SANDAG and the Navy have agreed to jointly study how a regional transit hub could be built when the sprawling NAVWAR site in Old Town is redeveloped.
Redevelopment of the World War II-era site, a former aircraft plant that turned out thousands of B-24 bombers, could include a “San Diego Grand Central” connecting the trolley, regional rail and buses with San Diego International Airport.
“This is an amazing opportunity to strengthen the Navy’s presence in San Diego, create thousands of jobs and make it easier for people across the region to get to and from the airport,” said San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer. “This agreement is a promising beginning to what could be one of the most transformative projects in our region’s history.”
The memorandum of understanding announced Wednesday commits SANDAG and the Navy “to explore inclusion of an intermodal transit facility and enhanced airport transit connections” as part of redevelopment of the Old Town site. However, the agreement provides no guarantee that the transit hub will be included.
“The Navy remains dedicated to creating a more modern, efficient workspace on the OTC property to better meet the mission requirements of Naval Information Warfare Systems Command and the other tenants on the property, while working closely with SANDAG and other entities to foster robust community engagement for this project,” said Capt. Mark Edelson, commanding officer of Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest.
The Navy facility consists of approximately 70 acres along Interstate 5 and near the airport. Trolley and regional rail tracks run along the east side of the site.
“This is the beginning of what I expect to be a long partnership with the Navy,” said SANDAG board chair and Poway Mayor Steve Vaus. “The MOU creates the opportunity for SANDAG and the Navy to do something very special in the region, clearing a path for us to work on a major transportation hub and providing a transit link to the airport.”
