| San Diego Trolley | |
| Locale | San Diego, CA |
|---|---|
| Transit type | Light rail |
| Began operation | July 26, 1981 |
| System length | 51. For specific light rail systems many of which use the words "light rail" as part of their name see List of light-rail transit systems. Events 657 - Battle of Siffin. 811 - Battle of Pliska; Byzantine Emperor Nicephorus Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 1 mi (82. A mile is a unit of Length, usually used to measure Distance, in a number of different systems including Imperial units United States 2 km) |
| Number of lines | 3 |
| Number of stations | 53 |
| Daily ridership | 118,400 (4th Qtr 2007 Weekday Avg. The kilometre ( American spelling: kilometer) symbol km is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one thousand ) |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8½ in) (standard gauge) |
| Operator(s) | San Diego Trolley, Inc. Rail gauge is the distance between the inner sides of the two parallel rails that make up a railway track. The standard gauge (also named the Stephenson gauge after George Stephenson, or Normal gauge) is a widely-used Rail gauge. (SDTI) |
The San Diego Trolley is a trolley-style light rail system operating in the metropolitan area of San Diego, California. A tram, tramcar, trolley, trolley car, or streetcar is a railborne vehicle, of lighter weight and construction than a Train For specific light rail systems many of which use the words "light rail" as part of their name see List of light-rail transit systems. The operator, San Diego Trolley, Inc. (SDTI) is a subsidiary of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS). The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS is the public transit service provider for Central South Northeast and Southeast San Diego County, in the United States The Trolley began service on July 26, 1981, making it the first modern light-rail system in California and operates three different lines designated by the colors Blue, Orange and Green. Events 657 - Battle of Siffin. 811 - Battle of Pliska; Byzantine Emperor Nicephorus Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. Blue Line The Blue Line is one of three Light rail lines operated by the San Diego Trolley, an operating Orange Line The Orange Line is one of three Light rail lines operated by the San Diego Trolley, an operating Green Line The Green Line is one of three Light rail lines operated by the San Diego Trolley, an operating The San Diego Trolley is currently the fourth most-ridden light rail system in the United States. The following is a list of all Light rail systems in the United States ranked by ridership
The Trolley initially used the same German-built Siemens-Duewag U2 vehicles as Edmonton and Calgary in Alberta, Canada as well as Frankfurt, Germany. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. The Siemens - Duewag U2 is a light-rail vehicle Originally designed for and used by the Frankfurt U-Bahn, the model of car was adopted by light The Edmonton Transit System, also called ETS, is the Public transit service owned and operated by the city of Edmonton Alberta. Calgary Transit is the public transit service which is owned and operated by the city of Calgary Alberta. Alberta (ælˈbɝtə is one of Canada's prairie provinces. It became a province on September 1 1905 The system has since been expanded to include the SD-100 and Avanto S70 vehicles manufactured by Siemens. The SD-100 and SD-160 are light-rail vehicles manufactured by Siemens. The Avanto is a low-floor Tram manufactured by Siemens AG. It is used or on order by several systems in the United States and for Tram-train
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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. Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) The San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway is a short-line American Railroad ( AAR Reporting mark SDAE) originally founded in 1906 Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) 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. Events 657 - Battle of Siffin. 811 - Battle of Pliska; Byzantine Emperor Nicephorus Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 San Ysidro is a community within the city of San Diego California. National City is a city in San Diego County, California, United States. Chula Vista ( is a city in southern San Diego County, California, 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. Lemon Grove is a city in San Diego County, California, United States. La Mesa is a city in San Diego County, California, United States. El Cajon (ɛlkəˈhoʊn Spanish elkaˈxon is a city in San Diego County, California, United States. Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) Service from El Cajon to Santee, not operating along SD&AE right-of-way, began in August 1995. Santee is a city in San Diego County, California, United States. Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995
The "Bayside" extension of the Trolley in Centre City San Diego opened in June 1990. Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) The first phase of the Old Town extension, from C Street to Little Italy in Centre City San Diego, opened in July 1992. Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, located in San Diego, California, is a state protected historical park in San Diego. Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) The second phase of that extension, running from Little Italy to Old Town, opened in June 1996. Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar)
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. Mission San Diego de Alcalá, also known as the San Diego Mission Church, was founded on July 16, 1769, the first in the twenty-one Alta California Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar 2005: January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October
The planning for the San Diego Trolley began in 1966 under the auspices of the Comprehensive Planning Organization (CPO), an intergovernmental agency of 13 cities and San Diego County. San Diego’s streetcar system had been replaced with buses in 1949. In 1966 the local bus company, San Diego Transit, was facing a financial crisis and public takeover. The CPO developed a mass-transit plan to address the long-range transportation issues of the metropolitan area.
Little progress was made in the decade 1966-1975. CPO continued to research options for addressing the region’s transportation needs. Several prominent stakeholders submitted their own mass-transit master plans for the region. The alternatives studied in the decade included:
The debate between rail rapid transit and light rail was conducted without reference to any specific right-of-way or railroad tracks. The CPO’s 1975 Regional Comprehensive Plan described a $1. 5 billion rail-rapid transit system in San Diego featuring 58 route miles (93 km) and 11 lines. However, by this time, it was widely acknowledged by public officials that the BART-like system would be much more expensive than light rail. Rail rapid plans were stalled due to high costs. Proponents of the rail rapid system were concerned about the low speed of at-grade streetcar systems. Operating deficits were also a concern. A 1974 CPO study concluded that a streetcar system would incur operating deficits of $1. 9 million annually. It was also understood that any BART-like system would incur substantial deficits.
The creation of the Metropolitan Transit Development Board (MTDB) in 1976 with a clearly stated mission initially did not resolve differences between the many stakeholders. However, MTDB did analyze previous transit studies, and determined that the guideway system should satisfy the following principles:
A feasibility study completed in 1975 identified the unit costs of guideway options, including the estimation of ‘typical section’ per-linear-foot costs for six guideway types: (1) cut-and-cover subway; (2) tunnel bore; (3) ‘aerial line’; (4) open-cut line with retaining walls; (5) sidehill berm cut line; (6) at-grade line. In addition, the MTDB’s enabling legislation explicitly required the guideway system to satisfy the following criteria, consistent with the principles adopted by the Board:
1. Priority consideration shall be given to technologies presently available and in use
2. Guideway system shall be capable of being brought into operation incrementally
3. Transportation rights-of-way of public entities shall be utilized to minimize construction costs
The adoption of the above principles effectively required either a ‘light rail vehicle’ capable of street running (to avoid grade separation), or a commuter-rail like design terminating at the Santa Fe Depot.
The MTDB’s enabling legislation also provided a dedicated funding source for guideway construction that would expire in 1981. Urgency was created since the dedicated funding would revert to the State highway fund if not expended on mass-transit guideway construction. In 1976-77, considerable planning efforts were completed. MTDB’s 1977 “Guideway Planning Project: Phase I Report” identified many alignment options:
(1) Interstate highways I-5, I-8, and I-805; (2) State Routes 94 and 163; (3) Railroad rights-of-way owned by Santa Fe (AT&SF) and by Southern Pacific/San Diego & Arizona Eastern (SD&AE); (4) Local arterials El Cajon Boulevard, 4th/6th/Genesee Avenues, and Highland/National/3rd/5th Avenues.
This report dismissed the use of local arterials for line-haul purposes, due to the cost of aerial or tunnel guideways. “A guideway extending from El Cajon easterly (parallel to I-8) to the vicinity of I-5/Santa Fe Railroad, then southerly through Centre City to San Ysidro parallel to I-5 and SD&AE” was recommended as the first increment. As planning intensified, Phase II of the “Guideway Planning Project” was under way, with efforts initially focusing on the El Cajon Line with the higher ridership potential. However, nature intervened.
On September 10, 1976, tropical storm Kathleen destroyed parts of SD&AE’s Desert Line, at the time a part of the Southern Pacific (SP) system. The name Kathleen has been used for four Tropical cyclones in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and one in the Western Pacific The hurricane caused $1. 3 million worth of damage, primarily in the Eastern part of the State. Through freight service to Arizona was suspended and San Diego became an isolated portion of the SP system. SP petitioned for abandonment of the SD&AE on August 9, 1977 of all tracks west of Plaster City, while the MTDB guideway planning project was ongoing. Due to the apparently immediate availability of a right-of-way in the South Bay Corridor, the transit planning refocused on the SD&AE (SP) Tijuana line, making it the effective ‘minimum operable segment’.
At the same time, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors became concerned about the freight service on the SD&AE. Direct freight service to the East was seen as vital to the county’s economic interests and the continued viability of San Diego as a deep-water port. With an eye towards preserving freight service and future transit right-of-way, San Diego County commissioned its own internal study effort, “Feasibility of Using Existing SD&AE ROW for Commuter Service”, to examine using a portion of the SD&AE tracks for light rail or diesel passenger service sharing track with freight services. Part of the motivation for considering the SD&AE was to “operate the freight service at a profit through changes to work rules, relief from property taxes, and sharing of costs with the transit operation”.
By late 1977, two major transit investment studies were under way focusing on the same corridor: the MTDB-sponsored “Guideway Planning Project”, and San Diego County’s “SD&AE ROW Feasibility Study”.
1. The Base Case: MTDB described the base case as a modified bus network that retained the same number of total vehicles as the present San Diego Transit system.
2. MTDB’s All-Bus Improvement Alternative: This “low capital cost” system would have introduced high-occupancy vehicle lanes on freeways and invested in higher capacity buses and express routes.
3. MTDB’s Rail Improvement Alternative, San Diego County’s “Light Rail Electric”: This “medium capital cost” has electric light-rail transit replacing buses in the South Line corridor and would re-deploy the buses on feeder services.
4. MTDB’s Fully Separated Rail Freight Service Alternative: MTDB examined the possibility of an exclusive double-track South Line on the SD&AE right-of-way. Under this freight rationalization proposal, freight trains would operate over the parallel Coronado Spur south to Imperial Beach, and via two miles (3. 2 km) of new right-of-way and five miles (8 km) of “shared corridor” parallel operations on dedicated tracks to reach Tijuana.
5. San Diego County’s “Leased Diesel” Option: The county saw the leased diesel (equivalent to present day commuter rail) as the lowest initial cost option with the least time required to begin service. Facilities would be designed to be convertible to light rail when more funds became available.
6. San Diego County’s “Light Rail Diesel” Option: The county was interested in the self-powered diesel rail cars for its lower capital costs, however, noted that the vehicles were not then approved by the California Public Utilities Commission for one-person operation.
In 1978, the MTDB successfully negotiated with SP to purchase the SD&AE for $18. 1 million, including the $1. 3 million required to restore the hurricane damaged freight line. This was a dual-intent decision, to preserve both rail freight services to the Imperial Valley, and to preserve available right-of-way for future transit use. In light of cheaper light-rail options identified in the MTDB and San Diego County studies, more expensive options such as a proposed $325 million rail-rapid transit line on a new right-of-way to the border seemed less competitive. There was universal agreement that using the SD&AE right-of-way and light rail technology was more economical and practical than a new rail-rapid transit line.
Construction of the San Diego Trolley proceeded incrementally. The initial construction of new track focused mainly in downtown San Diego. The work on the SD&AE railroad track is best described as ‘rehabilitation’. The MTDB replaced 40% of all ties, cropped and welded the jointed rail, constructed electric catenaries, and installed an absolute block signal system. To control costs, the San Diego Trolley ordered only 14 cars, and did not install ‘mimic’ boards or the on-train location equipment until after the East Line was completed in 1989. No new sidings were initially installed on the SD&AE segment, which had three passing sidings between San Diego and San Ysidro. Service started at 15-minute headways using the rehabilitated single-track line.
San Diego Trolley opened in 1981 with 13. 5 miles (21. 7 km) of operations on the South Line. Additional vehicles were purchased in 1983, and the South Line was mostly double-tracked by 1984, largely on the strength of demand for more frequent headways. The business plan’s incremental building and funding approach was vindicated. The East Line opened to Euclid Avenue in 1986, and was extended to El Cajon in 1989, and Santee in 1992.
The transit center at 12th & Imperial, in the southeastern portion of downtown San Diego, has historically been used as the transfer point between the various lines, and is located adjacent to the Trolley's maintenance facilities. It is a recognizable landmark in the neighborhood, as it includes a grey clocktower with red clock. It is located two blocks east of the main entrance to PETCO Park and is the station serving that facility. PETCO Park is an open-air Stadium in downtown San Diego, California.
The Blue Line currently operates between San Ysidro and Old Town. Blue Line The Blue Line is one of three Light rail lines operated by the San Diego Trolley, an operating The line first opened between Centre City San Diego and San Ysidro in 1981, at a spartan cost of $86 million. Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 The Bayfront/E Street station in Chula Vista opened in 1985. Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) In 1986, the line was named the South Line to differentiate it from the new East Line to Euclid Avenue. Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) It was renamed the North-South Line when the Old Town extension opened in 1996. Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) The North-South Line was renamed the Blue Line in 1997 with the opening of the extension to Mission San Diego. Blue Line The Blue Line is one of three Light rail lines operated by the San Diego Trolley, an operating Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar The Fenton Parkway stop opened in 2000. 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. 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. Green Line The Green Line is one of three Light rail lines operated by the San Diego Trolley, an operating Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Blue Line The Blue Line is one of three Light rail lines operated by the San Diego Trolley, an operating On 3 September, 2006 the Qualcomm service Blue line trains were discontinued entirely due to low ridership. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Now all Blue Line trains terminate at Old Town. Blue Line The Blue Line is one of three Light rail lines operated by the San Diego Trolley, an operating
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.
The Orange Line currently operates between Centre City San Diego and El Cajon. Orange Line The Orange Line is one of three Light rail lines operated by the San Diego Trolley, an operating Service began on the Trolley's second line in 1986, initially operating between downtown San Diego and Euclid Avenue. Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) 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. Orange Line The Orange Line is one of three Light rail lines operated by the San Diego Trolley, an operating Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Service between Gillespie Field and Santee Town Center was replaced by the Green Line in 2005. Green Line The Green Line is one of three Light rail lines operated by the San Diego Trolley, an operating Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
The Green Line is the newest Trolley line opened in July 2005. Green Line The Green Line is one of three Light rail lines operated by the San Diego Trolley, an operating Service currently operates between Old Town in San Diego and the city of 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. Blue Line The Blue Line is one of three Light rail lines operated by the San Diego Trolley, an operating The San Diego State University (SDSU) stop is the system's only underground station. History Established on March 13 1897 San Diego State University first began as the San Diego Normal School intended to educate local future female elementary school teachers
SDTI operates special trains during sporting events at PETCO Park (which is served from the 12th & Imperial Transit Center; the park's main entrance is at 10th & Imperial) and Qualcomm Stadium (which has a dedicated station), as well as selected conventions and other major city events. Santee is a city in San Diego County, California, United States. Gillespie Field is a county-owned public-use Airport located 10 miles (16 km northeast of the Central business district of San Diego, in El El Cajon Transit Center is a San Diego Trolley station in El Cajon, California served by the Green Line and the Orange Line. Amaya Drive is a San Diego Trolley station served by the Green Line and the Orange Line. Grossmont is a San Diego Trolley station located next to Grossmont Center in La Mesa California. 70th Street is a San Diego Trolley station served by the Green Line. Alvarado Medical Center is a station on San Diego Trolley 's Green Line. History Established on March 13 1897 San Diego State University first began as the San Diego Normal School intended to educate local future female elementary school teachers SDSU Transit Center is a station on San Diego Trolley 's Green Line. Grantville is a station on San Diego Trolley 's Green Line. The station is elevated and has Side platforms The station is located in the middle of a Mission San Diego is a station on San Diego Trolley 's Green Line. Qualcomm Stadium is a station on San Diego Trolley 's Green Line and Special Event Service Line. Fenton Parkway is a station on San Diego Trolley 's Green Line and Special Event Service Line. Rio Vista is a station on San Diego Trolley 's Green Line and Special Event Service Line. Mission Valley Center is a station on San Diego Trolley 's Green Line and Special Event Service Line. Hazard Center is a station on San Diego Trolley 's Green Line and Special Event Service Line. Fashion Valley Transit Center is a station on San Diego Trolley 's Green Line and Special Event Service Line. Morena/Linda Vista is a San Diego Trolley station on the Green Line and the Special Event Service Line. The University of San Diego is a Roman Catholic University in San Diego, California. The Old Town Transit Center is an intermodal transportation station located in San Diego California. PETCO Park is an open-air Stadium in downtown San Diego, California. Qualcomm Stadium (aka " The Q " " The Murph " formerly known as San Diego Stadium and Jack Murphy Stadium These trains operate between Qualcomm Stadium and downtown San Diego's 12th & Imperial Transit Center.
SANDAG is planning a Mid-Coast extension of the San Diego Trolley from the Old Town Transit Center 11 miles (18 km) to the University City community serving major activity and employment centers such as the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) campus and University Towne Centre (UTC) shopping center. The Old Town Transit Center is an intermodal transportation station located in San Diego California. The San Diego Association of Governments (abbreviated SANDAG) is an association of local San Diego County governments The University of California San Diego (popularly known as UC San Diego or UCSD) is a public Research university in San Diego, California [1] This is part of the "Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project". [2] It is planned to be completed by 2014.
The proposed Silver Line would utilize refurbished PCC cars and street trolleys similar to the F line in downtown San Francisco. The F Market & Wharves line is one of several Light rail lines in San Francisco California. The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city The line would operate in downtown San Diego in a clock-wise Centre City loop and make use of existing track configuration. Because tracks are used for the Blue and Orange services it is likely the Silver Line would not operate during peak commute times; however, would operate during mid-day times and weekends. The Silver Line is planned to open in October 2008 just in time for the American Public Transportation Association’s meeting which will take place in San Diego[3]. The American Public Transportation Association serves as an advocate for the advancement of Public transportation programs and initiatives in the United States. The trolley cars that will be used are being refurbished by San Diego Vintage Trolley, Inc. , a non-for-profit organization dedicated to the restoration and operation of historic streetcars in San Diego. [4]
There are no expansion plans of the San Diego Trolley currently being planned or examined closely aside from the Mid-Coast Extension and Downtown Silver Line. However, from time to time other ideas have been raised among elected officials, special interest groups, or citizens. The most frequently citied ideas include the following:
In addition to the above, a downtown subway alignment has been raised as a solution to a projected 183% increase in light-rail morning ridership and the need to provide more train capacity. [6]