The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) operates 97 bus routes in San Diego and the rest of the southern half of San Diego County, as of April 2020.[1][2]
There are 85 "MTS Bus" fixed-route services, nine "Rapid" bus rapid transit routes, and the "MTS Access" paratransit service. In 2022, the system had a ridership of 30,689,500, or about 106,400 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2023.
Routes are operated by private contractors and by the San Diego Transit Corporation (SDTC), a subsidiary of the MTS. The SDTC operates 27 routes based out of Downtown San Diego (Imperial Avenue Division), Transdev operates 52 routes based out of Chula Vista (South Bay Division) and El Cajon (East County Division),[18] while First Transit operates the "MTS Access" paratransit service and 21 fixed-route services that are operated with mini-buses based out of Kearny Mesa (Copley Park Division).[19] All buses and division facilities, even those used by contractors, are owned by the MTS.
MTS serves San Diego proper and the surrounding East County and South Bay regions,[3] while the North County area is served by the North County Transit District's BREEZE bus system.[4]
Routes
Rapid & Express Routes
Route | Terminals | Via | Annual ridership (FY 2023)[5] | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
20 | Downtown San Diego
10th Av & Broadway |
Rancho Bernardo
Rancho Bernardo Transit Station |
SR-163 | 360,223 | |
60 | University City | Chollas View | I-15 | 55,598 | |
110 | Downtown San Diego
Front St & B St |
Mira Mesa
Camino Santa Fe & Flanders Dr |
I-5, SR 163 | 17,646 | |
201/202 | University City | La Jolla Village Dr, Nobel Dr | 2,452,699 | Rapid (SuperLoop) | |
204 | San Diego | Executive Dr, Judicial Dr, Nobel Dr | 70,422 | Rapid (SuperLoop) | |
215 | Downtown San Diego | College Area | El Cajon Bl | 1,271,180 | |
225 | Downtown San Diego | Otay Mesa
Otay Mesa Transit Center |
SR 125, I-805 | 495,535 | |
227 | Imperial Beach
Imperial Beach Pier |
Otay Mesa
Otay Mesa Transit Center |
Coronado Av, SR 905 | 215,097 (from predecessor route 950) | |
235 | Downtown San Diego | Escondido | I-15 | 1,035,247 | |
237 | Mira Mesa
Miramar College Transit Station |
University City | Mira Mesa Bl | 151,933 | |
280 | Downtown San Diego
Pacific Hwy & Grape St |
Escondido | I-15, SR 163 | 50,070 | |
290 | Downtown San Diego
Pacific Hwy & Grape St |
Rancho Bernardo
Rancho Bernardo Transit Station |
I-15, SR 163 | 51,994 | |
Local Routes
Route | Terminals | Via | Annual ridership (FY 2023)[5] | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mission Valley | La Mesa | El Cajon Bl | 707,665 | |
2 | Downtown San Diego
Front St & B St |
North Park
30th St & Adams Av |
Broadway, 30th St | 535,750 | |
3 | Chollas View | Hillcrest
Front St & Arbor Dr |
Ocean View Bl | 827,961 | |
4 | Downtown San Diego | Skyline Hills
Paradise Valley Rd & Meadowbrook Dr |
Imperial Av | 505,378 | |
5 | Downtown San Diego
10th Av & Broadway |
Chollas View | Market St | 389,179 | |
6 | Mission Valley | North Park
30th St & University Av |
Camino De La Reina | 245,394 | |
7 | Downtown San Diego
Front St & B St |
Redwood Village
University Av & College Av |
University Av | 1,731,404 | |
8 | Old Town | Clairemont | Grand Av, Mission Bay Dr | 511,208 | |
9/9A | Old Town | Pacific Beach
Jewell St & Garnet Av |
Ingraham St (9/9A) & Sea World (9) | 259,822 | |
10 | Old Town | Redwood Village
University Av & College Av |
University Av | 870,403 | (Limited Stops) No service east of City Heights Transit Center on weekends |
11 | Downtown San Diego
1st Av & Broadway |
College Area | Adams Av, 1st Av | 467,450 | |
12 | Downtown San Diego | Skyline Hills
Paradise Valley Rd & Meadowbrook Dr |
National Av, Skyline Dr | 850,892 | |
13 | National City | Grantville
Crawford St & Zion Av (Kaiser Hospital) |
Fairmount Av | 1,490,154 | |
14 | Grantville | La Mesa
Baltimore Dr & Lake Murray Bl |
70th St, Camino Del Rio | 37,146 | |
18
(Loop) |
Grantville | Camino Del Rio | 12,846 | ||
25 | Mission Valley | Kearny Mesa
Kearny Mesa Transit Center |
Aero Dr, SR-163 | 37,693 | |
27 | Kearny Mesa
Kearny Mesa Transit Center |
Pacific Beach
Bayard St & Garnet Av |
Garnet Av, Balboa Av | 213,310 | |
28 | Old Town | La Playa
Anchorage Ln & Shelter Island Dr |
Rosecrans St | 214,790 | |
30 | Old Town | University City | La Jolla Bl | 1,017,256 | |
31 | University City | Mira Mesa
Miramar College Transit Station |
Miramar Rd | 77,216 | |
35 | Old Town | Ocean Beach
Cable St & Newport Av |
Midway Dr, Cable St | 318,441 | |
41 | 'Mission Valley | Torrey Pines
Gilman Transit Center (UCSD) |
Genesee Av | 759,248 | |
43 | Kearny Mesa
Kearny Mesa Transit Center |
Clairemont | Clairemont Mesa Bl | 386,007 | |
44 | Old Town | Kearny Mesa
Kearny Mesa Transit Center |
Linda Vista / Mesa College | 683,179 | |
83 | Old Town | Downtown San Diego | Reynard Way / Mission Hills | 14,106 | |
84 | Point Loma | Point Loma
Sub Base Gate |
Rosencrans St (Sub Base) or Catalina Bl (Cabrillo Monument) | 12,473 | |
88 | Old Town | 'Mission Valley | Hotel Circle | 88,452 | |
105 | Old Town | University City | Morena Bl, Clairemont Dr | 192,420 | |
115 | College Area | El Cajon | Jackson Dr, Fletcher Pkwy | 189,961 | |
120 | Downtown San Diego
4th Av & C St |
Kearny Mesa
Kearny Mesa Transit Center |
Fashion Valley Rd, Linda Vista Rd | 483,432 | (Limited Stops) No service north of Sharp Memorial Hospital on weekends |
701 | Chula Vista | Chula Vista | Main St, Hilltop Dr, F St | 296,390 | |
704 | Chula Vista | Chula Vista | Naples St, Orange Av | 291,968 | |
705 | Chula Vista | Chula Vista | E St, Otay Lakes Rd | 146,765 | |
707 | Chula Vista
Eastlake Pkwy & Olympic Pkwy |
Chula Vista | Eastlake Pkwy | 82,390 | |
709 | Chula Vista | Chula Vista
Olympic Pkwy & Eastlake Pkwy |
H St | 534,694 | |
712 | Chula Vista | Chula Vista | Palomar St | 434,158 | |
815 | El Cajon | El Cajon
Main St & Oakdale Av |
Main St | 262,403 | |
816 | El Cajon | Rancho San Diego | Washington Av, Jamacha Rd | 82,034 | |
832
(Loop) |
Santee | Cuyamaca St, Woodglen Vista Dr, Magnolia Ave | 31,578 | ||
833 | Santee | El Cajon | Graves Av | 53,920 | |
834
(Loop) |
Santee | Mission Gorge Rd | 20,796 | ||
838 | Granite Hills
East County Square |
Alpine | Alpine Bl | 105,830 | |
848 | El Cajon | Lakeside
Mapleview St & Ashwood St |
Winter Gardens Bl | 218,127 | |
851 | La Mesa | La Presa
Spring Valley Shopping Center |
Bancroft Dr, Sweetwater Rd | 44,973 | |
852 | San Diego
Orange Av & 54th St |
La Presa | University Avenue | 200,986 | |
854 | La Presa | El Cajon | Lake Murray Bl (854) or Route 125 (854X) | 33,583 | |
855 | La Mesa | Rancho San Diego
Jamacha Bl & Folex Way |
Campo Rd | 156,213 | |
856 | San Diego | Rancho San Diego | College Av, Jamacha Bl | 373,080 | |
864 | El Cajon | Granite Hills
East County Square |
Madison Av | 238,460 | |
872
(Loop) |
El Cajon | Chase Av, Magnolia Av | 29,232 | ||
874/875
(Loop) |
El Cajon | Washington Av, Broadway | 230,852 | ||
901 | Otay Mesa West | Downtown San Diego
3rd Av & B St |
Silver Strand Bl | 512,372 | |
904 | Coronado
Glorietta Bl & 2nd Av |
Coronado
Silver Strand Bl & Avenue de las Arenas |
Orange Av | 67,772 | |
905 | Otay Mesa
Otay Mesa Transit Center |
Otay Mesa West | SR 905, Otay Mesa Rd | 398,812 | |
906/907 | Otay Mesa West | San Ysidro | Beyer Bl, San Ysidro Bl, Calle Primera | 824,801 | |
909 | Otay Mesa
Otay Mesa Transit Center |
Otay Mesa
Southwestern College Otay Mesa |
Otay Mesa Rd, Britannia Bl | 40,149 | |
916/917
(Loop) |
Chollas View | Streamview Dr, Massachusetts Av | 107,619 | ||
921 | San Diego | Mira Mesa
Miramar College Transit Station |
Mira Mesa Bl | 186,603 | |
921A | Torrey Pines
Gilman Transit Center (UCSD) | ||||
923 | Ocean Beach
Point Loma Av & Sunset Cliffs Bl |
Downtown San Diego
9th Av & C St |
Voltaire St, Harbor Dr | 113,318 | |
928 | Kearny Mesa
Kearny Mesa Transit Center |
'Mission Valley | Ruffin Rd | 125,303 | |
929 | Otay Mesa West | Downtown San Diego
1st Av & Broadway |
Highland Av, 3rd Av | 1,180,640 | |
932 | National City | Otay Mesa West | National City Bl, Broadway | 623,475 | |
933/934
(Loop) |
Iris Transit Center
Seacoast |
Imperial Beach Boulevard / Palm Avenue | 1,095,907 | ||
936 | College Area | Spring Valley
Orville St & Brucker Av |
College Grove / Skyline Drive | 299,196 | |
944 | Sabre Springs
Sabre Springs Transit Station |
Poway
Hilleary Pl / Hilleary Park Dr |
Poway Rd | 37,693 | |
945/945A | Rancho Bernardo
Rancho Bernardo Transit Station |
Poway
Temple St / Midland Rd |
Pomerado Road / Poway Road (945) / Poway Loop (945A) | 83,693 | |
955 | National City | College Area | 43rd Street / Euclid Transit Center / 54th Street | 805,316 | |
961 | National City | Encanto | 30th Street / Plaza Bonita / Woodman Street | 407,638 | |
962 | National City | Spring Valley
Orville St & Brucker Av |
Plaza Boulevard / Paradise Valley Road | 356,058 | |
963 | National City | Paradise Hills
Saipan Dr & Potomac St |
Plaza Boulevard / Reo Drive | 109,486 | |
964 | Mira Mesa
Camino Ruiz & Capricorn Way |
Scripps Ranch | Miramar College Transit Station | 78,325 | |
965
(Loop) |
I-15 City Heights Transit Plaza Circulator | University Avenue / Azalea Park / Home Avenue | 37,981 | ||
967
(Loop) |
24th Street Transit Center
Division & Ava |
D Avenue / Division Street | 27,497 | ||
968 | National City | National City | 4th Street / Euclid Avenue | 44,426 | |
985
(Loop) |
UC San Diego
N.Torrey Pines Loop |
Torrey Pines Road | 22,896 | ||
992
(Loop) |
City College Station | Broadway / Harbor Drive | 288,060 |
Rural Routes
Route | Terminals | Via | Annual ridership (FY 2022)[5] | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
888 | El Cajon | Jacumba Hot Springs
Campo St & Old Hwy 80 |
Alpine / Guatay / Pine Valley / Campo | 1,004 | Monday & Friday only |
891 | El Cajon | Borrego Springs
Christmas Circle & Palm Canyon Dr |
Shelter Valley / Ramona | 337 | Friday Only |
892 | El Cajon | Borrego Springs
Christmas Circle & Palm Canyon Dr |
Ranchita / Ramona | 299 | Thursday Only |
894 | El Cajon | Tecate Tecate Rd & Thing Rd Campo Oak Shores (Malt Shop) |
Tecate / Campo / Morena Village | 35,882 | Monday through Friday only |
COASTER Connection Routes
Services operate weekdays only.
Route | Terminals | Via | Annual ridership (FY 2022)[5] | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
972 | San Diego | Lusk Bl | 4,747 | |
973 | Sorrento Valley Rd | 6,326 | ||
974 | I-5 | 5,976 | ||
978 | Genesee Av | 5,976 | ||
979 | Genesee Av | 4,009 |
Bus fleet
Active fleet
Make/Model | Fleet Numbers | Thumbnail | Year | Engine | Transmission | Divisions | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gillig Low Floor CNG 40' | 201-223 | 2015 | Cummins Westport ISL G | ZF 6AP1400B | Kearny Mesa | ||
New Flyer C40LFR | 601-621 | 2011 | Cummins Westport ISL G | ZF 6HP594C | Imperial Avenue | 622-626 were transferred to the South Bay Division, and re-numbered to 2923-2927 in early 2022. | |
New Flyer C40LFR | 701-731 | 2012 | Cummins Westport ISL G | ZF 6HP594C | Imperial Avenue | ||
Gillig Low Floor CNG 40' | 801-826 | 2013 | Cummins Westport ISL G | ZF 6AP1400B | Imperial Avenue | ||
Gillig Low Floor CNG 40' | 901-912 | 2014 | Cummins Westport ISL G | ZF 6AP1700B | Kearny Mesa | ||
New Flyer XN60 | 1101-1129 | 2013 | Cummins Westport ISL G | ZF 6AP1700B | Kearny Mesa | These buses are used for MTS Rapid Route 235. Some units were retrofitted with 3-slot bike racks. These buses are in the process of being retired as of late 2023. 10 buses will be sold to Santa Cruz METRO. | |
New Flyer XN60 | 1201-1218 | 2013 | Cummins Westport ISL G | ZF 6AP1700B | Imperial Avenue/Kearny Mesa | These buses are used for MTS Rapid Route 215, 235 & occasionally on Route 7 & 13, units 1208-1210 were transferred to the Kearny Mesa Division In October 2023. | |
New Flyer XN60 | 1301-1313 | 2015 | Cummins Westport ISL G | ZF 6AP1700B | Kearny Mesa | ||
Gillig Low Floor CNG 40' | 1401-1410 | 2017 | Cummins Westport ISL G NZ | ZF 6AP1400B | Kearny Mesa | All 10 units were transferred from Imperial Avenue to Kearny Mesa in October 2022 to replace the Rapid C40LFs, all buses were also repainted in the Rapid Livery. | |
New Flyer XE40 | 1501-1506 | 2019 | Siemens ELFA2 | Imperial Avenue/South Bay/East County | |||
Gillig Low Floor Plus EV 40' | 1601-1602 | 2020 | Cummins Battery Electric System | Imperial Avenue | |||
Gillig Low Floor Plus EV 40' | 1603-1607 | 2021 | Cummins Battery Electric System | Imperial Avenue | These buses are painted red instead of green. | ||
Gillig Low Floor CNG 40' | 1701-1738 | 2020-2021 | Cummins Westport L9N | ZF 6AP1420B | Imperial Avenue/Kearny Mesa | 1701-1722 are the 2020 models, 1723-1738 are the 2021 models. Entered service in January 2021, replaced the 300-series C40LF buses. First Gillig buses delivered to San Diego MTS with an updated roof design. | |
New Flyer XN60 | 1801-1826 | 2021 | Cummins Westport L9N | ZF 6AP1720B | Imperial Avenue | Entered service on February 4, 2021, replaced the 1000-series NABI 60-BRT buses. Used on Routes 7, 10, 13 & occasionally on Rapid Route 215. | |
New Flyer XN60 | 1900-1929 | 2023 | Cummins Westport L9N | ZF 6AP1720B | Kearny Mesa | Entered service in late 2023, currently replacing the 1100-series New Flyer XN60 buses. Used on MTS Rapid Route 235, SuperLoop Rapid Route 201/202 and occasionally on Route 10. | |
Gillig Low Floor CNG 40' | 2001-2014 | 2015 | Cummins Westport ISL G | ZF 6AP1400B | South Bay | ||
Gillig Low Floor CNG 40' | 2101-2136 | 2017 | Cummins Westport ISL G NZ | ZF 6AP1400B | South Bay | Replaced the 2700 series C40LFs back in 2005. | |
Gillig Low Floor CNG 40' | 2201-2238 | 2022 | Cummins Westport L9N | ZF 6AP1420B | South Bay | These are the final batch of Gillig CNG buses delivered to San Diego MTS. Entered service in late 2022, replaced the 2800-series C40LF buses. These Gillig buses have an updated roof design. | |
Gillig Low Floor CNG 40' | 2301-2324 | 2013 | Cummins Westport ISL G | ZF 6AP1400B | South Bay/East County | 2301-2306 were transferred to East County in early 2022. | |
Gillig Low Floor CNG 40' | 2401-2438 | 2014-2015 | Cummins Westport ISL G | ZF 6AP1400B | South Bay | 2401-2418 are the 2014 models, 2419-2438 are the 2015 models. | |
Gillig Low Floor CNG 40' | 2601-2632 | 2021 | Cummins Westport L9N | ZF 6AP1420B | South Bay | Entered service in late 2021, replaced the 2800-series C40LF buses. These Gillig buses have an updated roof design. | |
Gillig Low Floor CNG 40' | 2781-2787 | 2018 | Cummins Westport L9N | ZF 6AP1400B | South Bay | ||
Gillig Low Floor CNG 40' | 2791-2795 | 2021 | Cummins Westport L9N | ZF 6AP1400B | South Bay | These Gillig buses have an updated roof design. | |
New Flyer C40LFR | 2901-2927 | 2011-2012 | Cummins Westport ISL G | ZF 6HP594C | South Bay | 2923-2927 are the 2011 models, and were originally numbered 622-626. 2901-2922 are the 2012 models. | |
ElDorado National AeroElite | 3001-3006 | 2014 | Ford Triton 3V SEFI V10 6.8L | Ford 5R110W | Copley Park | Used on Sorrento Valley Coaster Connection Routes, and occasionally on Route 83. | |
ElDorado National AeroElite | 3101-3131 | 2016 | Ford Triton 3V SEFI V10 6.8L | Ford 5R110W | Copley Park | Entered service in late 2016, replaced the 3400-series cutaways. | |
New Flyer XN60 | 7401-7410 | 2017 | Cummins Westport ISL G NZ | ZF 6AP1700B | South Bay | ||
New Flyer XN60 | 7501-7517 | 2017-2018 | Cummins Westport ISL G NZ | ZF 6AP1700B | South Bay | These buses are used for MTS Rapid Route 225 & occasionally on Rapid Route 227. | |
New Flyer XE60 | 7551-7562 | 2023 | Siemens | South Bay | These buses are used for MTS Rapid Route 227. | ||
Gillig Low Floor CNG 40' | 8201-8213 | 2015 | Cummins Westport ISL G | ZF 6AP1400B | East County | ||
Gillig Low Floor CNG 40' | 8301-8338 | 2016 | Cummins Westport ISL G | ZF 6AP1400B | East County | 8325 is the only Gillig bus with the Cummins Westport ISL G NZ engine. | |
Cummins Westport ISL G NZ | |||||||
Gillig Low Floor CNG 40' | 8351-8356 | 2019 | Cummins Westport L9N | ZF 6AP1420B | East County | ||
MCI D4500CT CNG | 8531-8554 | 2020 | Cummins ISX-12N | Allison B500 | East County | These buses are used for MTS Rapid Express Routes 280 and 290, replaced the 8501-series Blue Bird Express 4500 buses in March-May 2021. |
References
- ↑ "About MTS". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. 14 May 2015. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
- ↑ "Bus Routes". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. 24 August 2015. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
- ↑ "San Diego Regional Transit Map" (PDF). San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. September 2019. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
- ↑ "North County Transit District System Map" (PDF). North County Transit District. October 8, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
- 1 2 3 4 "Annual Service Performance Report" (PDF). San Diego Metropolitan Transit System . November 2, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.