17 bus routes will be affected along the marathon and half marathon courses
San Diego – With more than 30,000 runners and 60,000 spectators expected to attend Sunday’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon and Half Marathon, the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) is offering mobile ticketing and scheduling extra Trolleys to accommodate the large crowds. Both the marathon and half marathon will begin at 6:15 a.m. and MTS recommends racers arrive at Trolley stations 90 minutes prior to the race.
There will also be 17 MTS bus routes affected by on race day along the course. This includes Routes 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 20, 30, 41, 44, 105, 120, 215, 235, and 928. For a full list of service impacts and stops affected along these routes, passengers can check the MTS special events webpage at: www.sdmts.com/inside-mts/events/rock-n-roll-marathon-expo.
To avoid Trolley ticket lines and speed up the boarding process, runners and spectators can purchase and store Trolley passes on their smart phones for $5.50 at any time prior to arriving at transit stations by using mTicket, MTS’s free mobile ticketing app.
Users of mTicket do not need a Compass Card and up to five mTickets can be purchased on one smart phone, making it easy for friends and families attending the race together. The mTickets are only valid for Trolley services. To download the app, visit www.sdmts.com/fares-passes/mobile-ticketing. Fans can also find the app by search for “mTicket” in the App Store or on Google Play.
Trolley service will be substantially increased on race day. Important tips for attendees include:
- Trains in all directions will begin running at 4 a.m. at and will be operating at higher frequencies near the race start time and continue throughout the day at 7.5-30-minute intervals
- MTS is encouraging attendees to park at Qualcomm Stadium, where 5,000 free parking spots are available
- To reach the starting line (at 6th Ave. and Quince) runners and spectators should get off at the Fifth Avenue Station and walk north 10 blocks
Special Trolley trips scheduled from Qualcomm Stadium to the Fifth Avenue Station (nearest station to the starting line) are:
- 4:07 a.m.
- 4:25 a.m.
- 4:38 a.m.
- 4:55 a.m.
- 5:08 a.m.
- 5:25 a.m.
- 5:38 a.m.
For those gathering at the finish line, the County Center/Little Italy Trolley Station is steps away from all the festivities at Waterfront Park. Passengers can access the Green Line from this station.
MTS operates 95 bus routes and three Trolley lines on 53 miles of double-tracked railway. Every weekday more than 320,000 passenger trips are taken on MTS Bus and Trolley services. For more information on how you can use public transportation and save money, go to www.sdmts.com.
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