San Diego Metropolitan Transit System

A system of horse- or mule-drawn streetcars was established in Downtown San Diego in 1886. In 1887 electric streetcar service was begun, serving a more widespread area including Old Town and University Heights. The direct ancestor of MTS, the San Diego Electric Railway Company, was founded in 1891 by John D. Spreckels, who purchased several existing transit companies and converted them all to electric operation. In the 1920s and 1930s the rail lines began to be replaced by motor buses. In 1949 the last rail service was discontinued, making San Diego the first major city in California to convert to an all-bus system.[4]

In 1948 Jesse Haugh purchased the system from the Spreckels family and renamed it the San Diego Transit System. The City of San Diego bought the system in 1967. The Metropolitan Transit Development Board (MTDB) was formed in 1976 and launched the San Diego Trolley in 1981. The city transferred San Diego Transit to MTDB in 1985. MTDB changed its name to Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) in 1986.[4] Today, the agency is one of two child agencies of SANDAG, the county-level MPO that zones land and sets the transit fares.

More recent developments at MTS are summarized below.[4]

• MTS adopts its current logo and livery, which was first applied to buses entering service that summer.

• MTS assumes control over National City Transit from the City of National City, amid the City's reluctance to implement findings of the COA, retires its 600-series bus route numbers, and replaces them with the current 960-series numbers.

• 50 New flyer C40lf buses (301-350) arrive in August 2008 and 26 NABI 60-BRT (1001-1026) buses arrive in November replacing The 1990 D60HFs

• MTS is named the Outstanding Public Transit System for 2009 by the American Public Transportation Association.
• In fiscal year 2009, MTS set a record for ridership with over 92 million rides from July 1, 2008, to June 30, 2009.
• September 24: San Diego Trolley places an order for 57 Ultra Short Low Floor Model S70 LRVs, at a total cost of $205 million.

• San Diego Trolley begins construction on the "Trolley Renewal Project". The project is expected to last five years and renovates all stations and existing infrastructure to handle the new Low Floor S70 LRVs purchased the previous year.

• MTS begins work on a study to evaluate the feasibility of reconnecting Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo and Downtown San Diego through a fixed-guideway, electrified streetcar line.
• MTS begins weekend and holiday service of the Silver Line, which operates around Downtown San Diego and features renovated PCC streetcars with a partnership with the San Diego historic streetcar society.

• MTS receives first two shipments of 4th generation trolley vehicles and begins operating exclusively new LRVs on the Green Line
• MTS realigns trolley system so all three lines terminate in downtown, eliminating the need for the special event line. The green line now serves special events.

• Low floor (S70) trains operate on the Orange Line for the first time, marking the end of the first phase of the trolley renewal project.
• First of the next-generation Gillig Low Floor buses arrive and are placed into service
• First buses for the BRT network arrive

• The first line in the Rapid BRT network goes into operation.

• Low floor (S70) trains operate on the Blue Line for the first time in January, after new station platforms, advanced electronic signage, overhead catenary wires, larger shelters and track replacements are implemented.[5]

• the Transit Optimization Plan (TOP) is adopted

• Additional low floor trolley cars (S700) are delivered.

• January 26:The South Bay Rapid entered service between Downtown San Diego and the Otay Mesa Port of Entry.
• April 20: New trolley cars (5000-series) enter service[6]
• July 13: Original car 1001 enters service on Silver Line
• December: Electric buses entered service

• January 28: MTS orders 24 MCI D4500 Biogas motorcoaches for Rapid Express[7]
• May 10: Paul Jablonski, chief executive officer, dies[8]
• May 14: Sharon Cooney sworn in as new CEO.[9]

• Summer: The second-generation Pronto contactless payment system will launch.
• November: The mid coast trolley extension is set to open for revenue service.

San Diego Trolley Model SD100s in Downtown San Diego. March 2008

Light rail service is operated by the San Diego Trolley, Incorporated (SDTI). It is commonly referred to as "The Trolley". Three daily lines are operated, and are designated by their colors: the Blue Line, the Green Line, and the Orange Line; a fourth line, the heritage streetcar Silver Line, operates on select days during mid-day. Special Event service used to operate for large events occurring at SDCCU Stadium, Petco Park and the San Diego Convention Center via a special event Red Line, but the Red Line was eliminated with the Trolley system's realignment in September 2012.[10]

Light rail service provided by MTS is among the most utilized systems in terms of patronage in the United States. Generally, approximately 120,000 people have ridden the Trolley each weekday over the past two years.[11]

The Blue Line was the initial line to enter into service in July 1981,[4] operating between San Ysidro and Downtown San Diego. The Orange Line began service in March 1986[4] linking eastern suburban areas such as El Cajon and La Mesa to Downtown San Diego as well. The Green Line began service in July 2005[4] and included the system's first underground station located at San Diego State University; it began operation to downtown San Diego as of the September 2012 realignment.[10] The Green Line now operates between Santee & El Cajon, and Mission Valley, Old Town, and the 12th & Imperial Transit Center in Downtown San Diego. The heritage streetcar Silver Line began service in August 2011,[12] operating a 'clockwise loop' route around Downtown San Diego on select days during mid-day, and featuring a renovated PCC streetcar.[12]

Rapid Route 201

MTS initially operated three bus rapid transit (BRT) lines (Routes 201, 202 and 204) branded as "SuperLoop". The SuperLoop lines operated in the University City and La Jolla Village area serving the University of California, San Diego, Westfield UTC, Veteran's Administration Hospital, and residential districts, using 40-foot buses. Initial Superloop service began in June 2009, with an extension in March 2013.[13]

SuperLoop was incorporated into the Rapid network, which now has 9 routes. Route 235 is a transit service between Escondido and Santa Fe Depot operating along SR-94 and the Interstate 15 corridor. It opened for service in June 2014.[14][15] This route uses 60-foot articulated buses. Route 215 operates from Downtown San Diego to San Diego State University via City Heights. Route 237 operates on a route from UCSD to Miramar College Transit Station via Mira Mesa. Both of these routes began operation in October 2014.[15] Route 237 operates peak hours only, as local route 921a serves the entire route off-peak, late night, weekends and major holidays.

The SuperLoop was incorporated into the Rapid brand in 2015. The routes are the same but are now designed as feeders to Route 237.

During peak hours, two additional "Rapid Express" lines, Routes 280 and 290, operate along SR-163 and Interstate 15, between Downtown San Diego and Escondido and Rancho Bernardo, respectively. Over-the-road 45-foot coaches are used for this service. Service began on both routes in June 2014.[14][15]

Route 225 operates to the South Bay area, serving Otay Ranch and Eastlake, continuing to the international truck crossing at Otay Mesa.

Six express fixed-route bus lines (Routes 20, 50, 60, 110, 150, and 950) are operated along major roadways and highways and link intermediate distant suburban areas to the San Diego urban area. Two of the six express lines (Routes 60 and 110) only operate during the morning and evening weekday commute periods. Vehicles used for service are typically standard 40-foot buses or 60-foot articulated buses.

MTS transdev bus

Urban bus routes link the densely populated neighborhoods and adjacent cities together with direct and frequent bus service. These services constitute the bulk of fixed-route bus services operated in terms of vehicle requirements and patronage. Typically, headways are 12–15 minutes between scheduled bus arrival/departure times during commute periods and during midday times on the busiest lines. Generally, no worse than 30-minute headways occur during non-commute periods or 60-minute headways weekends. Local routes generally have stops placed every block or every other block. Limited-stop lines have stops placed every approximately quarter to half mile. Major arterial roads in the City Heights and North Park area of San Diego have both types of routes available, providing for more frequent service. Articulated buses are used during the summer on weekends on lines such as Route 30 to provide extra access to the beaches and tourist destinations. Route 7 utilizes articulated buses along University Ave due to it being the busiest bus route in San Diego.[16]

Local routes and shuttle services are also operated by MTS. These typically operate less frequently or have shorter routes.

Rural transit services (Routes 888, 891/892 and 894) link the sparsely populated central and eastern portions of San Diego County to the San Diego urban core. Each rural service is linked to the San Diego Trolley and other fixed-route transit services at the El Cajon Transit Center. These lines offer much less frequent service – Route 888 only operates on Mondays and Fridays, Route 891 on Fridays only, and Route 892 on Thursdays only; only Route 894 operates Mondays through Fridays.

Paratransit services, operated under the name "MTS Access" provide point-to-point service upon request to passengers registered with MTS as being qualified for assistance under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Service is available throughout the MTS service area, and connections to a similar NCTD service are also available.

Vehicles are sixteen-passenger van conversions equipped with wheelchair lifts and tiedowns. Twelve of the sixteen seats are collapsible, allowing space for up to 4 wheelchairs. Fares are $4.50 each way, though passengers are allowed to bring one companion (as a PCA, or Personal Care Assistant) free of charge. Additional fare-paying companions are also permitted.

Connecting public transit services include the BREEZE bus, SPRINTER light rail, and COASTER commuter rail services operated by the North County Transit District (NCTD) and bus route 217 operated by Riverside Transit. Amtrak operates several weekday and weekend train services (Pacific Surfliner) out of the downtown San Diego Santa Fe Depot. Some bus services enter the United States from Tijuana, Mexico.