San Diego – The Rock 'n' Roll Marathon is back Oct. 23-24! With 18,000 runners and thousands of spectators, the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) is encouraging attendees to take the Trolley to avoid traffic congestion and use the new PRONTO mobile ticketing app to purchase fares easily.
To avoid Trolley ticket lines and speed up the boarding process, runners and spectators can purchase and store Trolley passes on their smart phones at any time prior to arriving at transit stations. The PRONTO app is available for download on the App Store or Google Play.
All transit-related information, early morning Trolley service and bus detours can be found on the MTS event webpage. Important tips for attendees taking transit include:
Free Parking! Many transit centers allow for free parking. Visit our website to find all the park and ride lots in the system.
Don’t be Late to the Start Line! All three Trolley lines will have early trains scheduled and will begin running between 4-5 a.m. Visit the MTS website to see full morning schedule. Best stations for getting to the starting chutes (along 6th Ave. between Laurel St. and Quince St.) are:
Orange Line: Fifth Avenue Station; walk approximately one mile/20 minutes up Sixth Ave. Orange Line trains depart each station every 30 minutes beginning at 5:15 a.m. from El Cajon, transitioning to every 15 minutes mid-morning.
UC San Diego Blue Line: City College Station; walk approximately 1.5 miles/30 minutes (west on C Street, then right on Sixth Ave). Blue Line trains depart each station every 15 minutes throughout the day beginning at 4:58 a.m. from San Ysidro. (Note: Due to construction, the Blue Line’s downtown terminus will be City College on Race Day)
Green Line: County Center/Little Italy Station; walk approximately 1.5 miles/30 minutes (east on Cedar St., then left on Sixth Ave).
- The first Green Line train departs Santee Town Center towards Downtown at 4:03 a.m., with departures every 30 minutes throughout the early morning.
- The first Green Line train departs Fashion Valley toward downtown at 4:23 a.m. Trains will run every 7.5 minutes between Fashion Valley and Downtown until 6:00 a.m.
Celebration Time! For those gathering at the finish line, the County Center/Little Italy Station (Green Line) is steps away from all the festivities at the Waterfront Park.
Plan ahead! The race is causing detours for 19 MTS bus routes. Check MTS’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon webpage for impacted routes and stops.
Spectate Like a Pro! The best viewing locations for the full marathon are along the Trolley’s Green Line at Old Town, Morena/Linda Vista and Fashion Valley. Spectators can watch their runner then hop on a Trolley and beat them to the finish line!
MTS operates 95 bus routes and three Trolley lines across 10 cities and unincorporated areas of San Diego County. Frequencies and spans have been restored to near-pre-COVID-19 levels. Updated schedules can be accessed on the MTS website. MTS requires people to wear face coverings at all times, and practice physical distancing when possible.
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