La Mesa, California faces $741 million trolley traffic solution study

The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) presented a study on how to alleviate congestion at the busy Spring Street and La Mesa Boulevard intersection in La Mesa, California. The proposals – elevating the trolley tracks, building an underground trench, or creating a trench‑style cut – are estimated to cost between $740 million and $741 million, roughly three to four times the city’s annual budget. No financing plan was offered, and the city council indicated it is unlikely to move forward with any option in the short term. Mayor Mark Arapostathis joked, “We’ll tell our great‑grandchildren about this,” as council members reacted with mixed opinions. Senior SANDAG planner Cecily Taylor warned that increasing the Orange Line’s frequency to a trolley every seven‑and‑a‑half minutes could worsen traffic. The study, funded in part by a $500,000 Caltrans grant, was presented at a council meeting on July 28. While some business owners and residents favored an elevated solution, councilmember Laura Lothian expressed concerns about the structure’s industrial appearance.