San Diego MTS Archives

$5.15 billion in “bridge funding” has been proposed in the California Senate for public transit agencies over the next five years. (InvadingInvader Wikimedia Commons)

April 26, 2023
Passenger

Transit Briefs: CA Public Transit, MARTA, MBTA, Metrolinx, Miami-Dade County, San Diego MTS

California transit officials and their state legislative supporters are seeking $5.15 billion to maintain services over the next five years. Also, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) celebrates College Park rail station improvements; a new study finds that flooding costs to Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) could more than double by 2030, to $58 million per year; Metrolinx unveils a new website for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area’s GO Transit; Florida’s Miami-Dade County revives commuter rail plan; and the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) approves a $174 million capital improvement program.

Pictured left to right: Jason Jewell, Managing Director, Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency; Brian Riley, Chief Operating Officer of Rail, San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS); and Jacqueline Peduzzi, Vice President and Business Unit Leader, STV.

November 17, 2022
News

People News: LOSSAN, San Diego MTS, STV, ASLRRA, WSP USA

Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency appoints Jason Jewell as Managing Director. Also, San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) promotes Brian Riley to Chief Operating Officer of Rail; and engineering firm STV names Jacqueline Peduzzi Vice President and Business Unit Leader. Paul Howard “Howard” Croft Jr., former President of the American Short Line Railroad Association (now ASLRRA), has died. James “Jim” L. Lammie, former President, CEO and Non-Executive Chairman of Parsons Brinckerhoff (now WSP), died Nov. 9.

“As MTS modernizes its Trolley fleet, we are very glad to see our older [second-generation] models continue to be put to use, serving the people of Mendoza to carry residents to work, school and other activities, just like they’ve been doing in San Diego for almost 30 years,” said Sharon Cooney, CEO of MTS, which ordered 45 new S70 low-floor LRVs from Siemens in 2016, the first of which was delivered in 2018. (Pictured: LRV ready to roll in Argentina.)

May 19, 2022
Light Rail

San Diego Trolleys Making Their Way to Argentina

San Diego (Calif.) Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) is donating up to 39 decommissioned Siemens SD100 LRVs (light rail vehicles) to the city of Mendoza, Argentina.

VIA Rail has released a 2022-25 Accessibility Plan that will help provide riders “a barrier-free travel experience from reservation to destination.”

March 18, 2022
Passenger

Transit Briefs: San Diego MTS, VIA Rail Canada

The San Diego (Calif.) Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) has reported a spike in ridership in recent weeks as gas prices soar. Also, VIA Rail Canada has issued its first multi-year accessibility plan.

San Diego MTS and Affirmed Housing have broken ground on a new five-story transit-oriented housing development featuring 124 studio and one-, two- and three-bedroom units reserved for households earning 30%-60% of the area median income. (Rendering Courtesy of Studio E Architects)

February 16, 2022
Passenger

Transit Briefs: Brightline, San Diego MTS, Metrolinx

Brightline, Florida’s private-sector passenger rail operator, has ordered revenue management software from Accelya. Also, San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and Affirmed Housing have broken ground on a new transit-oriented housing development located at the Grantville Trolley Station; and Metrolinx is naming the 11-mile, 19-station Hurontario Light Rail Transit project as the Hazel McCallion Line.

MTS Trolley, which launched in 1981, is now a 54.3-mile system with four lines (UC San Diego Blue, Orange, Sycuan Green, and SDG&E Silver) and 54 stations. (Photo: Courtesy of Siemens Mobility)

September 16, 2021
Regulatory

For San Diego MTS, $140.4MM ARP Grant

The Federal Transit Administration has awarded the San Diego (Calif.) Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) a $140.4 million grant under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021.

September 03, 2021
Passenger

Transit Briefs: WMATA, San Diego MTS/NCTD, PennDOT

The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (WMSC) has audited Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s fitness for duty practices, finding 11 areas where improvement is needed. In addition, San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and North County Transit District (NCTD) have officially launched the region’s new PRONTO fare collection system, and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is calling on students to participate in its fifth-annual Innovations Challenge.

MTS Trolley, which launched in 1981, is now a 54.3-mile system with four lines (UC San Diego Blue, Orange, Sycuan Green, and SDG&E Silver) and 54 stations. All 244 LRVs ever purchased came from Siemens Mobility.

August 02, 2021
Light Rail

Happy 40th! MTS Trolley Celebrates Anniversary

San Diego (Calif.) Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) recently marked the 40th anniversary of the Trolley—the first modern light rail system in the U.S.

On June 29, the first Siemens Mobility S700 LRV was launched on the 11-mile Mid-Coast Extension of the UC San Diego Blue Line, which is slated to begin service in November. The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System will now begin train testing. Pictured: the Tecolote Station.

June 30, 2021
Light Rail

San Diego’s Mid-Coast Trolley Extension Project Advances

Testing has officially begun on the $2.1 billion, 11-mile Mid-Coast Extension of the UC San Diego Blue Line, which is slated to open Nov. 21.

The Capital Line South LRT Extension will receive $268.71 million (C$333 million) in municipal funding for construction from Century Park to the Heritage Valley Park & Ride in Edmonton, Alberta.

June 30, 2021
Light Rail

Transit Briefs: Edmonton, LACMTA, San Diego MTS, Santa Clara VTA, TriMet

The Edmonton (Alberta) City Council approved municipal funding for the 2.8-mile (4.5-kilometer) Capital Line South LRT Extension. In addition, LACMTA finalized its 2021-24 Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plan; SANDAG and MTS unveiled the VA Medical Center Trolley Station; VTA is slated to receive $20 million from the state of California to help with recovery from the May 26 mass shooting; and TriMet was forced to suspend MAX service due to record-setting temperatures.