BUS & RAIL TRANSIT
METROPOLITAN TRANSIT SYSTEM (MTS)
www.sdcommute.com
The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) is an umbrella organization that operates and manages bus service. The Metropolitan Transit System consists of 15 express bus and 2 trolley routes, 74 local/urban bus routes, 6 demand-responsive services, and 2 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) complementary paratransit operators. Ridership: 84.5 million local passengers carried over 31.3 million revenue miles with 44.88 percent farebox recovery in FY 00. Bus schedules, passes and permits are available at The Transit Store, which is located at 102 Broadway (Downtown San Diego). Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM, Sat noon to 4:00 PM.
SAN DIEGO TRANSIT CORPORATION (SDTC)
www.sdcommute.com/Agencies/MTS/SDTC
San Diego Transit Corporation (SDTC) is the largest bus operator in San Diego County. SDTC is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) family of bus and trolley operators. Of our 29 fixed routes, 7 are express and 22 local. Our routes operate over 610 miles, serving about two million people. SDTC covers the cities of San Diego, El Cajon, La Mesa, National City, as well as portions of San Diego County's unincorporated area. SDTC routes also connect with other regional operators' routes.
CHULA VISTA TRANSIT
www.chulavistaca.gov/city_services/Community_Services/Public_Works_Operations/Transit/routes.asp
Chula Vista Transit is designed to serve the residents of the City of Chula Vista and its visitors. Routes have been planned to serve all trip types. Presently there are nine routes.
NATIONAL CITY TRANSIT
http://www.ci.national-city.ca.us/Departments/Transit/transit.htm
Bayshore Transit Management (dba National City Transit) operates 14 buses in National City, with 5 Bus Routes. The City of National City has contracted with McDonald Transit Associates since 1978 to operate their system.
SAN DIEGO TROLLEY INC.
www.sdcommute.com/Agencies/MTS/SDTI/
The San Diego Trolley light rail system has been operating since July 26, 1981. Over it's 25 years of service, the system has expanded to a 53-mile (85.3 km) LRT network serving the San Diego County region. There are three distinct line segments; the Blue Line, Orange Line and Green Line. The LRT system is operated and maintained by San Diego Trolley, Inc. (SDTI), a wholly owned subsidiary of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS).
NORTH COUNTY TRANSIT DISTRICT (NCTD)
www.gonctd.com
NCTD Buses carry passengers in the north San Diego County region, which includes the area south to and including Del Mar, east to Escondido, north to the Orange County and Riverside County lines, and includes Camp Pendleton. The region is more than 1,000 square miles in area and has a population of more than 800,000 people. NCTD has 165 vehicles in its bus fleet. All standard buses are equipped with bike racks. NCTD's bus system has more than 50 routes. In addition, NCTD runs special Express Buses for certain sporting and special events in San Diego. NCTD's bus fleet carries more than 11 million passengers every year.
NCTD operates the COASTER rail service, which are 22 trains that link North County and San Diego every weekday and eight trains on Saturdays (the COASTER does not operate on Sundays).
NCTD operates the FAST service. FAST, or Fast And Simple Transportation, is a door-to-door bus service that serves the public in areas of Encinitas, Fallbrook, Ramona, and Vista. Special 16-passenger vans are available on request to carry passengers within certain areas of these communities.
NCTD also operates Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) paratransit service in North County.
AMTRAK PACIFIC SURFLINER
www.amtrak.com
The Pacific Surfliner is a 350-mile (563 km) Amtrak passenger train route serving communities on the coast of Southern California between San Diego and San Luis Obispo with stops in Los Angeles.
METROLINK
www.metrolinktrains.com/
Metrolink is a commuter rail network connecting major cities in Southern California including San Diego via transfers at Oceanside, Anaheim, Los Angeles, and Riverside. Metrolink does not serve the immediate San Diego area.
TAXI TRANSIT
It is usually not necessary to call for a taxi at the airport, bus station, train station or cruise ship terminal. Taxis are waiting when travelers arrive. If you need a taxi or limousine at other times and places, here are some companies to contact (listed in alphabetical order):
Aventine Transportation, 858-688-1234: www.aventinetransportation.com
EZ Ride Shuttle, 619-297-7463: www.ezrideshuttle.com
Orange Cab, 619-291-3333: www.orangecabsandiego.com
Sterling Transportation: 619-279-2180
Yellow Cab of San Diego: 619-234-6161, www.driveu.com
Commercial shuttles also serve the airport, bus station, train station and cruise ship terminal. These provide shared rides to hotels, military bases and residences in the San Diego area. The largest such service in San Diego is Cloud 9 (formerly Super Shuttle). Shuttles are usually waiting at the airport. For pickup at other places, contact them at 1-800-974-8885 (1-800-9-SHUTTLE) or www.cloud9shuttle.com.
BOAT TRANSIT
CORONADO FERRY
www.sdhe.com/san-diego-bay-ferry.html
This passenger ferry runs regularly across San Diego Bay between Broadway Pier in downtown San Diego and the Coronado Ferry Landing in Coronado. A one-way trip takes about ten minutes. The ferry departs from Broadway Pier every hour on the hour from 9AM to 9PM, and also at 10PM on Friday and Saturday only, and from the Coronado Ferry Landing every hour on the half hour from 9:30AM to 9:30PM, and also at 10:30PM on Friday and Saturday only. The one-way fare is $2.75 per person. You may take a bicycle aboard the ferry for an additional 50 cents each way.
AIR TRANSIT
SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
www.san.org
With the opening of a new wing on January 7, 1998, San Diego International Airport is even better than ever. Unlike most big-city airports, San Diego International Airport is conveniently located close to the downtown area and to most of the major tourist attractions. The airport was formerly owned and operated by the San Diego Unified Port District, a special governmental agency that also operates the harbor facilities of San Diego. Recently the airport was transferred to the San Diego Regional Airport Authority. If your starting point or destination is in the northern part of San Diego County, you may find McClellan Palomar Airport in Carlsbad even more convenient than San Diego International Airport.
