Expanded parking provides relief along busy Blue Line corridor and offers convenient access for special events like Padres games, concerts, and Comic-Con
Photos and Broll of Clairemont Drive Park & Ride
San Diego – The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) today announced the opening of a new free parking option for Trolley riders at the Clairemont Trolley Station, adding 145 parking spaces to better serve customers along one of the system's busiest segments.
In partnership with MTS, SANDAG built the parking facility as part of the UC San Diego Blue Line extension, adding 11 miles of light rail and nine new stations between Old Town and University City.
The additional parking capacity comes at a critical time, as many stations along this section of the UC San Diego Blue Line frequently reach capacity, limiting options for riders who drive to transit. The Clairemont Trolley Station is just south of Clairemont Drive along Morena Blvd. The new spaces will help ease congestion and improve access to Trolley service for daily commuters and event-goers alike.
"This new parking option at Clairemont Station is a much-needed improvement for our riders," said Stephen Whitburn, MTS Board Chair and San Diego City Councilmember. "By expanding access where demand is very high, we're making it easier for people to choose transit—whether they're heading to work, school, or a major event downtown."
Conveniently located along the UC San Diego Blue Line, the Clairemont Trolley Station provides direct connections to key regional destinations, including downtown San Diego, UC San Diego, and the U.S.-Mexico border. The newly available parking is expected to be especially popular during high-demand periods tied to major events. From the Clairemont Station, riders can get to downtown in less than 20 minutes.
MTS encourages riders to take advantage of the new parking availability when planning trips to special events and during peak weekday travel periods. Expanding parking access supports the agency's broader goal of increasing transit ridership while improving the overall customer experience.
With the addition of 145 spaces at Clairemont, MTS continues to invest in targeted improvements that respond to rider needs—particularly in high-demand corridors where parking availability has been a persistent challenge. A full list of park and ride options can be found on the MTS Transit Station Parking webpage.
For more information about Trolley service, station amenities, and trip planning, visit www.sdmts.com.
About MTS
The Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) operates 93 bus routes and four Trolley lines in 10 cities and unincorporated areas of San Diego. MTS is a leader in advancing initiatives to create a greener, cleaner and better-connected transit system in San Diego. Each weekday, more than 250,000 passenger trips are taken throughout the MTS system, taking people to work, school, health appointments and other essential trips. In FY 2025, MTS served more than 81 million riders. For service schedule updates, news, alerts and more information on how you can use public transportation, go to www.sdmts.com.
