Transportation

Metropolitan Transit System

The Metropolitan Transit System (commonly known as the MTS) is the main source of public transportation for San Diego county. It covers roughly all of San Diego county. The MTS operates the bus system, five light rail/trolley systems, and freight routes. Providing over 88 million trips annually, the MTS is a pivotal part of how San Diego county operates and succeeds.

History

The agency was founded on July 3, 1886 with the original name of the "San Diego Street Car Company". As San Diego's population bloomed, the need and demand for public transportation increased. This led John D. Spreckels to buy out and incorporate many transportation agencies, calling this newly incorporated company the "San Diego Electric Railway Company". As more people started using public transportation, Spreckels increased his grip on power, even pressuring the City of San Diego to sign a lease to his advantage. Starting in 1916, ownership of private vehicles started to gain traction as the cost of these railways also increased.

In 1922, the first bus went into service in San Diego, spearheading the future of the San Diego Electric Railway Company. In 1946, as the bus routes' popularity started to rise, the decision to discontinue the electric rail was reached. In 1948, a change in ownership happened and the company again changed its name to the "San Diego transit System." As time went on, the ridership for public transportation decreased, as it did in the 1920s even though the population exponentially increased.

In 1967, voters agreed that the city of San Diego should take over as the head of the transit system, even though ridership was dipping as the year continued. The agency finally changed to its current name, the "Metropolitan Transit System". In 1980, the trolley was introduced, increasing ridership almost instantly. It traveled from Downtown San Diego to the International Border. In 1986, the Orange Line was introduced, giving San Diego State's students access to the trolley. In 1989, the Orange Line expanded to the City of La Mesa. In the following years, the trolley created and expanded its routes, to include the Blue and Green Lines. In 2021, the Blue Line extended and connect the trolley with the University of California: San Diego's Campus.

Bus Routes

There are more than 100 bus routes with almost 4,193 bus stops all over San Diego

The current Bus Routes are:

• 1 | Fashion Valley - La Mesa
• 2 | Downtown - North Park
• 3 | UCSD Med. Ctr. / Hillcrest - Euclid Trolley
• 4 | Lomita Village - 12th & Imperial Transit Ctr
• 5 | Euclid Trolley - Downtown San Diego / 10th & Broadway
• 6 | Fashion Valley - North Park
• 7 | Downtown - University & College
• 8 | Old Town - Balboa Avenue Transit Center
• 9 | Pacific Beach via SeaWorld - Old Town via SeaWorld
• 10 | University & College - Old Town Transit Center
• 11 | SDSU - Downtown
• 12 | Skyline Hills - City College
• 13 | Kaiser Hosp. / Grantville Trolley - 24th St. Trolley
• 14 | Grantville Trolley - Baltimore & Lake Murray
• 18 | Grantville - Camino del Rio - Grantville
• 20 | Rancho Bernardo Transit Station - Downtown San Diego
• 25 | Kearny Mesa Transit Center - Fashion Valley Transit Center
• 27 | Pacific Beach - Kearny Mesa Transit Center
• 28 | Shelter Island - Old Town Transit Center
• 30 | Old Town - UTC / VA Medical Center
• 31 | UTC - Mira Mesa
• 35 | Old Town Transit Center - Ocean Beach
• 41 | UCSD - Fashion Valley Transit Center
• 43 | Balboa Avenue Transit Center - Kearny Mesa Transit Center
• 44 | Kearny Mesa - Old Town
• 60 | UTC via Kearny Mesa - Euclid Av Trolley Station via Kearny Mesa
• 83 | Old Town - Downtown
• 84 | Shelter Island - Sub Base / Cabrillo Monument
• 88 | Fashion Valley Transit Center - Old Town Transit Center
• 105 | Old Town Transit Center - UTC
• 110 | Downtown San Diego - Mira Mesa Express
• 115 | SDSU Transit Center - El Cajon Transit Center
• 120 | Kearny Mesa Transit Ctr Limited Stops - Downtown Limited Stops
• 201 | UCSD Medical Center -- UCSD -- Nobel -- UTC
• 202 | UCSD Medical Center -- UCSD -- Nobel -- UTC
• 204 | UTC -- Executive -- Judicial -- UTC
• 215 | SDSU - Downtown
• 225 | Downtown San Diego - Otay Mesa Transit Center
• 235 | Downtown San Diego - Escondido Transit Center
• 237 | Mira Mesa - UC San Diego
• 280 | Downtown San Diego - Escondido Transit Center
• 290 | Downtown San Diego - Rancho Bernardo Transit Station
• 701 | H Street Trolley - Palomar Street Trolley
• 704 | E Street Trolley - Palomar Street Trolley
• 705 | Southwestern College - Bayfront / E Street Trolley
• 707 | Southwestern College - Otay Ranch Town Center
• 709 | Otay Ranch Town Center - H St. Trolley
• 712 | Southwestern College - Palomar St. Trolley Station
• 815 | El Cajon Transit Ctr. - East Main & Madison
• 816 | Cuyamaca College - El Cajon Transit Ctr.
• 832 | Santee Town Center - North Santee
• 833 | El Cajon Transit Center - Santee Trolley Station
• 834 | Santee Trolley -- West Santee -- Santee Trolley
• 838 | East County Sq - Alpine
• 848 | Lakeside - El Cajon Transit Center
• 851 | Spring Street Trolley - Spring Valley
• 852 | Grossmont Transit Center - University & 54th
• 854 | Grossmont College - Grossmont Transit Center
• 855 | Spring Street Trolley - Rancho San Diego
• 856 | SDSU - Rancho SD / Cuyamaca College
• 864 | El Cajon Transit Center - East County Square
• 872 | El Cajon Shuttle Loop
• 874 | El Cajon Transit Center - East El Cajon
• 875 | El Cajon Transit Center - East El Cajon
• 888 | Jacumba / Campo - El Cajon
• 891 | Borrego Springs via Shelter Valley - El Cajon
• 892 | Borrego Springs via Ranchita - El Cajon
• 894 | Tecate -- Campo -- Morena Village - El Cajon
• 901 | Downtown San Diego - Iris Trolley
• 904 | Ferry Landing - Coronado City Hall
• 905 | Otay Mesa Transit Center - Iris Trolley
• 906 | San Ysidro/International Border - Iris Trolley
• 907 | San Ysidro/International Border - Iris Trolley
• 909 | Otay Mesa Transit Center - Southwestern College at Otay Mesa
• 916 | Streamview -- College Grove -- Massachusetts Av -- Euclid
• 917 | Streamview -- College Grove -- Massachusetts Av -- Euclid
• 921 | UTC - Mira Mesa
• 923 | Ocean Beach - Downtown
• 928 | Fashion Valley Transit Center - Kearny Mesa Transit Center
• 929 | Iris Transit Center - 12th & Imperial *
• 932 | 8th St Trolley - Iris Ave Transit Center *
• 933 | Walmart - Palm Av - Seacoast - I.B. Blvd - Iris
• 934 | Walmart - Palm Av - Seacoast - I.B. Blvd - Iris
• 936 | SDSU Transit Center - Spring Valley
• 944 | Poway - Sabre Springs Transit Station
• 945 | Rancho Bernardo Transit Station - Old Poway Park
• 945A | Poway Loop
• 950 | Iris Trolley - Otay Mesa Transit Center
• 955 | SDSU Transit Center - 8th Street Trolley
• 961 | 24th Street Trolley - Encanto / 62nd Street Trolley
• 962 | Spring Valley - 8th Street Trolley
• 963 | 8th Street Transit Center - Paradise Hills
• 964 | Alliant International University - Camino Ruiz & Capricorn
• 965 | City Heights Circulator
• 967 | 24th St Transit Center - Division/Ava
• 968 | 8th Street Transit Center - Plaza Bonita
• 972 | Sorrento Mesa
• 973 | Carroll Canyon
• 974 | Sorrento Valley Coaster Connection
• 978 | Torrey Pines
• 979 | North University City
• 985 | UC San Diego - N. Torrey Pines *
• 992 | Downtown -- Airport -- Downtown *

Trolley Routes

There are 4 total routes: Blue Line, Green Line, Orange Line, and Silver Line) with over 62 stations in between

• Blue Line: The largest of the 4 lines that stretches from the University Town Center (UTC) to the San Ysidro International Border
• Orange Line: The eastern-most line that travels from Arnele Avenue to the Courthouse.
• Green Line: the most inter-connected line that travels from Santee to 12th and Imperial
• Silver Line: The Silver Line are the restored vintage trolley carts that use a loop of Downtown San Diego as their route.

Private Transportation

San Diego and California in general is a very car-heavy community. Over 95% of San Diego County residents have access to at least one privately owned vehicle. If you are planning to settle or stay in San Diego for an extended period, it would be advised to have access to a car. Car rentals are also a good option for travelers. The average daily cost in San Diego for Car Rentals is $73 a day. Finally, Uber is a good option as car-sharing apps are on the rise in the last following years. San Diego has urban areas with many opportunities for ride-sharing if wanted.

San Diego International Airport

The San Diego International Airport (also known as SAN) is the largest airport in the San Diego Area. It is known as the United States' busiest single-runway airport and the second busiest in the world. In 2019, the airport served more than 25 million passengers. There are two terminals in the airport. Some of the top destinations include San Fransisco, Seattle, and Dallas.

History

Built in 1929, it was named in honor of the famous aviator Charles Lindbergh. The San Diego Municipal Corporation was the original contractor of this project. In the years following, it became a huge military hub for naval aviation operations. The height of this type of usage came during World War Two, including the creation and maintenance of bomber planes.

As air travel was getting more and more popular, there was a need to either expand or move location. In 1967, the decision to expand the facility was met and the second terminal was eventually created. In 2003, the airport finally was changed to its current name, The San Diego International Airport.

Accommodations

Inside the Airport, there are many shops, restaurants, and cafes to enjoy. There are many bus routes, taxis, and car rentals that also connect the airport to the rest of the city and county.

Political Issues

Lack of Restrictions on Contracting

On February 2023, the San Diego city council passed, with a 5-4 majority vote, that allows contractors to build larger sky-rise buildings within 1 mile of any public transit areas. This was adjusted from the previous mandatory half-mile requirement. Those who think this is helping the community argue that it creates more housing for middle and lower-income families. There will be much more housing around San Diego county to crack down on the rampant homeless problem.

Others, however, argue that this hurts the workforce of San Diego. Only 1% of jobs in the Metropolitan area are accessible in 30 minutes with public transit. With 1 hour span, it only increases to 8%. This blocks people who need public transit to move around from 90% of jobs. People are not willing to walk that far to be able to go to work. It is cause environmental as well as financial issues for those people when their only option is to purchase a car.

In addition to increasing the distance limit, obstacles such as canyons or buildings will not be factored in for determining the length. While it might be 1 mile from the apartment to the closest transit zone, obstacles can increase up to 5 miles of walking. This will discourage even more people to use public transportation or get better paying jobs further away from these living areas.

Bus Route Conflicts

As areas around San Diego are being built and expanded, there is an increased amount of people that will be touring and partying across the city. The increased amount of people will cause an influx of car traffic. This will inevitably impact and might even block certain bus routes from having their normal schedules. It will impact many people, especially the lower-income community who look at public transportation as a necessity. The main routes predicted to be affected are route 3 and route 120. These two routes serve primarily minority passengers, with up to 60% being considered persons of color.

Some solutions have been proposed, including limiting traffic and banning vehicles in certain parts of areas except for bus routes. They have also considered trying to make this bus stops more visible and assessable. Places like the proposed pomade will be very busy and packed. An obvious visible area is needed for people to spot and enter a transit zone. While these proposed solutions are stepping stones to help mediate the effects of gentrification in areas, we won't know for sure how effective they will be to help the community.