The PRONTO card program celebrates the various communities of San Diego, focusing on the people, partners, and cultures that make our transit system and region thrive.
Program Overview
The concept for the PRONTO Community Celebration Program began in the summer of 2023, when we launched a pilot for our first community-focused PRONTO cards celebrating longtime partner the San Diego Padres, as well as the San Diego Pride Parade and Festival. The overwhelming demand for these first two cards from riders and community members opened the door for more future cards.
In 2024, we created a card for Comic-Con (which are our biggest ridership days of the year!), and later that year officially formalized the Community Celebration Program. In May 2025, we worked with Pacific Arts Movement and local artist Koy Sun for a special Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month card.
With this program, MTS is partnering with local organizations and/or artists to commission custom art that reflects the events and communities that make our region so vibrant.
Our hope is that these cards allow our riders, and non-riders alike, to get excited about transit, build more support for transit, and celebrate the communities that make San Diego what it is – America’s finest.
Newest Commemorative PRONTO Card
Mr. B Baby Brings Cultural Joy to Transit
For Hispanic Heritage Month, MTS is proud to once again team up with acclaimed San Diego-based artist Mr. B Baby. Known for blending traditional Mexican iconography with a contemporary twist, her PRONTO card design bursts with color — featuring folkloric patterns, symbolic elements, and, of course, her signature characters.
“To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with MTS, I created a piece full of energy and life,” Mr. B Baby explained. “At the center is Chucho, my piñata character, who exists in a world where piñatas are meant to break. But Chucho is different. He represents resiliency—a piñata who doesn’t just break but grows through his cracks. Just as we grow through our own struggles, Chucho reminds us that our strength isn’t in avoiding hardship, but in rising from them. It’s a nod to the deep-rooted power found in our culture, where traditions, storytelling, and community have always taught us how to turn challenges into triumphs.”
She added, “This piece is more than a celebration of culture. It’s a reminder to celebrate how far we’ve come, to honor the resilience passed down through generations, and to recognize the beauty and power that lives within our culture.”
Fans of her whimsical, vibrant murals can spot them across San Diego – including on the UC San Diego Blue Line Trolley near the E Street Transit Center. Soon, a brand-new mural will brighten the area near Beyer Blvd.
Hispanic Heritage Month Commemorative PRONTO Cards
Starting September 15:
The limited-edition cards will be available for $2 each at:
- The Transit Store, 1255 Imperial Avenue, Ste 100A, San Diego, CA 92101 (at 12th & Imperial Transit Center)
- By phone via PRONTO Support at (619) 595-5636 (must have valid credit or debit card to order by phone)
- In addition to the MTS Transit Store, a limited number of Hispanic Heritage Month PRONTO cards will be available at select ticket machines, while supplies last. Please note: an Hispanic Heritage Month PRONTO card is not guaranteed, and no refunds will be issued for riders who receive a standard PRONTO card.
- At ticket machines, all card purchases require a pass purchase, or a stored value purchase of at least $3.
Hispanic Heritage Month PRONTO cards will be available at the following transit stations:
- San Ysidro – Ticket machine on south side of platform, closest to Port of Entry
- Palomar Street – Ticket machine on platform to San Ysidro
- H Street – Ticket machine on platform to Downtown
- 8th Street – Ticket machine on platform to San Ysidro
- Barrio Logan – Ticket machine on platform to San Ysidro, facing north
- Old Town – Ticket machine on center platform, south end of platform
- Balboa Avenue – Ticket machine on platform to UTC, north end of platform
- Fashion Valley – Ticket machine at top of east staircase, machine closest to staircase
- Euclid Avenue – Ticket machine on platform to Downtown
- El Cajon – Ticket matching on Green Line platform to Downtown
Upcoming Commissioned Artwork
Keep an eye out for these limited-edition PRONTO cards:
- San Diego FC (2025) - Partnering with San Diego Football Club
- Black History Month (2026) - Partnership TBA
Past PRONTO Cards
