UC Golden

The widening of Genesee Avenue from four to six lanes between Nobel Drive and the WB SR-52 on-ramp (approximately 1.6 miles), would provide added capacity precisely where it is demanded: along Genesee Avenue. The reason for this is straightforward: the biggest peak hour "trip generators" for Genesee Avenue traffic are the business and commercial sites along (and east of) Genesee in North University City: UTC, Costa Verde, Eastgate, Renaissance, etc. For commuters traveling between these sites and locations to the south and southeast, Genesee Avenue and Interstate 805 are the two principal routes. Regents Road, by contrast, is overwhelmingly residential. In South University City, however, a significant number of residents live along Genesee Avenue, and there are three schools either on or close to Genesee. The widening would carry significant negative impacts for the community.

(The term "widening" is somewhat of a misnomer, since the conversion to six lanes would be accomplished within the existing right-of-way, with the sole exception of the Genesee bridge over Rose Canyon, which truly would have to be widened. The widening would amount to eliminating the existing broad median, together with its landscaping, and restriping the roadway. The increased capacity would result in a significant increase in volume along Genesee Avenue.)

Many commuters use Genesee Avenue as a bypass to the extremely congested I-805, especially during afternoon peak. The Regents Road bridge would serve as a bypass to a bypass. Because it lies even further to the west, and because Regents Road does not provide N/S capacity south of Clairemont (where it turns to the east and becomes Clairemont Mesa Blvd), traffic forecasts have consistently shown the bridge to be an ineffective congestion reliever for Genesee Avenue.

While the widening would attract up to 8,000 additional freeway trips onto Genesee, with its expanded capacity the traffic would flow more freely than it does today. The widening, as a stand-alone project, is projected to achieve acceptable service levels on virtually all currently afflicted road segments. It is also a far more cost-effective project than the Regents Road bridge. While not as effective as grade separation at relieving congestion at the critical Genesee Avenue / Governor Drive bottleneck, the widening would increase the capacity of this intersection through the addition of an extra northbound and southbound through lane. Genesee Avenue is almost the exact dividing line for the population in South University City, with half of the residents living on either side.

In 1995, a Citizens’ Advisory Committee, convened under councilmember Harry Mathis, voted 12-3 to proceed with the Genesee Ave widening but to hold off on the Regents Rd bridge. The committee was largely influenced by the results of a recent traffic study, and by the recommendation of the city’s traffic engineer, Frank Belock. Mr. Belock’s report stated,

“Widening Genesee Avenue to 6 lanes without Regents Road Bridge would bring the level of service to D at Genesee Avenue with 51,000 trips in the year 2015, as well as create a level of service D or better throughout the area. The widening is in accordance to the community plan and would alleviate present traffic conditions.”

“The construction of Regents Road Bridge without the widening of Genesee Avenue would provide the community with a traffic pattern that is somewhat constrained. The level of service on Genesee would be E which is below the project goal.”

“The one alternative that best fits the community needs and resources is Alternative 2, widening Genesee Avenue at this time and deferring the bridge to a later date. This alternative would address traffic conditions and would accommodate future growth in the area by assuring a Level-of-Service D.

	UC GOLDEN
	The truth about traffic in University City