Sunrise Powerlink Coatal Link Alternative Routes


Coastal Link Alternatives are illustrated on Figure 5 (alternatives retained) and Figure 6 (alternatives eliminated).
Coastal Link Alternatives Retained.
Alternatives Retained

Coastal Link Alternatives Eliminated.
Alternatives Eliminated

Pomerado Road to Miramar Area North – Combined Underground Alternative and Underground/ Overhead Alternative
From Alternatives Scoping Notice: This is a hybrid alternative combining two alternatives suggested by the public. Retained because it offers substantial avoidance of impacts to residents in Rancho Peñasquitos and Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve. Research is ongoing at the City of San Diego to determine whether adequate space exists within the City streets where the line would be buried.
Conclusion: Research has been completed and it appears that adequate space in roadways exists.
No change (retained).

MCAS Miramar – All Underground and Underground /Overhead Alternative
From Alternatives Scoping Notice: This would be a hybrid alternative combining two alignments recommended by members of the public during scoping. Preserves design flexibility and could be underground or overhead as needed and remains located on the base the entire distance. Retained pending coordination with MCAS Miramar to determine feasibility and permitting requirements, because it could offer enhanced land use compatibilities, avoid impacts to Rancho Peñasquitos residential areas, and reduce impacts on biological resources compared to the Proposed Project.
Conclusion: Eliminated due to MCAS Miramar statement that alternatives on the base could not be permitted in order to preserve its National Defense Mission capabilities without degradation

Rancho Peñasquitos Boulevard Bike Path Alternative
From Alternatives Scoping Notice: This alternative would diverge from the Proposed Project at the Chicarita Substation and would relocate transition structure to the south. It would avoid impacts to riparian area within View Park West. Retained pending coordination with City of San Diego to determine feasibility (width of ROW and other underground utilities). The alternative would move the line away from residences and would avoid a portion of SDG&E’s vacant right of way used by residents as open space.
Conclusion: Eliminated because the bike path ownership is in the process of being transferred from City of San Diego to Caltrans (supposed to be upon completion of SR56) and Caltrans does not allow longitudinal encroachments within its restricted highways. Due to political and liability issues, this land has not yet been transferred; however, the City still intends to transfer this land and it is the City's position that locating the SRPL within this bike path would further jeopardize the ability of the City to transfer the land to Caltrans.

Carmel Valley Road Alternative
From Alternatives Scoping Notice: This alternative would diverge from the proposed route at the Chicarita Substation, avoiding undergrounding through the Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve proximity to residences. Initially recommended for retention because the line would be located farther from residences and would avoid impacts to the Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve.
Conclusion: Eliminated because it is substantially longer than the segment of the proposed route that it would replace and would shift impacts from one residential area to another.

Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve and Mercy Road Alternative
From Alternatives Scoping Notice: This alternative would follow the Project to the intersection of Mercy Road transitioning to underground continuing under Mercy Road under I-15, continuing northward under Black Mountain Road. The line would connect with the Project alignment underground at Black Mountain Road and Park Village Drive. Visual impacts minimized as more of the line would be buried. On-going research with the City of San Diego to determine if space exists in the roadways. Pending the outcome of coordination with the City of San Diego regarding utilities in the affected roadways, this alternative is recommended for detailed EIR/EIS analysis because it offers a viable route to avoiding Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve and reduces land use impacts within a residential community.
Conclusion: Research has been completed and while Black Mountain Road contains numerous underground utilities with moderate to heavy utility congestion, it appears that adequate space in the roadway exists.
No change (retained).

Black Mountain to Park Village Road Underground Alternative
From Alternatives Scoping Notice: This alternative would deviate from the proposed alignment where the line approaches Black Mountain Road, and would be installed underground in the road rather than in the vacant ROW. It would be located farther from residences. Retained pending the outcome of coordination with the City of San Diego regarding utilities in roadways, for consideration in the EIR/EIS because it reduces land use impacts in the Rancho Peñasquitos community by moving more of the alignment into a roadway further away from residences.
Conclusion: Research has been completed and while Black Mountain Road contains numerous underground utilities with moderate to heavy utility congestion, it appears that adequate space in the roadway exists.
No change (retained).

Coastal Link System Upgrade Alternative
From Alternatives Scoping Notice: This includes three optional approaches to the project segment between the Sycamore Canyon and Peñasquitos Substations. Findings based on 2004 STEP report. CAISO is studying options for upgrades within this segment that could benefit SDG&E. Retained for further analysis of feasibility of the recommended upgrades because it would eliminate all impacts associated with the project segment between Sycamore Canyon and Peñasquitos Substations.
Conclusion: No change (retained). Still undergoing analysis by the California Independent System Operator; however, modeling results have been received for one of the three alternatives and it appears to be feasible and fulfills system reliability needs in the year 2015.

SDG&E Northwest Corner Alternative
From Alternatives Scoping Notice: This alternative would replace proposed route in Rancho Peñasquitos area from MP 143.8–146.7. It would follow existing SDG&E easement, avoiding use of Park Village Drive and undergrounding in Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve. Eliminated because of potential conflicts with existing vernal pool complex and other biological resources impacts.
Conclusion: No change (eliminated).

SDG&E Mannix-Dormouse Road Alternative
From Alternatives Scoping Notice: This alternative (considered in combination with Northwest Corner Alternative) would replace proposed route in Rancho Peñasquitos area from MP 143.8–146.7. It would follow an existing SDG&E easement and would avoid use of Park Village Drive and Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve. Eliminated because of potential impacts to vernal pools and conflicts with existing residential land uses.
Conclusion: No change (eliminated).

SDG&E Segment 12 Poway Substation to Peñasquitos Substation Alternative
From Alternatives Scoping Notice: This alternative would be considered in combination with either Segment 14 or 15 which deviate from the Proposed Project route west of Ramona. Overhead route would avoid Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve. Eliminated as it would require acquisition of significant new right of way in undeveloped areas and greater land use incompatibilities would be expected particularly in developed areas of the City of Poway.
Conclusion: No change (eliminated).

SDG&E Segment 13 Scripps Ranch Alternative
From Alternatives Scoping Notice: This route is an alternative to the Proposed Project between Creelman and Peñasquitos Substations and would be entirely above ground. Portions of this route are within an existing SDG&E transmission line ROW and portions of the line would require new ROW. From the Sycamore Canyon Substation the line parallels an existing ROW to Pomerado Road. The line continues parallel to Pomerado Road through Scripps Ranch which is a narrow and heavily traveled portion of the roadway and where no existing ROW exists. Eliminated because of residential land use conflicts, visual impacts, potential effects on MCAS Miramar as well as proximity to Alliant International University.
Conclusion: No change (eliminated).

SDG&E Segment 14 Poway Alternative
From Alternatives Scoping Notice: This alternative would be considered in connection with SDG&E PEA Alternative Segment 15 and would connect with Segment 12, creating a straight east-west alignment. Eliminated due to the potential for increased biological resources impacts due to the presence of critical habitat with potential effects on special status species. This alternative would also potentially affect natural resources within County of San Diego’s Blue Sky Canyon Ecological Preserve.

Conclusion: No change (eliminated).

SDG&E Segment 15 Warren Canyon Alternative
From Alternatives Scoping Notice: This alternative would be considered in connection with SDG&E PEA Alternative Segment 14 and would connect into Segment 12 at or near the existing Poway Substation. This route would require acquisition of new ROW. Eliminated due to potential effects on the County of San Diego and local open space and parks, and potential for increased biological resources impacts due to the presence of critical habitat in the general vicinity of the alignment.
Conclusion: No change (eliminated).

SDG&E Segment 16 North of Peñasquitos Alternative
From Alternatives Scoping Notice: This alternative would rely heavily on the use of Route SR78. Reaches further north and west than any other alternative and is longer than the Project route Eliminated because of the regulatory, environmental and legal hurdles, as well as, the inability to substantially reduce potentially significant impacts on aesthetics, hydrology floodplains, and traffic with little environmental benefit.
Conclusion: No change (eliminated).

Pomerado Road to Miramar Area North – Combination Underground/Overhead Alternative
From Alternatives Scoping Notice: This alternative would follow Proposed Project route to MP 138 at Pomerado Road then deviate to the south-southwest along city streets and through existing operating sand and gravel operation located in Carroll Canyon. Eliminated because of conflicts with an existing sand and gravel quarry operating in Carroll Canyon.
Conclusion: No change (eliminated).

MCAS Miramar–Combination Underground/Overhead Alternative
From Alternatives Scoping Notice: This alternative would be a hybrid combining sections of the Pomerado Road to Miramar Area North–Combination Underground/Overhead Alternative and MCAS Miramar–All Underground and Underground/Overhead Alternative. Coordination with MCAS Miramar representatives is on-going to verify whether the alternative is feasible, but this alternative is recommended for elimination because it is redundant with a similar alternative that is recommended for retention.
Conclusion: No change (eliminated due to redundancy with Pomerado Road to Miramar Area North Alternative above).

MP 146.5 to Peñasquitos Substation Underground and Consolidation Alternative
From Alternatives Scoping Notice: This alternative would follow the Proposed Project route but would remain underground the entire length from Chicarita to Peñasquitos Substation. Includes under grounding/consolidation of existing electrical transmission lines and additional ground disturbances to biological and cultural resources, soil, and erosion water quality. Eliminated as legally infeasible because it would require burial of existing transmission lines not affected by the project. Also, topography of existing ROW (steep slopes) would result in substantial erosion from undergrounding.
Conclusion: No change (eliminated).

Scripps-Poway Parkway to State Route 56 Alternative
From Alternatives Scoping Notice: This alternative would follow the Proposed Project alignment but line would be buried under roads, within SR56, and would include burial within an existing overhead transmission corridor. Avoids use of Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve. Eliminated as regulatorily infeasible because of Caltrans regulations prohibiting longitudinal encroachments within limited access freeways.
Conclusion: No change (eliminated).

Scripps Poway Parkway – Pomerado Road Underground Alternative
From Alternatives Scoping Notice: would follow the Proposed Project route from the Sycamore Canyon Substation to Pomerado Road heading north and west underground toward Chicarita Substation along Pomerado Road to Scripps Poway Parkway, rejoining the Project alignment overhead. Requires a new right of way through highly developed and constrained area. Eliminated because it would require new ROW in close proximity to an existing ROW, would cause greater short term traffic impacts and would result in increased visual impacts from the additional transition structures adjacent to residential units. Additionally, has questionable aesthetic benefit because the existing lines would remain in place, offsetting any perceived visual benefit from burial of a new line.
Conclusion: No change (eliminated).

State Route 56 Alternative
From Alternatives Scoping Notice: diverges from the Project at the Chicarita Substation. From this point the line continues overhead transitioning to underground near Rancho Peñasquitos Boulevard at the SR56 overpass. The line would remain buried and enter the median of SR56 continuing west until it reaches the existing overhead lines north of the western terminus of Park Village Drive. The line would continue overhead and south along this ROW until it rejoins the Project at MP 146.5 Avoids Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve and Park Village Drive. Eliminated because it is regulatorily infeasible as longitudinal encroachments into limited access freeways are prohibited by Caltrans regulations.
Conclusion: No change (eliminated).
© 2006 by Rancho Penasquitos Concerned Citizens, 13223-1 Black Mountain Road #264, San Diego, CA, 92129
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