THE PROBLEM: Smoking is off-limits in most public places, so Just Fix It was intrigued by a recent complaint about smoking at North County transit centers.
Commuter Opher Banarie, who rides the Coaster from Oceanside, said people routinely light up while waiting for trains and buses, and toss their cigarette butts on the ground.
Banarie said no-smoking signs went up at some transit stops, but then were removed. He said he called the North County Transit District twice but got no response.
STATUS: The transit district does not have a smoking policy, so commuters are free to light up before boarding trains and buses.
District spokesman Tom Kelleher said options to limit smoking are under review. A recommendation could be ready next month.
Banarie was not imagining the no-smoking signs. Kelleher said signs were posted at 15 platforms for the district's Sprinter rail service between Oceanside and Escondido.
When people complained about the district not enforcing the smoking ban, the district realized it did not have a set policy. The signs came down.
The NCTD could take a lesson from the Metropolitan Transit System, which provides public transit in other parts of the county. The transit system outlawed smoking within 25 feet of its facilities, including bus stops, last year.
“It's been widely popular among our passengers,” MTS spokesman Rob Schupp said.
WHO'S RESPONSIBLE: Interim Executive Director Ray Patchett, who can be reached at (760) 967-2869 or rpatchett@nctd.org. NCTD customer service can be contacted at (760) 966-6500.
UPDATES: Utility poles along Pacifica Drive in Pacific Beach have come down after a long delay. As we wrote last year, electrical and cable lines had been placed underground, but AT&T was slow to complete its work.
Poles also have finally come down along Chatsworth Boulevard near Point Loma High School. We wrote about this in September. Resurfacing of the street started Friday and should be done before school begins Sept. 2.
Also, road repairs along Raya Way in University City are complete. We wrote about this earlier this month.
WHO'S RESPONSIBLE: Nathan Bruner, Utilities Undergrounding manager, who can be reached at (619) 533-3841 or nbruner@sandiego.gov. Hasan Yousef, Street Division deputy director, who can be reached at (619) 527-7504 or hyousef@sandiego.gov.
NEED A PROBLEM SOLVED: Is there a problem government hasn't fixed despite your complaints? Just Fix It might be able to help.
Complaint forms are at justfixit.uniontrib.com, or call (800) 820-8714.
