BI Trolley from page 1 Wear said, “If ‘the guideway study shows that there is ridership, this will be a priority, And, as far as the issue of right of way acquisi- tion goes, we are not looking at any right of way issue because the trol- ley would end in the vicinity of BYRONIK.COM Michael C. Burgess Journalist burgess@byronik.com ‘Thursday, March 11,1999 e Peninsula EACO) oviding Ocean Beach & Point Loma with 50 Years of Quality Journalism Trolley May Not Come To Beach Says Mayoral Hopeful By MICHAEL BURGESS The Beacon he proposed extension of | San Diego's trolley system to Ocean Beach will proba- bly never happen, according to Ron Roberts, the Fourth District San Diego county supervisor who says he intends to run in the next election for mayor of San Diego. Speaking to editors at San Diego Community Newspaper West Point Loma Boulevard and Sunset Cliffs. Roberts had said that there may be some way to link Sea World to Old Town but although “Sea World has said they will help, their asi modest , be surprised if it (the link) was a ways off.” Group, Roberts said, “T don’t want to throw cold water on it {the pro- posed trolley extension]. But sometimes you can get people excited.” Of the January announcement { of a feasibility study he said, “A premature press conference was called,” and “a $50,000 grant for a study is not usually something you get excited about in the world T work in.” While Roberts called the trolley extension “a cri Diego” he said it was “high cost and low priority” and it is difficult, especially in Oceai Beach, to figure out the right of ways.” Responding to Robe: remarks in a telephone intervi: the following day, Deputy Ma: Byron Wear said, “It is unfortuna! that Ron Roberts who represented the beach community for seven § years does not understand the traf- fic and parking problems ef the beach community. Wear, who said he is also con- sidering running for mayor, said that Roberts was among the Metropolitan ‘Transit Develop- ment Board (MTDB) members who voted for the trolley extension and that “while it is not our top priority it certainly will be one of see Trolley, page 2 In response, Wear said, “The other aspect of the guideway study is that we're looking at rede- velopment around the area of th Sports Arena, Sea World, Ocean Beach, Mission Beach And if we n get people out of their cars onto a mass transit system it will reduce traffic and bea win-win for the community.”