MTS and NCTD Release Limited-Edition San Diego Comic-Con PRONTO Cards
Transit agencies offer discounted transit passes for convention goers
San Diego – San Diego Comic-Con is back, and the world-renowned convention is expected to draw more than 135,000 comic book and movie fans from all over the world. To help attendees easily access all the action, the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and North County Transit District (NCTD) are adding extra service and providing discounted transit passes.
“We want to emphasize the best way to get to Downtown San Diego during Comic-Con is by taking public transit,” said Stephen Whitburn, MTS Board Chair and San Diego City Councilmember, District 3. “Public transit really does provide a hassle-free experience for attendees to get to the heart of all the action all week long. It’s the quick, easy and affordable way to attend Comic-Con.”
Convention goers using MTS Trolleys and buses can get discounted two-, three-, four-, and five-day transit passes in the PRONTO mobile app starting at just $10. Comic-Con attendees using COASTER can ride for five days and pay for just three with the COASTER 5-pack. The COASTER 5-pack provides a 40 percent discount on a COASTER Regional day pass and is valid for a month from the date of purchase.
“For fans and attendees coming from North County — the best Comic-Con experience includes taking the COASTER to downtown San Diego," said Jewel Edson, NCTD Board Chair and Solana Beach Deputy Mayor. "Traveling by train provides not only a beautiful, hassle free, affordable ride — you can also start your adventure by showing off your costume and posing for fun photos with other Comic-Com fans on the trip down!"
To help expedite the boarding process, fans should download the PRONTO app in advance. Load at least $5 on your virtual card, which covers a round-trip fare for adult riders on MTS Trolleys and buses, a Comic-Con MTS transit pass or a COASTER 5-pack. New this year, riders have the option of bypassing the ticket machines and the PRONTO app altogether and just tap a credit card or other contactless payment options, such as a smartphone or smartwatch, on the validators to pay for an adult one-way ride.
All riders must tap or scan on validators to activate their pass or fare prior to boarding. When riding the COASTER, remember to tap or scan on and off at COASTER validators. Every person needs their own PRONTO app or card, you cannot buy fares for multiple people on the same device, card or payment method. If you have a PRONTO card, you can load your fare onto your card in advance online at ridepronto.com.
Getting to San Diego Comic-Con
Attendees can arrive quickly to the heart of the action when they Trolley to the three Comic-Con stations:
- Convention Center – Served by Green Line and Special Event Line Trolleys
- Gaslamp Quarter – Served by Green Line and Special Event Line Trolleys
- 12th & Imperial – Served by Green Line, Orange Line, UC San Diego Blue Line, and Special Event Line Trolleys
To accommodate the large crowds, MTS Trolleys will be serving all stations every 15 minutes or better most of the day, and have last trains departing downtown on the Green, Orange and Blue Lines after midnight during the busiest nights of Comic-Con (Thursday – Saturday). Riders can see the full schedule on the MTS Comic-Con webpage. Here is the service summary:
- Special Event Line (12th & Imperial – Balboa Avenue Transit Center)
- Service every 15 minutes most of the day
- Last trip departs Gaslamp Quarter at 10:35 p.m. (Thurs – Sat)
- Green Line (12th & Imperial – Santee Station)
- Service every 15 minutes most of the day
- Last trip departs downtown at 1:08 a.m. (Thurs – Sat; terminates at SDSU)
- Orange Line (Courthouse Station – Arnele Station)
- Service every 15 minutes most of the day
- Last trip departs downtown at 12:26 a.m. (Thurs – Sat)
- UC San Diego Blue Line – South (San Ysidro – America Plaza)
- Service every 7.5 minutes most of the day
- Last trip departing downtown at 12:07 a.m. (Thurs – Sun)
- UC San Diego Blue Line – North (America Plaza – UTC)
- Service every 15 minutes most of the day
- Last trip departs downtown at 1:23 a.m. (Thurs – Sat)
- COASTER
- Fans coming from North County can catch the COASTER departing from seven stations along the coastline. Trains run nearly every hour both south and northbound. Once at Santa Fe Depot, connect with the MTS Green Line or Special Event Line Trolleys for a direct ride to the Convention Center.
- Gillespie to Santee Shuttle Alert! Starting on Thursday, July 25, a shuttle bus from Gillespie Field to Santee will operate on standard 15-minute service. The Green Line will end and start at Gillespie Field. Passengers who need service to and from Santee will use the Santee Trolley shuttle and transfer at Gillespie. Shuttle will operate July 24-27 from the morning to 11 p.m. and July 28 from the morning to 8 p.m.
Kids ride free! Families going to Comic-Con Saturday or Sunday can save big by taking MTS Trolleys and buses. On weekends, two children 12 and under ride for free, no pass required, with every paying adult. Youth ages 18 and under with a registered Youth PRONTO card or app account can ride free with the Youth Opportunity Pass.
Safety on Board
Safety is always a priority, but especially with large crowds in and around transit stations and vehicles. Riders can find important transit safety tips on the MTS Comic-Con webpage.
Free Park & Ride Lots
Comic-Con fans are encouraged to use MTS’ free park & ride lots throughout the Trolley system. View the full list of Park & Ride lots on the MTS website.
New for 2024, more than 1,000 parking spots are available at Snapdragon Stadium, which has direct Trolley access at the Stadium Station. Parking is $10 a day July 25, July 27, and July 28. No Comic-Con parking allowed Friday, July 26, due to a San Diego Wave soccer match. Parking opens at 8 a.m. and closes for new arrivals after 4 p.m. Vehicles can be parked after 4 p.m., but no new arrivals after that time.
The most convenient Park & Ride locations are:
- Nobel Drive (Blue Line North & Special Event Line, 289 free parking spots)
- Balboa Avenue Transit Center (Blue Line North & Special Event Line, 225 free parking spots)
- Tecolote Road (Blue Line North & Special Event Line, 275 free parking spots)
- Old Town Transit Center (Blue Line North, Green Line & Special Event Line, 400+ free parking spots)
- El Cajon Transit Center (Green & Orange Lines, 469 free parking spots)
- Grossmont Transit Center (Green Line, 220 free parking spots)
- Spring Street (Orange Line, 235 free parking spots)
- E Street (Blue Line South, 265 free parking spots)
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.
About NCTD
The North County Transit District is a public transportation agency providing critical multi-modal services throughout North San Diego County and into downtown San Diego. NCTD is designated as a rail common carrier by the Surface Transportation Board based on the movement of interstate commerce on the tracks and the Railroad of Record by the Federal Railroad Administration responsible for safety over the entire San Diego portion of the LOSSAN corridor, the nation’s second largest passenger rail network. NCTD’s system includes BREEZE buses (with FLEX service), COASTER commuter trains, SPRINTER hybrid rail trains, LIFT paratransit service, and NCTD+ On-demand and is one of only three public transit agencies in the nation to operate heavy rail, hybrid rail, and bus service. For more information visit: GoNCTD.com.
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