MTS Rapid
| Parent | Metropolitan Transit System |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2014 |
| Locale | San Diego County, California |
| Service area |
Escondido to Downtown San Diego Rancho Bernardo to UCSD Downtown San Diego to SDSU |
| Service type | Mixed BRT |
| Routes | 5 (215,235,237,280,290) |
| Stops | 14 |
| Stations | 9 |
| Fleet | 29 New Flyer Industries 60 foot Xcelsior CNG bus |
| Fuel type | Compressed natural gas |
| Operator | Veolia Transport under contract to MTS |
| Website | MTSRapid.com |
MTS Rapid is a mixed bus rapid transit system in San Diego County, California, USA, operating between Escondido and Downtown San Diego via the Interstate 15 high-occupancy toll lanes.
There are two services on the corridor. Line 235 operates all day serving all stations along the corridor from Escondido to San Diego and then to Downtown, ending at the Santa Fe Depot. Service operates every 15 minutes during peak hours and every 30 minutes at all other times. Rapid Express service operates from selected stations to Downtown San Diego, bypassing City Heights and Kearny Mesa. Line 280 serves the two northernmost stations (Escondido and Del Lago) while Line 290 serves the Rancho Bernardo and Sabre Springs/Peñasquitos stations. Route 237 serves Sabre Springs, San Diego and then to Ucsd via the Miramar college transit center and Mira Mesa Blvd. Route 215 is the mid city line providing service to downtown through SDSU.
The new route saves up to 45 minutes from local MTS Line 20, which continues to operate along the corridor to serve locations not served by Line 235. It also eliminates a transfer at Del Lago Transit Center between Line 20 and Breeze Rapid to central Escondido.[1] Rapid Express service is rebranded Premium Express service which formerly operated along the corridor, although it now omits local stops.
The cost for the service is approximately $238 million, consisting primarily of transit centers at City Heights, Del Lago, Escondido, and Rancho Bernardo; parking structures at Miramar College and Sabre Springs; and new 60-foot buses. The buses include padded seats but do not include wi-fi nor power plugs. This is in addition to the investment in the I-15 HOT lane project, which cost approximately $1 billion for four new lanes and direct access ramps. While an extension of the San Diego Trolley was studied, low ridership, hilly terrain and high cost estimates stopped the rail idea from proceeding. Taxpayer advocates have supported the Rapid due to its lower cost compared to rail extensions.[2] Free rides were offered on the first day of service, June 8, 2014.[3]
The MTS Rapid is provided by Veolia Transportation under contract to MTS.
Future services
In summer 2014, the Mid-City Rapid (Line 215) will operate from San Diego State University to Downtown San Diego via Balboa Park, North Park, Normal Heights, and City Heights. Also, a peak hour rapid route, Line 237, will operate from the UC San Diego area to Rancho Bernardo, via San Diego and the I-15 HOT lanes. These routes have been described as "diet trolleys", but critics claim that the limited amount of spending on BRT compared to highway spending shows SANDAG's emphasis on highway and automobile-based transportation.[4]
In 2016, the South Bay Rapid will operate between Downtown San Diego, Chula Vista, and the Otay Mesa Port of Entry. This route has been controversial due to its bisection of the Otay Ranch section of Chula Vista through a median which was reserved and signed for future transit use.[5]
References
- ↑ "New "Rapid 235" Bus Line Launches". NBC 7 San Diego.
- ↑ Chris Nichols (4 June 2014). "New MTS Rapid bus service to launch on Sunday connecting North County with downtown San Diego. - SanDiegoUnionTribune.com". The San Diego Union-Tribune.
- ↑ "New 'Rapid' Bus Service Opens Sunday on I-15 Corridor - Times of San Diego". Times of San Diego.
- ↑ "Meet Mid-City’s New ‘Diet Trolley’ - Speak City Heights".
- ↑ Chris Nichols (25 July 2013). "South County bus project that sparked outrage up for vote". The San Diego Union-Tribune.