Candidate Concerns About Cut-Through Traffic

I recently wrote the candidates running for the offices of Chula Vista Mayor, Councilmember District 1 and Councilmember District 2. I asked them a few questions for the benefit of our Sunnyside Common Sense readers, to assist them in picking candidates that are inline with their own beliefs.

Here is the seventh of eight questions asked and answered by the participating candidates dealing with cut-through traffic in Bonita-Sunnyside. Their names appear in the order that I received their responses.

Question 7: The County of San Diego has reported 19,000 vehicles using Bonita-Sunnyside roads daily. Most of this traffic is traveling between Chula Vista and Eastlake (both directions) and avoiding tolls on SR-125. All of this traffic travels on San Miguel Road, a narrow residential road. What are your thoughts on reducing this traffic? Would you be in favor of removing the Proctor Valley Road connector section? Please also elaborate on other ideas you may have to relieve Bonita-Sunnyside of excess Chula Vista traffic.

MAYORAL CANDIDATES

Yair Gersten

This is a real quality-of-life and safety issue. Residential roads should not become the free alternative to a regional toll road. I would support a serious review of SR-125 toll policy, including whether two-or-more-occupant passenger vehicles should use it free or at a reduced rate while commercial and single-occupant vehicles pay. I would also push SANDAG, the County, and Chula Vista to study traffic diversion, cut-through routing, signal timing, speed enforcement, traffic calming, and better east-west & countywide transit so fewer trips are forced through Bonita-Sunnyside. On removing the Proctor Valley Road connector, I would not make a final decision without traffic modeling, emergency access review, and resident input, but I would absolutely put it on the table if the data shows it is driving unsafe cut-through traffic.

John McCann

No response

Francisco Tamayo

No response

DISTRICT ONE CANDIDATES

Chuck Sanfilippo

Vehicle use and Impacts are shared with H st. and Otay lakes Rd. With 2000 more homes planned in Village 13 and the need for Emergency Services to access all areas. I don't see removing it is an option.  But I would take a closer look for alternative ideas. 

Joy Emmanuel

SANDAG, CalTrans, our local State Assembly and Senate Members, the County Board of Supervisors, the CHP, the Sheriffs, and Chula Vista's Police Department have to be involved in this solution. Chula Vista cannot solve this by itself especially since Chula Vista did not create it.

The only toll road in San Diego County is where we live. There are additional toll lanes for other freeways, but no other toll roads. The 125 was originally designed and designated to be free. Since it is not, CalTrans, as the State, should be the entity responsible for making Chula Vista whole for the fully foreseeable problem of an increase in traffic due to toll avoidance. CalTrans is both the controller of this issue and the entity which benefits from the toll itself.

I would very much like to work on, and/or Chair the committee to hold CalTrans' feet to the fire.

Carolina Chavez

I understand the concerns Bonita-Sunnyside residents have about increasing traffic and its real impact on neighborhood safety and quality of life. These roads were not designed to carry this level of regional traffic. 

Part of the root cause is the SR-125 toll, which has pushed drivers onto residential streets. As Chula Vista's representative on the SANDAG board, I have been vocal in calling for the removal of that toll, and will continue advocating for regional solutions that reduce the burden on our neighborhoods. 

We need a thoughtful, data-driven approach that prioritizes traffic calming, pedestrian safety, infrastructure improvements, and strong coordination with regional agencies to reduce cut through traffic on residential streets. For Proctor Valley Road, any long-term decisions should be guided by updated traffic analysis, environmental review, and meaningful community input. Residents must be fully included as we identify solutions that improve mobility without compromising community safety. 

Greg Martinez

No response

Sergio C. Vargas

No response

DISTRICT TWO CANDIDATES

Russ Hall

Again, the villain on these issues is the tolls …..remove the tolls and much of the “short cutting” around using connector roads go away.

Jose Preciado

No response

Angelica S. Martinez

No response

Jesse Navarro

No response

Look for a second and the final Q&A in today's Common Sense:

Would you support the City of Chula Vista annexing the remaining parts of Bonita-Sunnyside? What advantages/disadvantages do you see from that action?

Today is the final day for the Question and Answer period with the Chula Vista Candidates. Five of twelve candidates participated. It causes one to wonder how responsive candidates will be in office to answering questions if they avoid the exercise when they are trying to be elected.

Kudos to Yair Gersten, Chuck Sanfilippo, Joy Emmanual, Carolina Chavez and Russ Hall for participating. We have enjoyed their honest and informative responses.

Remember to vote on Tuesday, June 2nd or before!

Bonita-Sunnyside Branch Library - Community Room

4375 Bonita Road, Bonita

May 23 to June 2

May 23 - June 1, 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. | Election Day, June 2, 7 A.M. to 8 P.M.

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