State Budget Forces Service Changes

This Web site is dedicated to provide you with up-to-date information regarding proposed service changes made necessary by drastic cuts in public transportation funding by the State of California.

Included on these pages are overviews of each route in the MTS system and the proposed changes for each. Please click on the map at the right to the area where you ride transit and each route within that area will be available for more information.

UPDATE!

On March 26, 2009, the MTS Board of Directors approved a proposal to cut service by $4.7 million and raise Monthly Pass fares for a $2.2 million subsidy. The service reductions are neeeded because of the elimination of State Transit Assistance funds by the State of California.

In the process of making this decision, over 1,000 comments were received via email, voicemail, and letter. The MTS Board adopted a strategy of plugging the budget gap with a combination of $4.7 million in service reductions and $2.2 million in fare increases.   

Service Adjustments

Most service reductions will consist of reduced frequencies on nights and weekends. Routes with lower ridership will be impacted more. Some days or route segments on these routes will be losing service. Most service changes would go into effect in June 2009. Click on this linkfor the detailed chart of changes on each affected route that were approved by the MTS Board of Directors.  The final changes and timetables are available on our June 14, 2009 Take One Announcement.

Fare Adjustments

The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) approved the following fare change on May 8, after approval from the MTS Board:

Adult Monthly Pass - $68 to $72    
Senior/Disabled/Medicare - $17 to $18
Youth Monthly Pass - $34 to $36    

Premium Adult Monthly Pass - $90 to $100   
Premium Senior/Disabled/Medicare Monthly Pass - $22.50 to $25    
Premium Youth Monthly Pass - $45 to $50    

Trolley Fare - $2.50 (no change)      
Trolley Senior/Disabled/Medicare Fare - $1.25 (no change)

Downtown Trolley Fare - $1.25 to $2.50  
Downtown Trolley Senior/Disabled/Medicare Fare - $0.60 to $1.25  

Local/Urban Bus Fare - $2.25 (no change)      
Local/Urban Bus Senior/Disabled/Medicare Fare - $1.10 (no change)      
Shuttle Fares:
Routes 851, 871/872, 904 - $1.00 to $2.25  
Senior/Disabled/Medicare Shuttle Fare - $0.50 to $1.10

Budget Overview

The State of California budget has eliminated all State Transit Assistance funding for the next five years. To MTS, this causes a $14 million deficit in its budget. To balance its budget, MTS must reduce expenses and raise revenues. For more background on the budget, click here:

http://www.sdmts.com/Marketing/CaliforniaBudgetThreatensTransit.asp

Next Steps

June 14: Service changes implemented if adopted by the MTS Board of Directors

July 2009: Fare changes implemented if approved by SANDAG Board

Contact MTS

Please contact us with any questions or suggestions that you may have.
  • By Phone: 619-595-4912
  • By Email: mts.planning@sdmts.com
  • By Mail: Metropolitan Transit System
    1255 Imperial Ave., Suite 1000
    San Diego, CA 92101