Board of Directors Meeting MinutesMeeting MinutesFriday, November 07, 2025 at 10:30 A.m. - 1:30 P.m.SANDAG Boardroom 1011 Union Street, First FloorSan Diego, CA 92101Voting Members Present:Chair Lesa Heebner (Solana Beach)First Vice Chair Joe LaCava (City of San Diego - Seat A)Second Vice Chair John Minto (Santee)Councilmember Kevin Shin (Carlsbad)Deputy Mayor Carolina Chavez (Chula Vista)Mayor John Duncan (Coronado)Supervisor Joel Anderson (County of San Diego)Mayor Terry Gaasterland (Del Mar)Mayor Bill Wells (El Cajon)Mayor Bruce Ehlers (Encinitas)Mayor Dane White (Escondido)Mayor Mitch McKay (Imperial Beach)Vice Mayor Lauren Cazares (La Mesa)Councilmember Luz Molina (National City)Mayor Esther Sanchez (Oceanside)Councilmember Ed Musgrove (San Marcos)Councilmember Dan O'Donnell (Vista)Voting Members Absent:Mayor Alysson Snow (Lemon Grove)Mayor Steve Vaus (Poway)Others Present:Council President Pro Tem Kent Lee (City of San Diego - Seat B)Ann Fox (Caltrans)Councilmember Jewel Edson (North County Transit District) Meeting Video1.Call to Order Public Comments: Chair Heebner called the meeting to order at 10:34 a.m. 2.Non-Agenda Public Comments/Member Comments Public Comments: Public Comments: Purita Javier, Cesar Javier, Truth, Paul the Bold, Leif Gensert, Consuelo, Blair Beekman, Andrea Ebbing, The Original Dra. Member Comments: Mayor Gaasterland, Mayor McKay, Chair Heebner. Chief Executive Officer Mario Orso presented an update on agency activities. 3.Consent Public Comments: Public Comments: Cesar Javier, Truth, Paul the Bold, The Original Dra, Blair Beekman, Consuelo. Motioned by:Second Vice Chair MintoSeconded by:Councilmember Musgroveto approve Consent Agenda item nos. 3.1 through 3.3.For (16)Deputy Mayor Chavez, Mayor Duncan, Mayor Gaasterland, Mayor Wells, Mayor White, Councilmember Molina, Second Vice Chair Minto, Chair Heebner, Mayor McKay, First Vice Chair LaCava, Councilmember Musgrove, Councilmember O'Donnell, Councilmember Shin, Mayor Sanchez, Vice Mayor Cazares, and Mayor EhlersAbsent (3)Supervisor Anderson, Mayor Vaus, and Mayor SnowThe motion passed. (16 to 0)3.1Approval of Meeting Minutes Public Comments: 3.1.1October 24, 2025, Meeting Minutes Attachments | Public Comments1.Post-Meeting Minutes - BOD_Oct24_2025 - English.pdfApproved the minutes from its October 24, 2025, meeting.3.1.2October 30, 2025, Special Meeting Minutes Attachments | Public Comments1.Post-Meeting Minutes - BODspec_Oct30_2025 - English.pdfApproved the minutes from its October 30, 2025, meeting.3.1.3October 31, 2025, Meeting Minutes Attachments | Public Comments1.Post-Meeting Minutes - BOD_Oct31_2025 - English.pdfApproved the minutes from its October 31, 2025, meeting.3.2Policy Advisory Committee Actions Attachments | Public Comments1.Staff Report - Policy Advisory Committee Actions - BOD 11072025.pdf2.Att. 1A - BOD 11-21.pdf3.Att. 1B - BOD 12-12.pdfRatified the actions taken by the Policy Advisory Committees as noted in the report. 3.3Meetings and Events Attended on Behalf of SANDAG Attachments | Public Comments1.Staff Report - Meetings and Events Attended on Behalf of SANDAG - BOD 10102025.pdfThis report provided an update on meetings and events attended by members of the SANDAG Board of Directors. This item was provided for information.4.Closed Session Public Comments: Chair Heebner adjourned the meeting to closed session for item no. 4.1 at 11:31 a.m. Public Comments: Truth, Cesar Javier, The Original Dra, Paul the Bold, Consuelo. Chair Heebner resumed open session at 12:38 p.m. Board Counsel Alfred Smith reported out of closed session that the Board was briefed regarding the status of the referenced litigation. There was no reportable action. 4.1Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1) Public Comments: Warrem v. San Diego Association of Governments (San Diego Superior Court Case No. 37-2023- 00050222)5.Proposed Project Delivery Strategy, including the FY 2026 State Transportation Improvement Program Public Comments: Public Comments: Truth, Cesar Javier, Zach Sturgeon, Paul the Bold, The Original Dra, Consuelo, Blair Beekman, Phone number ending in 5981.Motioned by:Mayor SanchezSeconded by:Councilmember Musgroveto extend the meeting end time to 2 p.m.For (12)Mayor Duncan, Mayor Gaasterland, Councilmember Molina, Second Vice Chair Minto, Chair Heebner, Mayor McKay, First Vice Chair LaCava, Councilmember Musgrove, Councilmember Shin, Mayor Sanchez, Vice Mayor Cazares, and Mayor EhlersAgainst (1)Supervisor AndersonAbsent (6)Deputy Mayor Chavez, Mayor Wells, Mayor White, Mayor Vaus, Mayor Snow, and Councilmember O'DonnellThe motion passed. (12 to 1)5.1Proposed Project Delivery Strategy Attachments | Public Comments1.Staff Report - Proposed Project Delivery Strategy - BOD 11072025.pdf2.Att. 1 – Proposed Project Delivery Strategy - BOD 11072025.pdf3.Presentation - Proposed Project Delivery Strategy - BOD 11072025.pdfAlex WongWe must prioritize pedestrian and bike infrastructure over car infrastructure. Pedestrians and bikes are the most physically vulnerable. The poorest among us cannot afford cars. They do the most walking and biking. We must do all that we can to make their journeys safer and more pleasant.Zachary DayIt is unacceptable for SANDAG to continue to prioritize personal automobile travel while neglecting the safety needs of our communities. Witholding funds from projects that improve street safety is PLANNING FOR UNSAFE STREETS. We must proactively combat unsafe driving by making real physical design changes. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and too often there is no cure when pedestrians are struck and killed. We must finish the EAP!Kareston MarkleySANDAG must fund the planned bike and pedestrian infrastructure. These projects make our streets safer for all users. Three children have been hit in San Diego in the last month. How can San Dag continue to delay safety improvements while more children are killed on our streets? The tradgedy on the 25th of October on University Ave could have been prevented if the University Bikeway project hadn't been delayed 5+ years. Please prioritize our community's safety and move forward with the already planned infrastructure improvements. We must fully fund and finish the EAP! All road users benefit from these safety upgrades!The Board of Directors provided feedback on a proposed strategy to advance delivery of projects and programs throughout the San Diego region. This item was presented for discussion. 5.2Proposed FY 2026 State Transportation Improvement Program Attachments | Public Comments1.Staff Report - Proposed 2026 STIP - BOD 11072025.pdf2.Att. 1 - Discussion Memo Proposed 2026 STIP - BOD 11072025.pdf3.Presentation - Proposed FY 2026 State Transportation Imp Program - BOD 11072025.pdfAdian ChowdhuryI strongly oppose diverting funding for the I-15 transit priority project to fund the I-5 NCC project. The I-15 project would allow the Rapid 235 and future Rapid 688 buses to run faster and more reliably. These improvements would make the bus a more competitive alternative to driving, and would encourage more users to use public transit, reducing congestion and pollution. Delaying these projects would cause great harm to the region and SANDAG's own transit and climate goals, which dictate that people will only switch to public transportation with adequate investment. This funding should not be pulled and given to the I-5 NCC managed lanes project, which would only increase pollution and congestion long-term (a waste of taxpayer dollars), and do nothing to increase transit usage. As a resident of Serra Mesa, I do not wish to see the only project on the STIP that would be in my local area to be delayed indefinitely, to fund a project all the way in North County. This is a matter of severe inequity, with the other proposed changes, this STIP proposal will have zero projects in central. Please do not shift green transit funding towards funding polluting freeway projects. I urge the SANDAG board to oppose these inequitable and backwards proposals to the STIP that would delay the I-15 transit project to fund the I-5 NCC project. Please support advancing and accelerating the I-15 transit project and other climate-friendly transit projects like the Carlsbad train trench.Nathan DanqueAs your constituent, I insist that you DO NOT cancel funding for the I-15 bus lanes, and ESPECIALLY do not move them to a non-transit-related project. The I-15 corridor has some of the worst traffic in San Diego County, and high-occupancy buses are forced to sit in the same traffic with inefficient, single-occupied private vehicles. Dedicated transit lanes would speed up the bus and make it competitive with or superior to driving, especially during peak hours. Unlike private automobiles, rapid buses are a scalable solution that do not require us to pave over two more lanes of our Mediterranean paradise with asphalt every 4-5 years as the population grows. It is incredibly and unforgivably short-sighted to cancel a transit project and move funds to a non-transit-related project on a corridor that already has intercity and regional rail. If congestion on I-5 is a primary concern, improvements to the LOSSAN corridor would be a far more cost-efficient solution. Improvements to train speed and frequency are the only future-proofed solution to decongesting the I-5 freeway. Please invest in people, not cars.Alex WongPlease do not reallocate money away from I-15 transit lanes so that you can expand lanes for cars on the North I-5. Snapdragon Stadium is on the I-15. And right on its parking lot, 4,600 housing units, 1.6 million sq ft classrooms/labs are being built. People traveling to and from this site will be students--who largely cannot afford a car. That's why we need transit lanes and a direct access ramp on the I-15 allowing 235 buses to serve Snapdragon station, shaving off 15-30 min off students' commutes.Rachel GrahamDear SANDAG Board, I urge you NOT to divert funding from transit priority lanes on the 15 & the Clairemont Drive direct access ramp to I-5 NCC managed lanes. I regularly take the 235 bus and while sitting on the bus in traffic is better than driving in traffic, we can and must do better. Transit priority lanes would dramatically speed up this route during rush hour and make taking the bus much more attractive to people, as well as give people who must take the bus more of their lives back. One of the most time consuming parts of this trip during rush hour is trying to merge back onto the 15 from Clairemont Drive. No one wants to let the bus in. Adding a direct access ramp here would be a massive improvement. Please do not divert these much-needed transit improvements to another freeway project. Albert PerdonPlease consider the comments contained in uploaded file that address major concerns regarding the staff report, and that offers solutions to the issues of public concern.Rita Louise ClementDo not repurpose $15M from an important transit project, "I-15 Transit Priority Lanes & Clairemont Direct Access Route", to a highway expansion project on North I-5, "I-5 NCC Managed Lanes", which adds only HOV, and not Rapid Bus! The decision on funding the $15M back for the Clairemont transit project will await the 2028 STIP? No, that is not OK! You are setting back the cause of encouraging folks to take transit over driving their cars. There is already far too much highway expansion in the 2024 STIP, and nowhere near enough focus on transit projects! Please vote NOT on this change! Steven GelbPlease do not reallocate $15M from the "I-15 Transit PriorityLanes & Clairemont Direct Access Route", to a highway expansion project on North I-5, "I-5 NCC Managed Lanes". Transit has been underfunded for years and the project on I-5 should be lower priority than the I-15 Bus Rapid Transit project which would be one of the first truly bus rapid transit routes in the county. To make BRT work dedicated lanes are necessary. Pushing this project back to a later date is unacceptable. Please stop expanding highways at the expense of transit projects. Please do not approve this change.The Board of Directors was asked to discuss the submission of the proposed 2026 State Transportation Improvement Program to the California Transportation Commission. This item was presented for discussion. Motioned by:First Vice Chair LaCavaSeconded by:Mayor Duncanto approve the submission of the proposed 2026 State Transportation Improvement Program to the California Transportation Commission.For (13)Deputy Mayor Chavez, Mayor Duncan, Supervisor Anderson, Mayor Gaasterland, Councilmember Molina, Second Vice Chair Minto, Chair Heebner, Mayor McKay, First Vice Chair LaCava, Councilmember Musgrove, Councilmember Shin, Mayor Sanchez, and Mayor EhlersAbsent (6)Mayor Wells, Mayor White, Mayor Vaus, Mayor Snow, Councilmember O'Donnell, and Vice Mayor CazaresThe motion passed. (13 to 0)6.Adjournment Public Comments: The next Board of Directors meeting is scheduled for November 21, 2025, at 9 a.m. Chair Heebner adjourned the meeting at 1:46 p.m.No Item Selected Attachments (0) | Public Comments (0)This item has no attachments.1.Staff Report - Meetings and Events Attended on Behalf of SANDAG - BOD 10102025.pdf1.Post-Meeting Minutes - BOD_Oct24_2025 - English.pdf1.Post-Meeting Minutes - BOD_Oct31_2025 - English.pdf1.Post-Meeting Minutes - BODspec_Oct30_2025 - English.pdf1.Staff Report - Proposed 2026 STIP - BOD 11072025.pdf2.Att. 1 - Discussion Memo Proposed 2026 STIP - BOD 11072025.pdf3.Presentation - Proposed FY 2026 State Transportation Imp Program - BOD 11072025.pdf1.Staff Report - Policy Advisory Committee Actions - BOD 11072025.pdf2.Att. 1A - BOD 11-21.pdf3.Att. 1B - BOD 12-12.pdf1.Staff Report - Proposed Project Delivery Strategy - BOD 11072025.pdf2.Att. 1 – Proposed Project Delivery Strategy - BOD 11072025.pdf3.Presentation - Proposed Project Delivery Strategy - BOD 11072025.pdfThis item has no public commentAdian Chowdhury (Against)I strongly oppose diverting funding for the I-15 transit priority project to fund the I-5 NCC project. The I-15 project would allow the Rapid 235 and future Rapid 688 buses to run faster and more reliably. These improvements would make the bus a more competitive alternative to driving, and would encourage more users to use public transit, reducing congestion and pollution. Delaying these projects would cause great harm to the region and SANDAG's own transit and climate goals, which dictate that people will only switch to public transportation with adequate investment. This funding should not be pulled and given to the I-5 NCC managed lanes project, which would only increase pollution and congestion long-term (a waste of taxpayer dollars), and do nothing to increase transit usage. As a resident of Serra Mesa, I do not wish to see the only project on the STIP that would be in my local area to be delayed indefinitely, to fund a project all the way in North County. This is a matter of severe inequity, with the other proposed changes, this STIP proposal will have zero projects in central. Please do not shift green transit funding towards funding polluting freeway projects. I urge the SANDAG board to oppose these inequitable and backwards proposals to the STIP that would delay the I-15 transit project to fund the I-5 NCC project. Please support advancing and accelerating the I-15 transit project and other climate-friendly transit projects like the Carlsbad train trench.Nathan Danque (Against)As your constituent, I insist that you DO NOT cancel funding for the I-15 bus lanes, and ESPECIALLY do not move them to a non-transit-related project. The I-15 corridor has some of the worst traffic in San Diego County, and high-occupancy buses are forced to sit in the same traffic with inefficient, single-occupied private vehicles. Dedicated transit lanes would speed up the bus and make it competitive with or superior to driving, especially during peak hours. Unlike private automobiles, rapid buses are a scalable solution that do not require us to pave over two more lanes of our Mediterranean paradise with asphalt every 4-5 years as the population grows. It is incredibly and unforgivably short-sighted to cancel a transit project and move funds to a non-transit-related project on a corridor that already has intercity and regional rail. If congestion on I-5 is a primary concern, improvements to the LOSSAN corridor would be a far more cost-efficient solution. Improvements to train speed and frequency are the only future-proofed solution to decongesting the I-5 freeway. Please invest in people, not cars.Alex Wong (Against)Please do not reallocate money away from I-15 transit lanes so that you can expand lanes for cars on the North I-5. Snapdragon Stadium is on the I-15. And right on its parking lot, 4,600 housing units, 1.6 million sq ft classrooms/labs are being built. People traveling to and from this site will be students--who largely cannot afford a car. That's why we need transit lanes and a direct access ramp on the I-15 allowing 235 buses to serve Snapdragon station, shaving off 15-30 min off students' commutes.Rachel Graham (Against)Dear SANDAG Board, I urge you NOT to divert funding from transit priority lanes on the 15 & the Clairemont Drive direct access ramp to I-5 NCC managed lanes. I regularly take the 235 bus and while sitting on the bus in traffic is better than driving in traffic, we can and must do better. Transit priority lanes would dramatically speed up this route during rush hour and make taking the bus much more attractive to people, as well as give people who must take the bus more of their lives back. One of the most time consuming parts of this trip during rush hour is trying to merge back onto the 15 from Clairemont Drive. No one wants to let the bus in. Adding a direct access ramp here would be a massive improvement. Please do not divert these much-needed transit improvements to another freeway project. Albert Perdon (-)Please consider the comments contained in uploaded file that address major concerns regarding the staff report, and that offers solutions to the issues of public concern.Rita Louise Clement (Against)Do not repurpose $15M from an important transit project, "I-15 Transit Priority Lanes & Clairemont Direct Access Route", to a highway expansion project on North I-5, "I-5 NCC Managed Lanes", which adds only HOV, and not Rapid Bus! The decision on funding the $15M back for the Clairemont transit project will await the 2028 STIP? No, that is not OK! You are setting back the cause of encouraging folks to take transit over driving their cars. There is already far too much highway expansion in the 2024 STIP, and nowhere near enough focus on transit projects! Please vote NOT on this change! Steven Gelb (Against)Please do not reallocate $15M from the "I-15 Transit PriorityLanes & Clairemont Direct Access Route", to a highway expansion project on North I-5, "I-5 NCC Managed Lanes". Transit has been underfunded for years and the project on I-5 should be lower priority than the I-15 Bus Rapid Transit project which would be one of the first truly bus rapid transit routes in the county. To make BRT work dedicated lanes are necessary. Pushing this project back to a later date is unacceptable. Please stop expanding highways at the expense of transit projects. Please do not approve this change.Alex Wong (Against)We must prioritize pedestrian and bike infrastructure over car infrastructure. Pedestrians and bikes are the most physically vulnerable. The poorest among us cannot afford cars. They do the most walking and biking. We must do all that we can to make their journeys safer and more pleasant.Zachary Day (Against)It is unacceptable for SANDAG to continue to prioritize personal automobile travel while neglecting the safety needs of our communities. Witholding funds from projects that improve street safety is PLANNING FOR UNSAFE STREETS. We must proactively combat unsafe driving by making real physical design changes. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and too often there is no cure when pedestrians are struck and killed. We must finish the EAP!Kareston Markley (Against)SANDAG must fund the planned bike and pedestrian infrastructure. These projects make our streets safer for all users. Three children have been hit in San Diego in the last month. How can San Dag continue to delay safety improvements while more children are killed on our streets? The tradgedy on the 25th of October on University Ave could have been prevented if the University Bikeway project hadn't been delayed 5+ years. Please prioritize our community's safety and move forward with the already planned infrastructure improvements. We must fully fund and finish the EAP! All road users benefit from these safety upgrades!