How San Diego could lose $300 million for an airport transit connection
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The San Diego International Airport's Terminal 1 rebuild sparked the push for an airport transit connection. Photo: Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Five years ago, 17 airlines agreed to pay more than $300 million for a public transportation connection to the airport, but the shelf life on their commitment is running out.
Why it matters: Regional officials are still debating the best way to link San Diego International Airport with the trolley system, even while the project is a primary selling point of a sales tax for transportation on November's ballot.
Follow the money: In the operating and lease agreement inked in 2019, airlines, including Southwest and Alaska, committed $515 million to make it easier to get to San Diego International Airport — but that money needs to be committed before the deal expires in 2029.
- About $200 million of that is already going to an under-construction roadway and related intersection changes which are expected to take 45,000 cars per day off North Harbor Drive leading to the airport.
How it works: The agreement leaves the details of a public transportation connection to regional leaders, but stipulates that money for the project from airlines is only provided after other third-party funding is secured.
- The airlines agreed to provide one straightforward chunk of $75 million.
- They'll provide another $125 million if the region can come up with $200 million of its own.
- And then they've offered a third chunk of $150 million if the region can secure another $150 million.
State of play: If voters approve Measure G in November, and the board of the San Diego Association of Governments agrees to spend some of that new revenue on an airport transit connection, that would satisfy the deal's requirements for third-party funding.
- A connection based on extending the Trolley from Santa Fe Depot to the terminals was estimated last year at $1.7 billion.
- SANDAG would also look to secure state and federal commitments to cover the costs, along with the local revenue and the airlines' commitments.
The intrigue: Those airline commitments are all only guaranteed through the current 10-year term of the agreement, which runs out in 2029.
- SANDAG doesn't even expect to complete a preliminary environmental review of a proposal until the end of 2026, setting up for a tight — maybe impossible — deadline to commit funding by the end of the airline agreement.
Yes, but: Airport officials say when the current deal expires, they'll negotiate a new 10-year operating and lease agreement.
- "We would intend to negotiate for that same funding commitment in the next agreement," said Jonathan Heller, an airport spokesperson.
Catch up quick: As part of its Terminal 1 redevelopment, the airport has reserved land just west of the new parking garage for the terminus of whatever transit connection the region pursues.