Sit down, relax and enjoy the ride. That’s what we want riders to do. There’s a lot of ways to do that on the MTS system (que the new 60-foot electric buses that just hit the streets with fancy padded, high back seats!). But that’s not always the case. Some bus stops don’t have a shelter for some badly needed shade on a hot day. Some stops don’t have a bench which riders could use after a walk to make a connection. We’ve heard from riders they want more comfort on transit trips. This includes more shelters, benches, lighting, murals and more. MTS will deliver lots of “better” in 2024 and beyond.
Better Shade
A top thing riders tell us they want is more bus shelters. And in San Diego, that often means better coverage from the sun! To deliver, MTS will be adding 225 new bus shelters throughout the system between 2024 and 2028. The first 10 new shelters have now been installed.
| Stop # | Cross Streets | Routes Served | Install Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stop #: 39047 | Cross Street: Olympic Parkway / Eastlake Parkway, Westbound | Routes Served: 709 | Install Date: 12/5/2023 |
| Stop #: 60416 | Cross Street: Broadway / K Street, Northbound | Routes Served: K St | Install Date: 12/5/2023 |
| Stop #: 11743 | Cross Street: 4th Avenue / C Street, Southbound | Routes Served: 929 | Install Date: 12/7/2023 |
| Stop #: 13179 | Cross Street: 4th Avenue / C Street, Northbound | Routes Served: 929 | Install Date: 12/7/2023 |
| Stop #: 60280 | Cross Street: National City Blvd / W 8th Street, Southbound | Routes Served: 929, 932, 955, 962, 963, 968 | Install Date: 12/11/2023 |
| Stop #: 99286 | Cross Street: 18th Street / Highland Avenue, Westbound | Routes Served: 13, 929 | Install Date: 12/11/2023 |
| Stop #: 11264 | Cross Street: Market Street / 22nd Street, Westbound | Routes Served: 3, 5 | Install Date: 12/13/2023 |
| Stop #: 11275 | Cross Street: Market Street / 25th Street, Westbound | Routes Served: 3, 5t | Install Date: 12/13/2023 |
| Stop #: 12861 | Cross Street: Logan Avenue / 43rd Street, Eastbound | Routes Served: 12, 955 | Install Date: 12/15/2023 |
| Stop #: 13112 | Cross Street: University Avenue / University Square, Westbound | Routes Served: 7, 852 | Install Date: 12/15/2023 |
Additionally, MTS partnered with the City of San Diego and Urban Collaborative Project to add Wi-Fi at 11 select bus stops in the Encanto and Euclid neighborhoods.
Better Vibes with Murals
What we heard from riders is they want more inviting spaces while waiting for the Trolley. Artists – get your brushes ready! In the works are three murals at the UC San Diego Blue Line Trolley’s Beyer Blvd. Station and E Street Transit Center. All three murals will be ready for your viewing pleasure by the end of the summer. And if you haven’t seen them already, in 2022 we had three murals painted on Orange Line Trolley at Euclid, Massachusetts, and 47th Street.
Better Bike Racks
Better bike racks are on the way! Making more room for our friends on two wheels is a priority. All 120 New Flyer 60-foot buses (the ones that look like they have an accordion in the middle) now have room for three bikes on the bike racks. And all 56 new buses on order for 2024 will come with three position bike racks. Bike riders rejoice!
Lighting up the Night
Need better light at night? No problem. MTS is installing new solar lighting at 30 bus stops and improving lighting at key stations on the Orange Line to make stations more inviting and riders more comfortable at night.
