San Diego, CA

San Diego thinks it’s found a way to fix its crumbling infrastructure faster

Published

5 months ago

October 16, 2025

San Diego thinks it’s found a way to fix its crumbling infrastructure faster

San Diego is stepping up its efforts to tackle billions in overdue infrastructure projects by shifting to a model where contractors help design projects, instead of just building ones already designed by city engineers.

Officials expect the new model, which the City Council approved last week, to reduce cost overruns, improve quality, boost transparency and help the city tackle its massive infrastructure backlog more quickly.

“These changes aim to help the city meet growing infrastructure needs by streamlining the capital improvement program, enhancing public works contracts and encouraging innovation,” said city engineer Rania Amen. “This diversified approach will enable the city to better manage costs, schedules, risks and quality.”

City officials say the new method will be used for large and complex upcoming projects like the Hodges Dam replacement, convention center expansion and new drainage channels in parts of southeastern San Diego that flooded in January 2024.

They say early collaboration between a contractor and city officials boosts understanding of project goals and agreement on them, making projects easier to build and allowing innovations that improve quality.

San Diego faces nearly $12 billion in infrastructure projects over the next five years, and the city expects to have only about $5.5 billion to spend on infrastructure during that time.

That leaves a $6.5 billion gap, which is the largest ever. And the gap has more than tripled since early 2020, when city officials estimated it at $2.16 billion.

Officials say the new method could help them more quickly replace the city’s daunting amount of aging infrastructure — a result of so much of it having been built during the city’s population boom of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.

Because contractors will be chosen based on qualifications instead of submitting the lowest bid, costs for some projects may be higher, city officials said.

But because the new model fosters earlier collaboration between the city and the contractor, cost overruns are much less likely and savings from mutually agreed-upon value engineering are more likely, they said.

Some projects might start more slowly because a contractor must be chosen before design begins, but the new model is likely to end up being faster overall because it will eliminate some tasks now handled sequentially, the city’s independent budget analyst said.

A key element of the process is the contractor being required, partway through the design process, to propose a guaranteed maximum price. The city can either accept that price or reject it and find another contractor.

Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera called the new model an important change in city policy.

“We’ve actually missed out by not having these tools in the city’s toolbox,” he said.

The new tools are called “progressive design-build” and “construction manager at risk.” The key difference from the city’s existing policy is that contractors will participate in design.

The city’s existing process has design work being completed either by city engineers or outside architects before a contractor is chosen — a decision based on which contractor submits the lowest bid.

City officials said that method will still be used for smaller projects with clear scopes and fully developed plans.

They said the progressive design-build approach will be used for projects that require significant innovation and that face potential permitting and regulation headaches, such as sewer and water projects.

They said the “construction manager at risk” approach would likely be used for projects that require more design work, such as dams and large buildings.

Officials said other city projects that are candidates for the new method include Fire Station 49 in Otay Mesa, a proposed joint training facility for police and firefighters in Kearny Mesa and Phase Two of Pure Water — the city’s sewage recycling system.

Construction crews work on the Pure Water facility in mid-September 2024. (Ana Ramirez / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

While San Diego hasn’t previously used these construction methods, many other local agencies have since they first became common about a decade ago.

They were used to build the new Terminal 1 at San Diego International Airport, the sheriff’s Ramona substation and the San Diego Trolley’s Blue Line extension to University City.

“Early contractor involvement is critical,” said Matthew Fleming, a local contractor.

Michael Daneshvar of Turner Construction said the new method is the right move.

“It’s better value for the city of San Diego and better value for the taxpayers,” he said.

Mike Guzzi of Clark Construction said shifting to the new method will encourage higher-quality contractors to pursue the city’s projects.

“I think all of the major, competent and qualified general contractors in the area will lean more into San Diego projects,” he said.

Councilmember Marni von Wilpert said it can’t hurt for the city to have multiple possible ways to tackle projects.

“We need to broaden the options,” she said.

An aerial view of the San Diego Convention Center, as pictured on Aug. 4, 2025. (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

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San Diego, CA

Joan Endres – San Diego Union-Tribune

Published

5 hours ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Joan Endres

OBITUARY

Born January 1939 in Cincinnati Ohio. Died February 14, 2026, in San Diego, California, with her sons at her side. Her beloved husband Dean passed away in 2010.

Joan was the only child of Thomas and Edna Palmer. In 1943, the family moved to San Diego, where Joan graduated from Helix High School in 1956.

In 1957 Joan married Dean Endres of San Diego, where they raised two sons. Joan followed her two great passions outside the home, the Arts, and Gardening. Both activities being a way to bring beauty to others and to the community.

Joan received a degree in Environmental Design from San Diego State University, and afterwords worked at UCSD, for the Campus Architect.

As an artist, Joan worked in various media, especially ceramics. She was active in many cultural and arts organizations, eventually becoming President of the Combined Organization for the Visual Arts (COVA). Later she turned to gardening, with the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca Community College and the Master Gardener Association of San Diego County.

Joan is survived by her son Jeff and wife Katrin, grandson Jackson, and son Todd Endres, all of La Mesa, and sisters Alice Buck of Phoenix, Elaine Kennedy of San Diego, Nancy and husband Don Jones of Vista, Eva Budzinski of Cloudcroft, New Mexico, and their children and grandchildren.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Joan in the near future. Those who wish to attend should contact celebratejoanuvart@gmail.com to receive details when they are confirmed. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully suggests a donation to the Water Conservation Garden or the Diego Visual Arts Network (SDVAN).

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San Diego, CA

San Diego State moves back into NCAA Tournament field in latest ESPN Bracketology

Published

17 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

San Diego State moves back into NCAA Tournament field in latest ESPN Bracketology

The San Diego State Aztecs’ have moved off the bubble and back into the NCAA Tournament’s Field of 64 in the latest ESPN’s Bracketology projections.

The Aztecs must feel like a yo-yo, but now it’s in a good way. Bracket expert Joe Lunardi moved them from the bottom of the First Four Out — No. 72 — to holding the Mountain West’s automatic bid after an 89-72 home romp Wednesday night over Utah State, which had held the auto-bid in bracketology for a few weeks now.

Lunardi now has the Aztecs as the No. 11 seed in the West Region, with a projected first-round date against former MW rival BYU in Portland.

Lunardi wrote that SDSU’s auto-bid “shifts the entire bubble.”

Wednesday night’s victory not only pulled the Aztecs (19-8, 13-4) into a tie with Utah State (23-5, 13-4) atop the MW standings, but it was just their second Quad 1 victory in six such opportunities.

SDSU’s next two games are both Quad 1 chances, at New Mexico on Saturday and then at Boise State on Tuesday night.

The win lifted the Aztecs only one spot in the NCAA NET Rankings, to No. 43. Those rankings are used by the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee as the primary sorting tool for selection and seeding for March Madness.

SDSU’s resume for earning an at-large berth has been on shaky ground all season, and was seriously damaged last week when the Aztecs lost at home to Grand Canyon and were then routed at Colorado State, both Quad 2 games.

SDSU’s best bet to assure a trip to March Madness for the sixth straight season is to win the MW tournament in Las Vegas and claim the automatic bid. That requires winning three games in as many days, and perhaps a third showdown against the Aggies, who beat the Aztecs 71-66 in Logan on Jan. 31.

Lunardi now has Utah State projected as an at-large team, but still with the No. 7 seed in the East, facing No. 10 Texas A&M in a first-round game in St. Louis.

New Mexico (21-7, 12-5), lurking just a game behind SDSU and USU, has dropped from the Last Four In at No. 68 to the First Four Out at No. 70.

The Aztecs were the unanimous preseason pick to win the MW regular-season title in their final season in the league before moving into the Pac-12 along with Utah State, Boise State, Fresno State and Colorado State.

Saturday’s game at New Mexico is set to tip off at 11 a.m. PT and will air on CBS.

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San Diego, CA

Oregon State Dismantles San Diego 83-49

Published

1 day ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

The top teams in the West Coast Conference are jockeying for position in the standings as the regular season draws to a close, and the Oregon State women took care of business Thursday night, blowing out the San Diego Toreros 83-49 to move to 21-9 on the season, and 13-4 in conference play.

Oregon State’s Tiara Bolden Grabs WCC Honor After 44 Points Over Two Games

The Toreros have been a basement dweller in the conference for the last few seasons, so this result isn’t surprising, though it’s magnitude is a bit eye-raising. The Beavers wasted no time putting San Diego into a hole, opening the first quarter on an 8-0 run that Tiara Bolden and Kennedie Shuler getting involved early. Oregon State held a 14 point, 26-12 lead after one.

The second quarter wasn’t as lopsided, but San Diego wasn’t able to make much headway into the Beaver lead. Six points from Olivia Owens kept San Diego within shooting distance, but defensive pressure from Kennedie Shuler and strong rebounding from Lizzy Williamson kept the Toreros under control. Oregon State ended the first half up by 13, 40-27.

Oregon State Dominates Cougars in 79-51 Blowout

Oregon State tightened their grip in the third. While Olivia Owens and Kylie Ray managed to give the Toreros some hope early in the quarter, Oregon State went on a run late in the period to get their lead to 21 at the highest. San Diego finally snapped the Beaver hot streak, but a three from Kennedie Shuler ended the quarter in a 61-43, 18 point Beaver lead.

The bottom seemed to fall out of San Diego in the fourth, with the Toreros only putting six points on the board. Tiara Bolden and Kennedie Shuler kept the points flowing for the Beavers, while Lizzy Willilamson continued to dominate the boards. A layup with an and one from Elisa Mehyar were the last Beaver points of the game, giving Oregon State a 34 point, 83-49 win.

Oregon State Takes Down Portland 64-54 in Season Saving Game

It was a good night for several Beavers, with Kennedie Shuler once again leading the team in scoring. She finished the night with 22 points, four rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals. She can do just about everything on the court.

Tiara Bolden continued her hot streak with a 17 point night, along with four rebounds and four assists. Jenna Villa added 14 points, one rebound and one assist. Lizzy Williamson added another double double to her resume, with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

Oregon State’s Winning Streak Ends With 55-51 Loss to LMU

There’s one last item on the agenda for Oregon State, a season-closing meeting with the Loyola Marymount Lions Saturday at Gill Coliseum. The Lions handed Oregon State their first WCC loss of the season back in January, so getting some revenge before the conference tournament would be a good statement from the team. Tip off is set for 1 PM PT.

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