Aaron wrote on Dec 22, 2005 1:58 PM:Two decades of roadblocks, and NOW our local leaders want to try to convince the military to SHARE Miramar? Give me a break. Let's unite behind Filner's plan. It is bold and visionary (and thus scary to the feeble-minded). But the benefits would be incredible for our entire region. The ability to buy a house in Imperial Valley for $200,000 and commute to SD in 30 minutes to name just one!

Rodney wrote on Dec 22, 2005 11:34 PM:Should we be putting trust in Rep. Bob Filner abilities to support transportation infrastructure requirements needed for San Diego’s future? Some people say Bob Filner knows more then any other local politician about air transportation planning issues and the region's future air transportation needs having wrestled with them for the past twenty years. People should not be puzzled as to why local politicians and the media pretty much ignore his proposal to build a state-of-the-art international airport in Imperial Valley and connect it to San Diego by high-speed maglev rail. Rep. Filner, whose 51st Congressional District takes in much of the Imperial Valley has been desperately trying to encourage the development of a new international airport located in the remote desert. His efforts could be classified as a jobs project that would cost taxpayers billions of dollars; to build and operate, and would require a high-speed maglev train to shuttle people from San Diego to the Imperial Valley. If built, this new airport would be an ecological disaster to a sparely populated area in the desert that depends heavily on agriculture. An elaborate and costly infrastructure; would be needed to support the proposed new airport. It would require large amounts of scarce electricity, gas and water, and a major investment in sewer and pollution control systems. The water needed would have to come from the regions International Canal. The new airport would greatly tax the local water supplies and would take priority over local agriculture needs and add greatly to the fears of major pollution to the canal and to the ground water. We do need develop workable solutions for San Diego transportation requirements that helps our economy, save us valuable commuter time, and millions of gallons of fuel. We will continue to protect our open spaces, and promote a clean and livable environment; which we all are in favor of – hopefully for decades into the future. A new airport in the desert does not meet any of those goals. To have a truly integrated transportation system, we will need to leverage our current capital investments to gain the maximum benefits. First, recognize that Lindberg Field is truly a jewel for San Diego with its unique location that should upgraded into a truly world-class facility. Second, our new Mayor Jerry Sanders and with a new city councilman being elected in January 2006 who would represent the South Bay. The process needs to begin to strengthen our strategic relationship with our important sister city to the South - Tijuana and to jointly develop the long-debated cross-border terminal that would be linked to Tijuana International Airport. Yes; Bob Filner does have one part of our regions transportation solutions correct. We do need to begin to develop and build the maglev high-speed train. Not to the east as Bob Filner suggests that would be to a new desert airport located in a sparsely populated area of the county. But north. That would allow commuters to start out at a newly built cross-border terminal in Otay Mesa. To travel on the maglev high-speed train securely and in comfort to Lindberg Field, Del Mar Fairgrounds, Oceanside – at the Sprinter rail stop and continue on to Orange and Los Angeles Counties along the I-5; and to Rancho Bernardo, Escondido and on to Riverside and Los Angles Counties along the I-15. We urgently need to begin the process of developing true public and private partnerships that will allow us to transform San Diego’s transportation infrastructure for the needs of the 21st century. History shows that states would not build our Interstate highways or airports until the federal government stepped-in, agreed to make them a high priority. Today, we need that same leadership from our congressional delegation and local business leaders. We need them support and urge congress to agree to cooperate on developing needed cross-border solutions and begin development of the revolutionary maglev high-speed train as a priority that will bring together government and private industry to jointly solve our transportation needs for our region.

Paul wrote on Dec 23, 2005 4:41 PM:God help us all if we must rely on Bob Filner. He's a political as they come and only supports an Imperial Valley airport since redistricting changed boundaries. Filner delayed a SD Council vote on Brown Field by requesting an extensive study on operational feasibility there, then didn't even want to hear the results before voting NO. High speed trains don't make sense in East County's terrain. Way too expensive and who's going to pay more than double the Denver International Airport's cost to just build a train? And who's going to pay the expensive fare to get to an airport in the middle of nowhere?

Laughable wrote on Oct 13, 2006 2:16 AM:Bob's maglev train to an airport in the middle of no-where would be the worlds largest white elephant ever built. The price tag on this? $20 billion, with a "B". $10 billion of it funded by taxpayers for the Maglev for which you would pay $40 each way, the other (the airport itself) is picked up by the airport. Then you have to convince the airlines (and passengers) that flying there and then riding a train for a half hour is just as convenient and cost effective as simply congesting Lindbergh La Guardia style and jacking up fares. Maybe the author should stick to entertainment articles. This was certainly entertaining.

Carla L. wrote on Feb 11, 2008 2:45 PM:I live in the Imperial Valley. People here drive 1 hour and a half to San Diego just to get to work, school or to shop. I spend about 100 dollars in gas every time I go, what makes "laughable" think that people here wouldn't pay 40 dlls one way trip just to make it to SD quicker and to avoid putting more miles to our vehicles.
I worked in SD for about 1 yr. I lived in Mexicali, B.C at the time. I made one hour line to get accross the border (sometimes more) and drove for 1 hour and a half, then hit SD traffic and spent another 30 to 45 minutes to get to work. Do the math! All for a great job! Not with great pay, but guess what? Imperial Valley does not have good jobs! So people who are looking for more opportunities are willing to pay 40 dlls for one way trip!

I do not find Tim Trageser's article funny, in fact, it is PERFECT! It is what needed to be said. Funny how he wrote this more then 2yrs ago and we are still talking about it.