Plans Under Way for Innovative Bus Rapid Transit System in Otay Mesa
A modern regional transit system that will provide an alternative to personal cars will soon come online in the eastern part of the South Bay, providing residents with rapid and reliable access to work and activity centers in a region of San Diego County currently underserved by public transportation.
The South Bay Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system will provide high-frequency transit service that links the Otay Mesa border crossing to downtown San Diego via eastern Chula Vista. It will serve major activity and employment centers in San Diego and the South Bay and provide direct access to destinations such as the Otay Ranch Town Center.
The South Bay BRT project is being planned and built by the San Diego Association of Governments. It will be paid for by TransNet, a regional voter-approved half-cent sales tax for local transportation. The Metropolitan Transit System will operate South Bay BRT when it goes into service in 2014.
Stations along the 21-mile route will be enhanced with upgraded shelters and platforms to ease boarding. They also will feature real-time “next-bus” signs. Catering to today’s digitally connected commuters, buses may also offer Wi-Fi Internet services.
Cutting-edge “smart card” technology will expedite fare collection on South Bay BRT. The reloadable Compass Card replaces paper tickets for most riders by allowing them to electronically store transit passes, then use a pass by tapping the card on a specially designed validator or farebox.
Modern, comfortable vehicles will utilize dedicated transit-only lanes, allowing them to avoid traffic congestion. The route will have a minimum number of stops, decreasing travel times. Service along the South Bay BRT corridor will be provided every 10-15 minutes with the quality and reliability of light rail.
The South Bay BRT will follow a long-planned transit route. Vehicles will travel north on State Route 125 from the Otay Mesa border crossing, then west through eastern Chula Vista, head north on Interstate 805 and then go west on State Route 94 to downtown.
“The South Bay BRT will introduce regional transit service to the eastern part of South Bay, where none now exists,” said Jennifer Williamson, SANDAG project manager. “It will help alleviate traffic congestion in the growing region and streamline the commute from the Otay Mesa border crossing to downtown.”
