RESOLUTION NO. __________
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CHULA VISTA REQUESTING THAT THE SAN DIEGO
ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS’ EXERCISE ITS OPTION
TO PAY OFF SR-125 TOLL ROAD DEBT IN 2027 AND TAKE
ALL OTHER ACTIONS NECESSARY TO REVERT CONTROL
OF THE SR -125 TO THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION IN 2027 FOR ITS OPERATION AS A
FREEWAY
WHEREAS, Opened in 2007, South Bay Expressway (SBX) Toll Road is a ten-mile stretch of State Route 125 (SR 125) that runs from Otay Mesa Road near State Route 905 to SR 54; and
WHEREAS, The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) purchased the SR - 125 franchise from Creditors, including the U.S. Department of Transportation, following bankruptcy in December 2011; and
WHEREAS, The SBX owned by Caltrans and leased by SANDAG, operates as a toll road pursuant to the Amended and Restated Development Franchise Agreement (ARDFA) with the State of California, which is the agreement governing the day-to-day operations; and
WHEREAS, Currently, under the ARDFA, control of SBX will revert to Caltrans in November of 2042; and
WHEREAS, South Bay residents gave up expansion of the I -805 when SANDAG purchased the SBX, making it the only toll road in the County of San Diego; and
WHEREAS, In Fiscal Year 2027, SANDAG will have an opportunity to call its debt bonds; and
WHEREAS, Existing tolls place an undue and disproportionate burden on South Bay users and hinder the City’s economic development activity in areas such as business attraction and retention; and
WHEREAS, The SBX connects the only commercial port of entry in San Diego and Otay Mesa, the largest area of industrial -zoned land in San Diego County, to the regional freeway network, therefore making the elimination of tolls a benefit to the region, state, and nation; and
WHEREAS, The SANDAG Board has the authority to make the retirement of the debt a budgetary priority and goal because any other system, other than elimination of tolls, would place undue burden to the South Bay and would further exacerbate the inequities in our community.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Chula Vista requests that the San Diego Association of Governments’ exercise its option to pay off SR- 125 Toll Road debt in 2027 and take all other actions necessary to revert control of the SR-125 to the California Department of Transportation in 2027 for its operation as a freeway.
Presented by Approved as to form by
Mary Casillas Salas Glen R. Googins
Mayor City Attorney