At last month’s Rancho Santa Fe Association Board meeting, the San Diego County representative presented plans for Rancho Santa Fe’s first roundabout to break ground and be completed by 2027/2028 at El Camino del Norte. Only Director Jeff Simmons had the presence of mind to express disbelief.
For those of us who live west of the village, the location of the real problem could not be more obvious.
Whether this decision reflects NIMBY priorities or simply relief that the County has finally appropriated funds after 15 years, the result is the same: the wrong intersection is getting the roundabout. When asked, the County representative couldn’t even provide a current traffic count. Twelve years ago, El Camino del Norte logged between 17,000 and 19,000 cars per day with significant bleed-off at El Montevideo. That number has only grown. And now we are expected to wait another 15 to 20 years for funds to build a second roundabout at the intersection that actually needs it. This community needs to wake up.
Our RSFA Board is the only body with the authority to influence the County. If four of the seven directors agree, they can write directly to the County requesting that El Montevideo and La Valle Plateada be designated the primary target for the roundabout and its funding. That is exactly what they should do.
To the RSFA Board: Please Drive the Del Dios Highway during the week between 3:00 and 5:00 pm and see it for yourselves. A written letter from you in favor of a roundabout at El Montevideo and La Valle Plateada will have a monumental outcome that truly makes sense.
— Cutter Clotfelter, Rancho Santa Fe