What’s Happening:
Major construction at the San Ysidro Land Port of Entry will change pedestrian access into the United States from Mexico for the next three years beginning on July 15, 2016. Fewer northbound pedestrian lanes on the east side of the port may increase wait times.
During construction (scheduled for three years), the east side pedestrian processing point nearest to the San Ysidro Transit Center will be reduced from 14 to six lanes, which may increase the wait times. Northbound pedestrians can use the new PedWest facility, which is approximately six-tenths of a mile (1km) west of the San Ysidro Transit Center. It will have 10 processing lanes. PedWest provides direct access to the new Virginia Avenue Transit Center with transportation services including buses, taxicabs, and a dedicated pedestrian pickup and drop off area for private vehicles. From the Virginia Avenue Transit Center, options for accessing the MTS Trolley are:
- MTS Bus Routes 906 and 907 (also known as the Iris Transit Center – San Ysidro Loop)
- After crossing the border into the United States from PedWest, passengers can access Bus Routes 906 and 907 at bus bays located in the northeast corner of the transit center.
- Bus Route 907 will depart every 15 minutes for most of the day Monday-Friday, and offers the quickest access to the San Ysidro Transit Center. The estimated travel time between the Virginia Avenue Transit Center and the San Ysidro Transit Center is six minutes. Purchase your One-Way Trolley ticket for $2.50 to board this route only going to the San Ysidro Trolley Station.
- Bus Route 906 will depart every 15 minutes for most of the day Monday-Friday, and offers the quickest access to the Iris Avenue Transit Center. The estimated travel time between the Virginia Avenue Transit Center and the Iris Transit Center is 20 minutes.
Map of Stations
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the opening of PedWest and the Virginia Avenue Transit Center impact the MTS Trolley schedule?
No. The UC San Diego Blue Line Trolley, which serves the San Ysidro Port of Entry, will run on the same schedule. Trains depart each station in both directions every 7-8 minutes during weekday morning and afternoon peak travel times. MTS encourages passengers to travel early and schedule extra time to better understand the time needed at PedWest, the Historic Customs House and the Virginia Avenue Transit Center during construction on the pedestrian processing facility on the east side of the port.
How do I connect from the Virginia Avenue Transit Center to intercity bus services?
Routes 906 and 907, and the Trolley can connect passengers to other MTS bus routes. All three options offer access to the Iris Avenue Transit Center, which connects passengers to many circular routes serving downtown San Diego, National City, Chula Vista and Imperial Beach. Additionally, the Trolley provides a direct connection to downtown San Diego. From there, passengers can access the Green and Orange Lines, Rapid bus routes, and other MTS bus routes. Plan a Trip
How can I find schedule information about routes serving the Virginia Avenue Transit Center?
Bus bays at the Virginia Avenue Transit Center will have kiosks with timetables. Passengers can also visit the MTS website for the latest service information. An option for real-time arrival information is new OneBusAway application on a mobile phone. Customers can also call the MTS Information and Trip Planning Office at 619.233.3004 anytime between 5:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. for basic information and personal trip planning.
Is a one-way ticket good for both the bus and Trolley?
A one-way Trolley ticket is valid on Bus Route 907 and any special shuttles operating from the Virginia Avenue Transit Center to the San Ysidro Transit Center only. For all other one-way tickets, there are no transfers allowed between bus routes, or between Trolleys and buses. An adult one-way ticket on the Trolley costs $2.50 and is good for two hours from the time of purchase. A one-way ticket on Route 906 to the Iris Avenue Transit Center is $2.25. MTS offers an all-day ticket for $5 on Compass Card, which provides unlimited rides and transfers between the bus and Trolley. There is a $2 charge for a Compass Card, which can be purchased at ticket vending machines, and then reloaded on-board buses or at ticket vending machines. MTS will soon offer a mobile ticketing product that will be accepted on all buses and Trolleys.
Are there ticket vending machines at the Virginia Avenue Transit Center?
Yes, there will be four ticket vending machines at the Virginia Avenue Transit Center. Additionally, there are nine ticket vending machines at the San Ysidro Transit Center.
How far is it to walk between the San Ysidro Transit Center and Virginia Avenue Transit Center?
The distance between the two transit centers is 0.6 miles. Pedestrians choosing to walk should use caution and take extra time. It is recommended that seniors, the disabled, passengers with children, and travelers with luggage use other transportation options (i.e. bus or taxicab) to travel between the two transit centers.
What are my public transit options from the Otay Mesa Border Crossing?
Bus Routes 905 and 950 Express both serve the Otay Mesa Border Crossing.
- Route 905 provides bidirectional service between Otay Mesa and the Iris Avenue Transit Center. It runs seven days per week, and frequency increases to every 20 minutes during peak travel times on weekdays.
- Route 950 Express provides direct one-way service between Otay Mesa and the Iris Avenue Transit Center seven days per week. It runs exclusively westbound to the Iris Avenue Transit Center until 2:45 p.m. And beginning at 3 p.m., it runs exclusively eastbound to the Otay Mesa Border Crossing.
For more information about construction and improvements at the San Ysidro Land Port of Entry, visit the General Services Administration website at: www.gsa.gov.
For more information about border wait times at the San Ysidro Land Port of Entry, visit the Customs and Border Protection website at: www.cbp.gov.