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San Diego Trolley

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San Diego Trolley
File:Sdti 07 01.jpg
Overview
LocaleSan Diego, CA
Transit typeLight rail
Number of lines3
Number of stations53
Daily ridership100,900 (2006 weekday) [1]
Websitehttp://www.sdcommute.com/
Operation
Began operationJuly 26, 1981
Operator(s)San Diego Trolley, Inc. (SDTI)
Technical
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) (standard gauge)

















The San Diego Trolley is a trolley-style light rail system operating in the metropolitan area of San Diego, California. San Diego Trolley, Inc. It is the fifth most-ridden light rail system in the country. (SDTI) is a subsidiary of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS). The Trolley began revenue service on July 26, 1981, making it the first modern light-rail system in California.

The Trolley initially used the same German-built Siemens-Duewag U2 vehicles as Edmonton and Calgary in Alberta, Canada, but has since expanded to also operate the SD-100 and Avanto S70 vehicles manufactured by Siemens.

History

SDTI was created by the Metropolitan Transit Development Board (now known as MTS) in 1980 to operate light-rail service along the Main Line of the San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway, which had been purchased by MTDB from Southern Pacific Railroad in 1979. Service commenced on July 26, 1981 between Centre City or downtown San Diego and San Ysidro, with stops in the cities of San Diego, National City, and Chula Vista. San Diego will become known in transit circles as "The city that started the 'light rail craze' in the United States."

In March, 1986 SDTI opened an extension east from Centre City San Diego to Euclid Avenue, along the La Mesa Branch of the SD&AE Railway. Service was extended along the same line to Spring Street in May of 1989 serving Lemon Grove and La Mesa, and again to El Cajon in June 1989. Service from El Cajon to Santee, not operating along SD&AE right-of-way, began in August 1995.

The "Bayside" extension of the Trolley in Centre City San Diego opened in June 1990. The first phase of the Old Town extension, from C Street to Little Italy in Centre City San Diego, opened in July 1992. The second phase of that extension, running from Little Italy to Old Town, opened in June 1996.

The "Mission Valley West" SDTI extension from Old Town to Mission San Diego commenced in November 1997, and the "Mission Valley East" extension from Mission San Diego to La Mesa began operating in July 2005.

Current lines

Blue Line

File:LRT San Diego 013.jpg
Trolley at Old Town.

The Blue Line currently operates between San Ysidro and Old Town. The line first opened between Centre City San Diego and San Ysidro in 1981, at a spartan cost of $86 million. The Bayfront/E Street station in Chula Vista opened in 1985. In 1986, the line was named the South Line to differentiate it from the new East Line to Euclid Avenue. It was renamed the North-South Line when the Old Town extension opened in 1996. The North-South Line was renamed the Blue Line in 1997 with the opening of the extension to Mission San Diego. The Fenton Parkway stop opened in 2000. With the introduction of the Green line on 10 July, 2005, most Blue line service between Old Town and Qualcomm stadium was discontinued save for a few select rush hour trains. On 3 September, 2006 the Qualcomm service Blue line trains were discontinued entirely due to low ridership. Now all Blue line trains terminate at Old Town.

Stops along the Blue Line are:

Because of the sharing of the track with freight traffic, stations along the southern end are sparsely furnished and do not feature concrete platforms like the rest of the system.

Orange Line

File:SD Trolley@America Plaza.jpg
The Trolley at downtown's America Plaza station.

The Orange Line currently operates between Centre City San Diego and El Cajon. Service began on the Trolley's second line in 1986, initially operating between downtown San Diego and Euclid Avenue. The East Line, as it was then called, kept its name after successive extensions to Spring Street, El Cajon Transit Center, the Bayside in downtown, and Santee Town Center. It was renamed the Orange Line in 1997. Service between Gillespie Field and Santee Town Center was replaced by the Green Line in 2005.

Stops along the Orange Line are:

  • Gillespie Field (runs concurrent with Green line until Grossmont)
  • Arnele Avenue
  • El Cajon Transit Center
  • Amaya Drive
  • Grossmont Transit Center
  • La Mesa Boulevard
  • Spring Street
  • Lemon Grove Depot
  • Massachusetts Avenue
  • Encanto/62nd Street
  • Euclid Avenue
  • 47th Street
  • 32nd & Commercial
  • 25th & Commercial
  • 12th & Imperial Transit Center (runs concurrent with Blue Line until America Plaza)
  • Park & Market
  • City College
  • Fifth Avenue
  • Civic Center
  • America Plaza
  • Seaport Village
  • Convention Center
  • Gaslamp Quarter
  • 12th & Imperial Transit Center

Green Line

File:San Diego Green Line SDSU.jpg
New Trolley at SDSU's underground station.

The Green Line is the newest Trolley line. Service currently operates between Old Town and Santee. This includes the Mission Valley East extension, as well as previously operating segments of the Blue Line west of Mission San Diego and Orange Line east of Grossmont Transit Center. The San Diego State University stop is the system's only underground station.

Stops along the Green Line are:

  • Santee Town Center
  • Gillespie Field (runs concurrent with Orange Line until Grossmont)
  • Arnele Avenue
  • El Cajon Transit Center
  • Amaya Drive
  • Grossmont Transit Center
  • 70th Street
  • Alvarado Medical Center
  • SDSU Transit Center
  • Grantville
  • Mission San Diego
  • Qualcomm Stadium
  • Fenton Parkway
  • Rio Vista
  • Mission Valley Center
  • Hazard Center
  • Fashion Valley Transit Center
  • Morena/Linda Vista (serves the University of San Diego area)
  • Old Town Transit Center (connection with Coaster and Blue Line)

Special event service

SDTI operates special trains during sporting events at Petco Park and Qualcomm Stadium, as well as selected conventions and other city events. These trains operate between Qualcomm Stadium and downtown San Diego.

Stops along the line are:

  • Qualcomm Stadium
  • Fenton Parkway
  • Rio Vista
  • Mission Valley Center
  • Hazard Center
  • Fashion Valley Transit Center
  • Morena/Linda Vista
  • Old Town Transit Center (connection with Coaster and Blue Line)
  • Washington Street
  • Middletown
  • County Center/Little Italy
  • Santa Fe Depot (connection with Coaster and Amtrak)
  • Seaport Village
  • Convention Center
  • Gaslamp Quarter
  • 12th & Imperial Transit Center

Future extensions

There are plans for one additional Trolley extension. The Mid-Coast line will operate from Old Town to the Golden Triangle. The project will be constructed in two phases: The first phase will parallel Interstate 5 and existing railroad right-of-way from Old Town north to Balboa Avenue, with intermediate stops at Tecolote Road and Clairemont Drive. The second phase will complete the line to University Towne Centre, with intermediate stops at La Jolla Village Square, the western and eastern halves of UCSD, and Executive Drive. An additional stop at Jutland Drive is possible.

Expansion in the growing South Bay region is frequently discussed. With the expansion of commercial and residential development into the Otay Valley, an extension from the San Diego Trolley's Blue Line into those areas, which runs from Centre City San Diego to United States and Mexican border, is one of the many possible routes.

File:San Diego Trolley Silver Line.jpg
Concept of the "Silver Line"

There is also plans for a "Silver line" which will not use the standard light rail but will use old fashion PCC cars and additional street trolleys similar to the F line that runs down the center of Market Street in downtown San Francisco. This silver line will run in the previous downtown "loop". For more info: http://www.sdera.org/sdvt/info.shtml

In addition, there is current construction of The North County Sprinter that will be operated by North County Transit District. This system will be a commuter rail (light rail) that will connect Oceanside to Escondido.

Criticism

Some San Diegans criticize the trolley for its lack of service into more traffic-prone areas, such as Lindbergh Field (San Diego International Airport), however the only rail access is to the north side of the airport on MCRD where no terminals exist at Washington Street. Some developers have come forward with a proposal for a monorail system to supplement the trolley in high-density areas where trolley construction is not feasible or cost-effective.

See also


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