I hope this letter finds you all well, and you can take a minute to read this letter on some real neighborhood concerns regarding the proposed Oceanside Transit Center redevelopment project.
Fundamentally, I am a supporter of economic development, transportation alternatives, necessary infrastructure, additional and affordable housing. The Oceanside Transit Center development checks many of these boxes. Through my career, I have worked over many decades to improve communities through transportation and economic development. This has allowed me to understand the balancing act that needs to happen when projects, such as this are designed and implemented, and the importance of working with the local community on the solutions that should be implemented.
And now, as a resident who lives a few hundred feet away from this project, I find it important and necessary to share concerns from my neighbors and neighborhood groups, about some conflicting information in the various plans presented; 1) the location of the bus bays, and 2) the exit proposed on Missouri Avenue at S Cleveland Street.
In talking to my neighbors, many of whom like myself, did research into what was then proposed for this transit center. A few years ago, I personally called the City of Oceanside, NCTD and SANDAG and specifically asked about any potential plans to move the bus bays and station. At that time, prior to buying my home, each agency advised there was NO plan to move the bus bays or stations. Therefore, you can imagine our surprise when we saw the current plans that contained this proposed relocation of the bus bays to the south end of the project next to Missouri Avenue. And then, at the March 16, 2023 community meeting it was revealed, only at the end of the meeting, about the frequency of use of the bus exit at Missouri and S. Cleveland St, that the exit would be used for ALL southbound bus traffic!
After this meeting, several community members met with Tracey Foster and Chris Orlando on March 29, 2023 to see if this could possibly be true, since this was never discussed in any public conversation or meeting and is a material deficiency in the public outreach process and the CEQA scoping process. See the attached circulation design provided to the public prior to the March 16, 2023 revelation (Exhibit 4.2). Further, the public was advised that this exit was placed here at the direction of the City of Oceanside and would be used by buses only occasionally, however a public records request indicated that NCTD has no record of this request being made by the City of Oceanside.
On April 14, 2023 NCTD staff confirmed that this NEW exit will now be used for ALL southbound buses; however they acknowledged the impact of transit operations on the surrounding community. Staff went on to advise that to ensure that the bus circulation plan for the site maximizes operational needs while minimizing these potential impacts, NCTD will engage an outside consultant to conduct an additional review of the circulation plan. Staff further advised that they do not believe this study will change to proposed exit or southbound bus routes, but are undertaking it anyway.
In connecting with many neighbors and neighborhood groups in downtown Oceanside, it seems the consensus is:
1) For resident and visitor safety, buses should continue to use Seagaze as ingress and egress to the station. The State and City both encourage “walkability” in downtown Oceanside. The possibility of buses using Michigan and Missouri create hazards for walking residents as the streets are narrow. Further, local businesses and residents need the street parking along Michigan and Missouri for customers and their own use. Continuing to use Seagaze avoids all these negative impacts as Seagaze and the intersection is wider and the traffic pattern is already known by residents and businesses, reducing any conflicts!
2) If there must be an exit at Missouri Avenue, it should only be used for an emergency exit with a gate to avoid any confusion. These are the primary concerns many of us have and as I have indicated we are working with staff on these issues, but have yet to find an agreeable solution. Hopefully we are able to reach one. That being said, several of your Board Members, and their staff, advised us to send this letter with our concerns to the NCTD Board. Of course there are many ideas on how to improve the site and mitigate any negative impacts, as well incorporating art and the history of how the transit center is vital to Oceanside’s development from the 1800’s. Several of us are working with staff on these additional ideas and are volunteering our time and efforts to assist with current and future mutually beneficial improvements.
It is our hope that you will consider this feedback and concerns regarding balancing the needs of the project and the neighbors by addressing these issues of local safety and livability.
