Copper Line expected to improve Trolley reliability, on-time performance
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San Diego – Today, San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) officials celebrated the launch of service on the Copper Line - East County Connector. Starting Sunday, Sept. 29 at 5:12 a.m., East County residents will ride on a new Trolley line aimed at making trips more reliable.
The Copper Line will serve four stations between El Cajon Transit Center and Santee Trolley Station every 15 minutes every day for most of the day. The new segment is set to replace the existing Green and Orange Line Trolley service north of El Cajon Transit Center. The Copper Line will improve the reliability of Trolley service, not just in East County, but throughout the system.
“MTS wants to make taking transit more reliable not only for East County residents, but for riders across the entire system,” said Stephen Whitburn, MTS Board Chair and San Diego City Councilmember, District 3. “With the Copper Line, we are doing just that. It creates a better, more efficient transit system. I look forward to seeing how this new line segment positively benefits the rider experience across our transit system.”
The primary purpose of the Copper Line is to reduce the impacts of the single-track segment between Gillespie Field and Santee. In turn, this will improve service reliability between El Cajon and Santee. In addition, delays that may occur on the rest of the system will no longer impact service between the two cities.
“El Cajon has 14 different bus routes and three Trolley stations serving our city. It’s the centerpiece of transit in East County,” said Steve Goble, MTS Board Vice Chair and City of El Cajon Councilmember. “Having dedicated service like the Copper Line will enhance our ability to provide fast and reliable transportation options for residents to reach work, school, health appointments and more.”
When the new service plan goes into effect, Green Line service will terminate at El Cajon Transit Center, allowing Trolleys to avoid the single-track segment between Gillespie Field and Santee stations. This segment can create a ripple effect of delays and missed transfers for riders coming in and out of East County as only one train can enter or exit this segment at a time. With Copper Line segment, trains will now turn at El Cajon Transit Center rather than Santee and alleviate the system from this bottleneck.
“This weekend marks a significant milestone in East County’s efforts to improve our ability to connect riders to their destinations,” said Ronn Hall, MTS Board Member and City of Santee Councilmember, District 2. “It is collaborative effort that brings this to fruition with MTS and regional leaders all supporting a common goal – a better transit system for everyone. We all want transit to be safe, timely, and efficient. The Copper Line is not just a service enhancement; it’s also a system efficiency that saves taxpayer dollars at the same time. Overall, that’s a win-win for transit and taxpayers.”
MTS anticipates Green Line on-time performance will improve, meaning riders have more reliable transfer times, and fewer delays. Furthermore, Green Line Trolley service will be extended later at night, and all Sunday service will continue to El Cajon Transit Center, instead of alternating trains stopping short at the SDSU Transit Center. Operating with shorter trains, the Copper Line will reduce the wait times and lessen traffic at Santee intersections along Cuyamaca Street.
It is estimated that approximately 8% of passenger trips on the Green Line are expected to make a transfer to or from the Copper Line once the Trolley Line reconfiguration in East County is implemented this fall. The other 92% of passenger trips will see improved reliability, without an additional transfer.
Copper Line Rider Appreciation Event
Trolley riders can celebrate the launch of Copper Line service with MTS at the El Cajon Transit Center on Monday, Sept. 30, from 6 to 8 a.m. Riders can stop by the MTS booth to get a free donut, coffee, and either a Copper Line mug or collector’s pin. For more information, visit sdmts.com/copper-line.
About MTS
The Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) operates 92 bus routes and three 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 2023, MTS served more than 68 million riders. For service schedule updates, news, alerts and more information on how you can use public transportation, go to www.sdmts.com.
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