Project Overview
What matters most to you in a transit system when it comes to safety and accessibility? What improvements are most important to you?
In the summer of 2022, MTS partnered with Pueblo Planning, a social justice oriented community engagement firm, to conduct a social equity listening tour to identify the needs and priorities within our service area. MTS committed $3 million from its Capital Improvement Program (CIP) funding to projects/priorities identified in the outreach.
Outreach Process
Pueblo Planning partnered with five community based organizations (CBO) to hold in-person and/or virtual engagement events. In addition to CBO events, several pop-up opportunities were held for riders to participate at near MTS transit centers in Barrio Logan, El Cajon and Linda Vista. In total, approximately 400 people participated in the engagement process.
For the full report and findings, click here.
As identified in the report, the top items most mentioned by community members include (numbers indicate total mentions across all engagement efforts):
- Cleanliness (163)
- Treatment by bus operators (85)
- Youth Opportunity Pass (84)
- Shade (84)
- Increased weekend transit frequency (66)
- More frequent transit services - up to 5 minutes (63)
- Compassionate care & community service partnerships (57)
- Wifi (57)
- Outlets (54)
- 24 Hour Service (47)
The desire for more shade was a top three overall mentioned project, and the desire for more seating in the system also made the top 20 priorities list. In addition, a second round of feedback to participants from the initial outreach also listed more shelters and seating as the number one overall desired project. As such, MTS has proposed to dedicate more than half of the $3 million fund to expanding and adding new transit shelters to bus stops currently without. MTS has identified eight high-ridership locations in target communities that are eligible for shelter install, and an additional 27 locations that will require upgrades for install (design, permitting and construction).
The proposed list and a map of proposed shelter locations can be found below.
| Stop ID | Cross Streets / Direction | Routes Served |
| 39047 | Olympic Parkway / Eastlake Parkway, Westbound | 709 |
| 60416 | Broadway / K Street, Northbound | 932 |
| 13112 | University Avenue / University Square, Westbound | 7, 852 |
| 12165 | Euclid Avenue / Brooks Huffman Plaza, Southbound | 3, 13 |
| 12861 | Logan Avenue / 43rd Street, Eastbound | 12, 955 |
| 99286 | 18th Street / Highland Avenue, Westbound | 13, 929 |
| 60280 | National City Blvd / W 8th Street, Southbound | 929, 932, 955, 962, 963, 968 |
| 11264 | Market Street / 22nd Street, Westbound | 3, 5 |
| 10948 | National Avenue / 36th Street, Westbound | 12 |
| 11413 | University Avenue / 60th Street, Westbound | 7, 10, 852 |
| 99315 | 18th Street / Highland Avenue, Eastbound | 13, 929 |
| 10195 | National Avenue / 35th Street, Eastbound | 12 |
| 10205 | National Avenue / 38th Street, Eastbound | 12 |
| 13441 | Logan Avenue / 45th Street, Eastbound | 12, 955 |
| 10544 | National Avenue / 30th Street, Eastbound | 12 |
| 12553 | 3rd Avenue / H Street, Eastbound | 704, 709, 929 |
| 30085 | H Street / Third Avenue, Northbound | 704, 709, 929 |
| 30278 | East H Street / Otay Lakes Road, Westbound | 707, 709 |
| 88938 | University Avenue / College Avenue, Northbound | 7, 10, 852, 856, 936 |
| 12943 | College Avenue / University Avenue, Northbound | 7, 10, 852, 856, 936 |
| 133440 | Logan Avenue / 45th Street, Westbound | 12, 955 |
| 11382 | Logan Avenue / Euclid Avenue, Westbound | 3, 12 |
| 12185 | 54th Street / Trojan Avenue, Southbound | 955 |
| 11385 | E Street / 3rd Avenue, Westbound | 705, 929 |
| 11000 | Logan Avenue / Jarrett Court, Westbound | 3, 12 |
| 12884 | Highland Avenue / 28th Street, Northbound | 929 |
| 12952 | College Avenue / Billman Street, Northbound | 856, 916, 917, 936 |
| 50062 | 30th Street / Highland Avenue, Westbound | 929, 961 |
| 50123 | Euclid Avenue / Logan Avenue, Southbound | 13 |
| 60579 | Camino de la Plaza / Willow Road, Westbound | 906, 907 |
| 10956 | Ocean View Blvd / 38th Street, Westbound | 3 |
| 11309 | National Avenue / 32nd Street, Westbound | 12 |
| 50085 | Plaza Blvd / Euclid Avenue, Westbound | 13, 962, 963, 968 |
| 50198 | Highland Avenue / Eta Street, Southbound | 955 |
| 10516 | Ocean View Blvd / Commercial Street, Southbound | 3 |
Lighting was just outside the top 10 list of most desired projects overall, but was the second most identified desired project in a second round of feedback from some participants. In addition to the Social Equity Listening Tour efforts, more lighting has also been named in several other community efforts as a key component of safety when traveling by transit.
The MTS team identified seven Orange Line Trolley stations that would benefit from upgraded lighting to the platforms, shelters and parking lots. Approximately $450,000 is proposed to go to this project. If approved, the following stations would receive upgraded lighting:
- 25th & Commercial
- 32nd & Commercial
- 47th Street
- Euclid Avenue
- Encanto / 62nd Street
- Massachusetts Avenue
- Lemon Grove
Lighting was just outside the top 10 list of most desired projects overall, but was the second most identified desired project in a second round of feedback from some participants. In addition to the Social Equity Listening Tour efforts, more lighting has also been named in several other community efforts as a key component of safety when traveling by transit.
MTS does not currently maintain its own lighting systems at bus stations, unless attached to a shelter.
As a result of the Social Equity Listening Tour, MTS is proposing to fund approximately $120,000 for a new solar lighting program that could be attached to existing bus blade poles for locations without adequate lighting nearby. The initial funding would launch a pilot program at approximately 25 stops, with a contract option to double that total pending outcomes of the pilot program.
At this time, MTS has not identified specific stops that would be eligible for the new lights, and will need to conduct more community and customer feedback to assess the best locations.
Trash cans may seem like an odd inclusion on a list about public transit improvements. However, one thing was clear from the community engagement effort. Cleanliness throughout the MTS system was top of mind for riders, being mentioned nearly twice as many times as any other topic on the list of top priorities.
As staff considered what cleaning challenges present themselves most frequently (and there are a few, to be sure), trash came up as a common recurring issue at Trolley stations. Current trash cans at stations are open, leaving them susceptible to people digging through them overturning the bags, emptying them, etc.
MTS is proposing to allocate $250,000 to new, upgraded, smart trash receptacles at four major downtown stations (25 double sets of trash / recycling) that require the most consistent maintenance and oversight: 12th & Imperial, Park & Market, City College and Fifth Avenue.
These new cans would not only have larger capacity than the current options, but also offer automated compacting to maximize efficiency, and allow for data to be sent to a central warehouse informing staff of capacity levels to help maximize their time and eliminate unnecessary trips to check on cans (but also make sure cans don't overflow).
The final project proposed in the initial $3 million funding package is a lighting and beautification project combination. In South San Diego, near the Beyer Blvd Station, there is an underpass nearby that could use some TLC. Adding lighting, and partnering with a local artist or community group to provide a large mural, will make the space more inviting and create a better sense of safety for patrons trying to access the transit system. MTS is estimating this project would cost approximately $200,000.
