SANDAG to Consider Purchase of Privately Owned Route 125 Road

The San Diego Association of Governments Board of Directors will consider at its meeting Friday whether to complete the $344.5 million purchase of the privately owned state Route 125 toll road.

The 4-year-old highway, also called the South Bay Expressway, runs from Spring Valley through Chula Vista to Otay Mesa but is little-used because of high toll costs.

A recent SANDAG report on financing the purchase suggested phasing in lower toll rates, which currently range up to $4 per trip, and tracking usage of the roadway at various price levels. The rates could eventually be sliced in half.

SANDAG, whose functions include conducting regional transportation planning for local government agencies, plans to finance the purchase with a loan of TransNet sales tax revenue.

The directors of the organization of area government officials will also elect new board officers at Friday's meeting.

-City News Service