Issue link: http://read.insidecustommedia.com/i/733416
l Q&A NORTH COUNTY BUSINESS JOURNAL x FALL 2016 x sdnedc.org At MiraCosta College, our students are inspired to dream more, learn more, do more, become more. Learn about some recent graduates by visiting miracosta.edu/meet. ey are tomorrow's business leaders. Today, they are ready to work for you. San Diego County and in many in- stances impacts all trains on the entire LOSSAN corridor, which stretches from San Diego County to San Luis Obispo. • • • What do you hope are both the im- mediate results and the long-term ef- fects of this increase in enforcement activity along the rail corridors? We are hoping to get the word out that unsafely and illegally trespassing on railroad right-of-way and railroad tracks can be deadly. We want to change the culture and mindset that "Hey, if a train is coming – I can just jump out of the way!" Sadly, this is not always the case as we have seen the tragic loss of life resulting from train strikes too often. • • • How do you think rail operations affect business and the economy of North San Diego County? Passenger rail, whether it's the COASTER Commuter rail running from Oceanside to Downtown San Diego or the hybrid light rail SPRINTER operat- ing between Oceanside and Escondido, is a vital part of our regional economy. We provide safe, efficient and reliable transportation for employees and cus- tomers of San Diego businesses. We pro- vide critical transportation services to students, seniors, families and veterans – all seeking access to schools, recre- ation and services. NCTD's coastal rail line also supports the movement of commerce and helps reduce traffic by taking trucks off the road. • • • What are some of the near-future goals and plans for the NCTD? Any upcoming projects? NCTD is working closely with SANDAG on their nearly $1 billion LOSSAN Rail Corridor program that will enhance the coastal rail corridor through projects like double-tracking, bridge replacements and station im- provements. Specifically, this program includes creating two parallel tracks (double-track) throughout 99 percent of the rail corridor between Camp Pendle- ton and downtown San Diego by 2050, which will facilitate increased rail fre- quencies of up to every 20 minutes during peak commute periods. Additional major planned improve- ments include new COASTER stations at Camp Pendleton and in downtown San Diego near the Convention Cen- ter. These projects would increase rider- ship and provide direct rail connections for military personnel, residents and visitors attending downtown events, and daily commuters in growing down- town neighborhoods. These projects are in the planning stages.