State Route 67 Highway Improvements Project

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is analyzing transportation improvements at State Route 67 (SR-67) between Mapleview Street, Post Mile (PM) R5.48, to Highland Valley/Dye Road, PM 21.35, through the City of Poway and unincorporated San Diego County including the communities of Lakeside and Ramona. Several agencies have partnered on the project, these include Caltrans District 11 as the lead agency, the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the consultants working under the direction of these agencies.

Project

The SR-67 Highway Improvements Project is primarily an operational improvements project with an emphasis on improving typical and emergency highway operations while under evacuation conditions such as wildfires. Various travel modes are considered during typical and emergency highway conditions, including emergency access, recreational access, and wildlife connectivity.   The improvements will address deficiencies in multimodal transportation along with recreational and wildlife movement. Multimodal transportation includes bus as well as active bicycle and pedestrian options. Three improvement alternatives and a No-Build alternative are being evaluated and considered as potential improvements to the SR-67 Highway Improvements Project.

Purpose and Need

Purpose

The purpose of the State Route (SR-67) Improvements Project is to improve the safe and efficient movement of people and goods utilizing various modes of travel during typical highway operations and emergencies such as wildfires. 

The objectives of the proposed Project are to:

  • Enhance traveler safety;
  • Maintain or reduce travel times within the project limits;
  • Increase temporary emergency evacuation capacity during wildfires and other emergencies;
  • Encourage multimodal transportation by providing active options such as bike paths and/or lanes where feasible;
  • Facilitate recreational and wildlife movement along and across the route; and
  • Actively preserve the human and natural environment along the route.

Need

Highway travelers experience increased travel times and overall delays during everyday highway operations. This condition is exacerbated during emergencies such as wildfires due to a lack of temporary evacuation capacity. In addition, multimodal infrastructure is lacking despite the public demand for bus, bicycle, and pedestrian accommodations. The existing highway also limits the movement of recreational users and wildlife, including many endangered wildlife species. Access to recreational areas along SR-67 has insufficient parking, few dedicated crossings, and limited trail-network connectivity. There are no dedicated crossings for wildlife within the project limits.

What's Being Considered

The alternatives for potential improvements being considered are the following. A no-build alternative is also being considered. All three studied alternatives meet evacuation performance goals:

  • 4 Southbound Evacuation Lanes (Highland Valley Rd / Dye Rd to Poway Rd)
  • 3 Southbound Evacuation Lanes (Poway Rd to Scripps Poway Rd)
  • 1 Northbound Lane throughout the project limits.

Project Progress

Completed

  • Preliminary Design Plans (for 3 Studied Alternatives)
  • Traffic Forecasting/Modeling Volumes
  • Final Noise Study Report
  • Paleontology Study
  • Field Surveys for Biological Studies

Ongoing

  • Draft Evacuation Analysis
  • Draft Geotechnical Report, expected completion December 2024
  • Bridge Advance Planning Study, expected completion June 2025
  • Traffic Studies
  • Biological and Wildlife Movement
  • Cultural / Ecological / Air Quality / Hazardous Waste / Visual Analysis
  • VMT Analysis & Mitigation

Next Steps

  • Draft Emergency Response Analysis
  • Draft Geotechnical Report, expected completion December 2024
  • Bridge Advance Planning Study, expected completion June 2025
  • Initial Site Assessment (ISA)
  • Preliminary Wetlands Delineation

Virtual Scoping Meeting held on January 27, 2021

Want to learn more or have a comment/concern?

While the deadline for receiving official comments for inclusion in the Draft Environmental Document concluded on February 19, 2021, we still want your comments and inquiries!

Please visit our engagement portal to learn more about the project, ask questions, and leave comments.