation plan [which gave short shrift to transit] and the ascension of transit-friendly Mayor Bob Filner and City Council President Todd Gloria - have put smiles on the faces of local advocates, reports Andrew Keatts. "It does all kind of point to the end of the world when things are this good," said Marco Gonzalez, an attorney at Coast Law Group who was one of the attorneys fighting Sandag's transportation proposal."

"Now," says Keatts, "he and others who'd like to see transit play a bigger role in the traditionally sprawling San Diego region are hoping this latest series of wins can actually move the needle."

The next step in the transportation plan saga could set the stage for such a transformation. A revised plan could include moving transit investment forward in the plan's timeline or expanding transit investments in San Diego's urban core.

"From our side, we have always looked for stronger leadership on transit and transit-oriented communities," Gonzalez said. "For the first time, we feel like we might have that type of leadership in the mayor's office."