The CACC Meeting on Wednesday, May 11 (7 p.m., College Rolando Library) will feature a presentation from Eric Adams from SANDAG about the Mid-City Rapid Bus Project.

The Project

The Mid-City Rapid Bus Project is a ten-mile rapid bus line from San Diego State University to downtown San Diego along El Cajon and Park Boulevards. The line will provide North Park, City Heights, and College area residents, students, and visitors with rapid, reliable transit service. Major activity centers that will be served include the downtown Trolley stations, Balboa Park, San Diego Zoo, the Mid-City communities, and SDSU.

The project will provide faster travel times and increased reliability by using bus priority lanes, traffic signal improvements, and enhanced stations. Stations will include ticket vending machines, upgraded shelters, passenger information signs, level platforms to ease boarding, and landscaping.                     (Continued on next page)Mid-City Community Bus Project

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Project Status

 The Mid-City Rapid Bus Project was selected as the region's showcase bus rapid transit project. In 2006, the project was identified as a candidate for phased implementation, with the El Cajon Boulevard segment being determined as the highest priority. Preliminary engineering design work on El Cajon Boulevard has been completed. A comprehensive inventory of traffic signal equipment needs also is complete, and an environmental document was approved in 2008. The project could begin construction by late 2011.

Project Features

Stations: Seventeen stations will be located at major activity centers and transfer points. The stations will feature technology enhancements and distinctive designs. They will include seating, ticket vending machines, bicycle racks, and real-time information signs tied to a GPS tracking system. Station architectural features will include curb pop-outs, landscaping, and possible public art components to reflect the surrounding community's character. All stations will be located on public right-of-way, except for the SDSU station, which will be part of an off-street transit plaza. Stations will be designed to provide safe pedestrian access at intersections. Improved crosswalks will be installed.

Rapid Bus Vehicles: Buses on the route will have low floors for easy boarding and will be specially branded to differentiate them from local buses.

Transit Priority: On El Cajon Boulevard, buses will have in-street stations to enable them to easily merge back into traffic. Traffic signals will be coordinated to expedite travel along the corridor, and will give buses a few seconds of extra green time to cross key intersections.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, each station will have uniform design features, and each vehicle will be accessible to passengers with disabilities. Project Costs The project is being funded by the regional TransNet half-cent sales tax and a federal grant.

Operating Plan and Future Steps

Service along the corridor will be provided at ten-minute frequencies or better during peak hours, and at 15-minute frequencies or better during off-peak hours.

SANDAG is developing the plans and will provide oversight for the engineering and construction of the project. The Mid-City Rapid Bus
Project is one of the endeavors in the SANDAG
MOBILITY 2030 Regional Transportation Plan that attempts to make public transit a first choice for many trips with a network of fast, flexible, reliable, safe, and convenient services connecting neighborhoods to major employment and activity centers.

For more information, please visit: www.sandag.org 

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