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List of San Diego Trolley stations

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The San Diego Trolley system as of September 2024

The San Diego Trolley is a light rail system operating in San Diego County, California. The trolley's operator, San Diego Trolley, Inc. (reporting mark SDTI), is a subsidiary of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS). The San Diego Trolley opened for service on July 26, 1981.[1] It operates four primary lines (Blue, Green, Orange, and Copper) as well as a supplementary heritage streetcar downtown loop known as the Silver Line that operates on holidays.[1]

History

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The current operating company of the San Diego Trolley system, San Diego Trolley Incorporated (SDTI), was not founded until 1980[2] when the Metropolitan Transit Development Board (now operating as San Diego's MTS) began to plan a light-rail service along the Main Line of the former San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway (SD&AE Railway), which the MTDB purchased from the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1979.[2] The Trolley began operations on July 19, 1981, with revenue service beginning on July 26, 1981.[2] Trains at that time operated on a single line between Centre City or downtown San Diego and San Ysidro, with stops in some San Diego neighborhoods, and in the cities of National City and Chula Vista.

In March 1986, SDTI opened an extension east from Centre City San Diego to Euclid Avenue, along the La Mesa Branch of the former SD&AE Railway – this new second line of the Trolley was then called the East Line, while the original line opened in 1981 became the South Line.[2] Service was extended along the East Line to Spring Street on May 12, 1989[2] serving Lemon Grove, and then to La Mesa and El Cajon on June 23, 1989.[2] Service between El Cajon and Santee, which is not along the old SD&AE right-of-way, began on August 26, 1995.[2]

The "Bayside" extension of the Trolley in San Diego, which operates near the waterfront, opened on June 30, 1990.[3] The first phase of the extension to Old Town, from C Street to Little Italy in downtown San Diego, opened on July 2, 1992.[3] The second phase of the Old Town extension, running from Little Italy to Old Town, opened on June 16, 1996.[3]

The "Mission Valley West" SDTI extension, which opened a new Trolley route between Old Town and Mission San Diego (which included the Qualcomm Stadium stop) commenced service on November 23, 1997,[3] just before San Diego's hosting of Super Bowl XXXII in early 1998. It was at this time that the former South and East Trolley Lines were renamed the Blue Line and Orange Line, respectively.[2][3] The "Mission Valley East" extension between Mission San Diego and La Mesa opened for service on July 10, 2005, coinciding with the inauguration of the Green Line.[3]

Stations along the Blue and Orange lines were renovated during 2010–15 as part of the Trolley Renewal Project.[4][5][6][7]

Current system

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Routemap of San Diego Trolley, reflecting the Copper Line addition.
The routes are arranged approximately geographically true; the Blue Line runs from the upper left corner (La Jolla) to the lower right corner (San Ysidro): the Orange Line runs from the left middle (downtown San Diego) to the upper right (El Cajon), and the Green Line also runs from the left middle (downtown San Diego) to the upper right (El Cajon), taking a route that lies largely along Mission Valley / Interstate 8. The Copper Line runs from El Cajon to Santee.

The San Diego Trolley system has 62 operational stations serving its four Trolley lines.[8][9]

Fourteen of the Trolley system's stations operate as transfer stations, which allow passengers to transfer between lines. There is one universal transfer point (i.e. allowing for transfers among all four lines) in the system in downtown San Diego: the 12th & Imperial Transit Center station. The adjacent Santa Fe Depot/America Plaza/Courthouse stations, which are within walking distance of each other, also allow for transfer among the four lines. Six Trolley stations are end-of-line stations. Of the 63 stations, 37 of them are within the city limits of San Diego, serving various neighborhoods in San Diego; the other 16 stations are located in surrounding communities, such as El Cajon and National City.

Most stations in the San Diego Trolley system are 'at-grade' stations. There are ten aerial stations in the system and a single underground station (SDSU Transit Center).

About half of San Diego Trolley stations offer free park and ride lots.[10] Most Trolley stations offer connections to MTS bus lines.

Renamed stations

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In June 1990, the station on C Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, originally named Gaslamp station, was renamed Fifth Avenue station following a service expansion of the East Line (now the Orange Line) around the new downtown loop, which included a new Gaslamp Quarter station much closer to Gaslamp Quarter. Both Main & Marshall station was renamed to El Cajon Transit Center and Broadway Lemon Grove station was renamed to Lemon Grove Depot at the same time.

In March 2004, 12th & Market station was renamed Park & Market station following a reconstruction.

In July 2005, with the launch of the Green Line, Weld Boulevard station was renamed Gillespie Field station.

In September 2012, following a system-wide service reconfiguration, Bayfront/E Street station was renamed E Street station.

In June 2017, following Qualcomm’s expiration of naming rights to San Diego Stadium, Qualcomm Stadium station was renamed Stadium station. Following the demolition of San Diego Stadium throughout 2020 and 2021, the location is now the site of San Diego State University’s Snapdragon Stadium and Mission Valley campus.

In October 2017, following the sale of the Green Line’s naming rights to Sycuan Casino, El Cajon Transit Center was for a period of time named El Cajon–Sycuan.

In December 2023, following the adjacent Alvarado Hospital being sold by Prime Healthcare Services to UC San Diego Health and renamed, Alvarado Medical Center station was renamed Alvarado station.[11][12]

In September 2024, in part due to the signage on Trolleys and signage on the Green Line being updated to reflect the recently opened Copper Line, Alvarado station was renamed again to UC San Diego Health East.[13]

Closed stations

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San Diego Square station

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San Diego Square station, opened in July 1981 on C Street between Seventh & Eighth Avenues downtown, was closed on March 23, 1986, due to low ridership, its close proximity to the (then renamed, see above) Fifth Avenue station,[14] and the desire to eliminate a station in order to accommodate the soon-to-open infill station at E Street (which opened in October 1986) without adding to travel times along the line.[15][better source needed]

Remnants of this old station still remain on C Street between Seventh & Eighth Avenues.[16]

Columbia Street station

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Columbia Street station, opened in July 1981 on C and Columbia Streets as Santa Fe Depot and renamed in June 1990, was closed in November 1991, with the track in the vicinity being reconfigured. It was replaced by America Plaza station one block to the west.

Lines

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As of 2021, trolley service operates on three main lines offering daily service: the Blue, Green, and Orange Lines, and travels through the 62 stations and 65 total miles of mostly double-track rail.[8] A fourth line, the heritage streetcar Silver Line, operates more limited weekday and weekend service, in a clockwise 'circle-loop' around downtown San Diego only.[17]

Line Opened[1] Length[1] Number of
stations[1] 		Termini Operation
 Blue Line 1981 26.3 mi (42.3 km)[1][18] 32 UTC Transit Center
San Ysidro Transit Center 		Daily
 Green Line 2005 19.8 mi (31.9 km) 24 12th & Imperial Transit Center
El Cajon Transit Center 		Daily
 Orange Line 1986 17.1 mi (27.5 km) 18 Courthouse station
El Cajon Transit Center 		Daily
 Silver Line 2011 2.7 mi (4.3 km) 9 12th & Imperial Transit Center On Select Holidays
 Copper Line 2024 3.8 mi (6.1 km) 4 Santee station
El Cajon Transit Center 		Daily

Stations

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The following table lists all stations currently served by the San Diego Trolley.

Station[9] Image Line(s) Location Comments
8th Street The platforms at 8th Street station, 2019  Blue Line National City
12th & Imperial† A view of 12th & Imperial Transit Center, 2016  Blue Line
 Green Line
 Orange Line
 Silver Line 		San Diego,
East Village 		Universal transfer station for all lines:
transfer for Blue, Green, Orange, and Silver lines.
Serves Petco Park.
Terminus for Green and Silver lines.
24th Street The platforms at 24th Street station, 2016  Blue Line National City
25th & Commercial The outbound track at 25th & Commercial station  Orange Line San Diego,
Grant Hill
32nd & Commercial 32nd & Commercial station, 2008  Orange Line San Diego,
Stockton
47th Street The platform at 47th Street station  Orange Line San Diego,
Chollas View
70th Street The platform at 70th Street station  Green Line La Mesa
Amaya Drive A view of Amaya Drive station  Green Line
 Orange Line 		La Mesa Transfer station for Green and Orange lines.
America Plaza† America Plaza station at night, 2019  Blue Line
 Silver Line 		San Diego,
Downtown Core 		Transfer station for Blue and Silver lines.
Directly adjacent to Santa Fe Depot (i.e. short walking distance) – so is also an "indirect" transfer point for the Green Line.
This was an infill station – added upon competition of the One America Plaza building in 1991.
Terminus for some Blue Line trains.
Arnele Avenue†  Copper Line El Cajon Serves Parkway Plaza.
Balboa Avenue The platforms at Balboa Avenue station  Blue Line Clairemont, San Diego
Barrio Logan Barrio Logan station with part of the San Diego–Coronado Bridge in the background, 2018  Blue Line San Diego,
Logan Heights 		Serves Chicano Park.
Beyer Boulevard A trolley at Beyer Boulevard station  Blue Line San Diego,
San Ysidro
City College City College station, 2019  Blue Line
 Orange Line
 Silver Line 		San Diego,
East Village 		Serves San Diego City College, San Diego High School.
Civic Center A trolley at Civic Center station  Blue Line
 Orange Line
 Silver Line 		San Diego,
Downtown Core 		Serves City Hall and Courthouse.
Clairemont Drive The platforms at Clairemont Drive station in August 2021 about three months before its official opening  Blue Line San Diego, Clairemont Serves Mission Bay.
Convention Center The platforms at Convention Center station, 2011  Green Line
 Silver Line 		San Diego,
Marina 		Serves San Diego Convention Center.
County Center/Little Italy A trolley at County Center/Little Italy station  Green Line
 Blue Line 		San Diego,
Middletown 		Serves San Diego County Administration Center.
Courthouse† Courthouse station, 2024  Orange Line San Diego,
Downtown Core 		Serves the San Diego County Courthouse complex.
Terminus for Orange Line.
E Street The platforms at Bayfront/E Street station  Blue Line Chula Vista This was an infill station (it was added 5 years after the line's opening) – the first infill station on the current Blue Line.
El Cajon A view of El Cajon station, 2017  Green Line
 Orange Line
 Copper Line 		El Cajon Terminus for Orange Line, Green Line, and Copper Line
Encanto/62nd Street The platform at Encanto/62nd Street station, 2008  Orange Line San Diego,
Encanto
Euclid Avenue The platforms at Euclid Avenue station  Orange Line San Diego,
Emerald Hills
Executive Drive The platforms at Executive Drive station  Blue Line University City, San Diego
Fashion Valley The platforms at Fashion Valley station, 2019  Green Line San Diego,
Mission Valley 		Serves Fashion Valley Mall.
Fenton Parkway The platforms at Fenton Parkway station  Green Line San Diego,
Mission Valley 		This was an infill station (it was added almost 3 years after the line's opening) – the only infill station on the current Green Line.
Fifth Avenue A trolley at Fifth Avenue station  Blue Line
 Orange Line
 Silver Line 		San Diego,
Downtown Core 		Serves downtown San Diego.
Gaslamp Quarter A view of Gaslamp Quarter station from the San Diego Convention Center side of the freight track  Green Line
 Silver Line 		San Diego,
Gaslamp Quarter 		Serves Gaslamp Quarter; also Convention Center & Petco Park.
Gillespie Field The platforms at Gillespie Field station  Copper Line El Cajon Serves Gillespie Field (airport).
Grantville An eastbound trolley at Grantville station  Green Line San Diego,
Grantville
Grossmont The platforms at Grossmont Transit Center  Green Line
 Orange Line 		La Mesa Serves Grossmont Center.
H Street H Street station, 2019  Blue Line Chula Vista
Harborside The platforms at Harborside station, 2019  Blue Line San Diego,
Logan Heights
Hazard Center The platforms at Hazard Center station, 2019  Green Line San Diego,
Mission Valley 		Serves the Hazard Center Shopping Center.
Iris Avenue The platforms at Iris Avenue station, 2019  Blue Line San Diego,
Otay Mesa West
La Mesa Blvd. A view of La Mesa Boulevard station from Spring Street, 2024  Orange Line La Mesa
Lemon Grove Depot The station building at Lemon Grove Depot in 2008, before the 2012 renovations  Orange Line Lemon Grove
Massachusetts Avenue  Orange Line Lemon Grove
Middletown The platforms at Middletown station, 2019  Green Line
 Blue Line 		San Diego,
Mission Hills
Mission San Diego The platforms at Mission San Diego station, 2019  Green Line San Diego,
Mission Valley 		Serves Mission San Diego de Alcalá.
Mission Valley Center The platforms at Mission Valley Center station, 2019  Green Line San Diego,
Mission Valley 		Serves Mission Valley mall.
Morena/Linda Vista The platforms at Morena/Linda Vista station, 2019  Green Line San Diego,
Morena 		Serves University of San Diego.
Nobel Drive The platforms at Nobel Drive station  Blue Line La Jolla Village, San Diego Serves La Jolla Village Square and The Shops at La Jolla.
Old Town A trolley approaching Old Town Transit Center  Green Line
 Blue Line 		San Diego,
Old Town 		Serves Old Town Historic Park.
Pacific Fleet The platforms at Pacific Fleet station, 2019  Blue Line San Diego,
Logan Heights 		Serves Naval Base San Diego.
Palm Avenue The platforms at Palm Avenue station, 2019  Blue Line San Diego,
Palm City
Palomar Street Palomar Street station before renovations in 2010  Blue Line Chula Vista
Park & Market Park & Market station, 2019  Blue Line
 Orange Line
 Silver Line 		San Diego,
East Village
Rio Vista The platforms at Rio Vista station  Green Line San Diego,
Mission Valley
SDSU The platforms at SDSU Transit Center  Green Line San Diego,
College Area 		Serves San Diego State University.
Only underground station in the San Diego Trolley system.
San Ysidro† A trolley at San Ysidro Transit Center  Blue Line San Diego,
San Ysidro 		Serves Mexico–United States border.
Terminus for Blue Line.
This was the original terminus for the original Trolley line.
Santa Fe Depot A trolley at Santa Fe Depot  Green Line
 Blue Line 		San Diego,
East Village 		Directly adjacent to America Plaza (i.e. short walking distance) – so is also an "indirect" transfer point for Blue and Silver lines.
This was the original terminus for the original Trolley line.
Santee† A trolley at Santee station  Copper Line Santee Terminus for Copper Line.
Seaport Village The platforms at Seaport Village station in April 2010 when it was served by the Orange Line  Green Line
 Silver Line 		San Diego,
Marina 		Serves Seaport Village.
Spring Street The platforms at Spring Street station in 2008, before renovations  Orange Line La Mesa
Stadium The platforms at Stadium station, 2019  Green Line San Diego,
Mission Valley 		Serves Snapdragon Stadium.
Tecolote Road The platforms at Tecolote Road station  Blue Line San Diego, Morena Serves SeaWorld.
UC San Diego Central Campus The entrance to UC San Diego Central Campus station  Blue Line La Jolla Serves the University of California, San Diego.
UC San Diego Health East The platforms at UC San Diego Health East station  Green Line San Diego,
College Area 		Serves East Campus Medical Center at UC San Diego Health
UC San Diego Health La Jolla The platforms at UC San Diego Health La Jolla station  Blue Line La Jolla Serves Jacobs Medical Center and Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla.
UTC† A trolley waiting at UTC station platform, 2021  Blue Line University City, San Diego Serves Westfield UTC and Costa Verde Shopping Center.
Terminus for Blue Line.
VA Medical Center The platforms at VA Medical Center station  Blue Line La Jolla Serves VA Medical Center (VAMC) of San Diego.
Washington Street A trolley at Washington Street station  Green Line
 Blue Line 		San Diego,
Mission Hills

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "San Diego Trolley, Inc" (PDF). San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. February 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2021 – via http://www.sdmts.com/about-mts. {{cite web}}: External link in |via= (help)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "History [see: Timeline]". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Ristine, Jeff (July 23, 2006). "After 25 years, the trolley keeps on moving". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved June 14, 2009.
  4. ^ Robert J. Hawkins (September 22, 2010). "Construction Begins To Upgrade SD Trolley - $620M Project To Include New Track, Stations Along Blue, Orange Lines". KGTV ABC10 San Diego. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  5. ^ "Several Blue Line trolley stops to close this weekend". The San Diego Union Tribune. October 27, 2010. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  6. ^ Carolina Worrell (December 7, 2015). "Red and robust". Railway Age. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  7. ^ "Trolley Renewal". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. 2015. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  8. ^ a b "Anout MTS". 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021. Light rail service is operated by SDTI on four lines (the UC San Diego Blue, Orange, Green and Silver Lines) with a total of 62 stations and 65 miles of rail.
  9. ^ a b For station info, see also: "Trolley - Map and Station Lists". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS). 2015. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  10. ^ "Transit Station Parking". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS). July 27, 2015. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  11. ^ "UC San Diego Health Completes Acquisition of Alvarado Hospital Medical Center". UC San Diego Health. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  12. ^ "Trolley | San Diego Metropolitan Transit System". www.sdmts.com. May 22, 2015. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  13. ^ "Copper Line - East County Connector | San Diego Metropolitan Transit System". www.sdmts.com. April 29, 2024. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  14. ^ "Take a Ride Down Memory Lane for the Trolley's 42nd Anniversary | San Diego Metropolitan Transit System". www.sdmts.com. San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. August 10, 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
  15. ^ "San Diego Square Trolley Station". Flickr. San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. May 17, 2013. Retrieved June 16, 2024. San Diego Square Trolley Station was located on C Street between 7th and 8th Avenues. It was named for the publicly funded senior-citizen-only apartment building one block east. The station was closed on March 23, 1986, due to low patronage and in order to accommodate a new station at Chula Vista Bayfront without additional dwell time (Bayfront/E Street Station opened in October 1986). Part of the reason for the low ridership at San Diego Square was its close proximity to the then-Gaslamp Station (now Fifth Avenue Station), located two blocks west on C Street between 5th and 6th Avenues.
  16. ^ "San Diego Trolley". Southern California Regional Rocks and Roads. June 11, 2013. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
  17. ^ "Vintage Trolley". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. 2015. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  18. ^ "Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project" (PDF). San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG). April 2015. Retrieved November 29, 2021 – via U.S. Department of Transportation.
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