Trolley Riders Can Avoid Congested Traffic and Limited Parking Downtown
San Diego, CA – The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) encourages parade-goers and football fans to take advantage of expanded Trolley service Monday, Dec. 30, to avoid congested traffic and limited parking when heading to the Port of San Diego Big Bay Balloon Parade and the National University Holiday Bowl game at Qualcomm Stadium.
To accommodate parade-goers, MTS will operate extra Green Line Trolley service between Mission Valley and downtown before the parade, between 8 and 10 a.m., and after the parade from 11:45 a.m. until 12:45 p.m.
Harbor Drive, where the parade takes place starting at 10 a.m., is a short walk for Green Line riders from either the County Center/Little Italy or Santa Fe Depot stations, or from America Plaza for Orange and Blue Line passengers.
MTS will also provide expanded service on the Green Line for football fans heading to the Holiday Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium, which kicks off at 7:15 p.m. MTS will increase frequency on the Green Line between 2:30 and 7 p.m. from the 12th & Imperial Transit Center downtown. Fans are advised to board trains bound for Qualcomm between 3 and 5 p.m. to ensure arrival in time for pre-game ceremonies.
After the game, passengers should expect approximate wait times of 40 minutes to board trains as large numbers of fans leave the stadium. Green Line service will depart Qualcomm Stadium every 5-7 minutes until the station is cleared.
When traveling by Trolley, riders can take advantage of the free park and ride lots offered at many transit stations. The lots closest to Qualcomm Stadium typically fill first. Fans are reminded that the Old Town, Morena/Linda Vista, Hazard Center (Lower Level only), and Grantville Stations are the only stations in Mission Valley with free parking, but space may be limited. Passengers should be aware that most retail and commercial properties in Mission Valley prohibit parking for Trolley riders.
Several MTS bus routes provide direct service to downtown from many San Diego neighborhoods and communities. For detailed bus routes, Trolley schedules, and station information, visit www.sdmts.com.
Passengers can make traveling even easier by purchasing Trolley Day Passes on their smartphones in advance using the MTS mTicket app, eliminating the need to stand in ticket lines before boarding a train. Passengers can also purchase multiple tickets on one phone, making it easy to travel in groups. All mTicket holders leaving the Holiday Bowl can bypass crowds and leave sooner by using the mTicket Express Lane at Qualcomm Stadium to board departing trains. Download the app by searching “MTS mTicket” at the App Store or Google Play, or visit www.sdmts.com/mTicket.asp.
Riders can also buy their Day Pass on their Compass Card at any ticket vending machines before boarding. The pass is $5 for current card holders or $7 for passengers without a card. The additional $2 fee covers the cost of the card and is a one-time fee per card. Once purchased, keep your Compass Card for future use.
A commemorative $6 Day Pass and $3 roundtrip ticket for senior/disabled are sold at staffed ticket booths at high-volume stations. The $6 commemorative Day Passes are also sold in advance at the Transit Store at First and Broadway, and at the Chargers Team Store at Qualcomm Stadium, Gate G.
MTS operates more than 90 bus routes and three Trolley lines on 53 miles of double-tracked railway. Every day more than 275,000 passenger trips are taken on MTS services. For more information on how you can use public transportation and save money, go to www.sdmts.com.
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