San Diego Association of Governments is laying the environmental groundwork for implementing an automated people mover from the Santa Fe Depot to the San Diego International Airport.

SANDAG is in the early stages of studying, and narrowing down, several automated people mover alternatives. One of those concepts could involve a high-speed, above-ground monorail service for that 2 ½-mile stretch between Downtown and the airport.

Previously, the board of SANDAG, San Diego’s transportation planning agency comprised of elected officials from the region’s 18 city councils and County Board of Supervisors, approved an amendment to its $1.2 billion budget for the 2024 fiscal year. That amendment adds $643 million in federal, state, and local revenue to more than 30 projects over the next five years.

One of those projects on which that funding is being used is the longtime proposed airport transit connection discussed by local officials as a possible solution to perennial complaints of traffic congestion and an overall lack of public transportation options to the airport.

Coleen Clementson, SANDAG deputy CEO, has told the board studies indicate the people mover concept, estimated to cost $1.3 billion to $2 billion, could cut traffic on surface streets by an estimated 20%, and possibly save up to 24 minutes in travel time to the airport. She said Santa Fe Depot has been selected as the endpoint for the people-mover project because it lies at a public transportation crossroads with buses, the trolley, Amtrak, and Coaster trains all using it as a transit hub. She noted a project of this scale would also likely qualify for matching federal transit funds, adding the airport has already committed to helping fund it.

At its Feb. 23 meeting, SANDAG’s board got an update from staff on the automated people mover concept. During that meeting, staff told the SANDAG board that seven different alternative people mover concepts are being surveyed and modeled in initiating environmental studies for the project. The added that is a prelude to the SANDAG board ultimately selecting a preferred local alternative for the automated people mover. “We want to keep this project within the initial 36-month timeline to complete, using the latest data, including COVID data, for example,” staff told the board.

“We need to make sure we do our due diligence in doing public outreach on this project as part of its development,” said SANDAG board member and City Councilmember Raul Campillo. “We should have the ability to narrow down the number of options and make a decision on a preferred alternative far quicker.”

SANDAG board chair and County Supervisor Nora Vargas agreed. “I share concerns about timelines,” she said.

“We need to do a public travel demand survey,” cautioned SANDAG staffer Jennifer Williamson adding, “We are dedicated to getting this done sooner rather than later.”

There are, however, more questions than answers at this time, about the long-term, high-cost automated people mover concept. That point was driven home by SANDAG board member and County Supervisor Joel Anderson who asked if the potential for lawsuits against the project was being considered. “I don’t know of any construction project that’s just not racked with lawsuits,” he said asking, “How will that impact our funding? Are there things that we can do to speed up this process?”