The US Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is to provide a $1.04bn federal grant to San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) to help extend the existing Blue Line Trolley service from downtown San Diego to the University City area.

Once complete, the 10.92-mile extension will provide better access to employment centres and various educational and medical facilities north of downtown.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Locally known as Mid-Coast Trolley, the extension will also serve major activity centres, including Old Town, Mission Bay Park, the Department of Veteran’s Affairs Medical Centre, UC San Diego, and Westfield UTC shopping centre.

According to officials’ estimates, the expanded project will serve 24,600 transit trips every weekday, with services expected to begin in 2021.

"This trolley extension will offer a much-needed alternative to traffic congestion in the years ahead."

Once completed, San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) will operate the extension.  

Federal Transit Administration acting administrator Carolyn Flowers said: “With the population along the Mid-Coast corridor expected to grow nearly 20% in the coming decades, this trolley extension will offer a much-needed alternative to traffic congestion in the years ahead."

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

FTA has committed the latest grant through its capital investment grant (CIG) programme for the $2.17bn Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project.

Out of the $1.04bn grant, $100m will be provided initially, with the remaining amount granted over ten years on an annual payment schedule.

Image: FTA to provide grant for trolley service expansion in San Diego, US. Photo: courtesy of US Department of Transportation.