SuperLoop at UC San Diego and Scripps Memorial Hospital
In September 2013, SANDAG and MTS completed new bus stations and installed traffic signals near Scripps Memorial Hospital and on the UC San Diego campus. Four new SuperLoop stations were completed: on the east and west sides of Medical Center Drive, and the north and south sides of Voigt Drive near Scripps Hospital.
Along Gilman Drive, new traffic signal heads and signal timing are expected to reduce congestion at intersections. At the Library Walk crosswalk, additional push-buttons were installed for pedestrians to activate the WALK phase, and visible WALK/DON’T WALK signals have countdown timers. These enhancements allow bikes and vehicles to travel through these intersections on a green light, rather than halting at every stop sign along Gilman Drive. In addition, pedestrians have the benefit of timed, designated crossing periods while cross-traffic is stopped at a red light, instead of crossing intermittently between individual vehicles.
SuperLoop Bus Stops at UC San Diego Gilman Footbridge
On March 28, 2013, SuperLoop Routes 201 and 202 began pilot service to the existing bus stops at the UC San Diego Gilman Footbridge. Buses will stop on Gilman Drive, just south of Eucalyptus Grove Lane, at the stops currently served by MTS Routes 30 and 150, and NCTD BREEZE Route 101. This service improvement will help students, faculty, staff, and visitors and test the potential of creating permanent SuperLoop stops.
SuperLoop Expansion
On June 10, 2012, SuperLoop service expanded to communities east of Genesee Avenue, adding additional stops along Executive, Judicial, and Nobel Drives, including the Nobel Athletic Area and Library. The new Route 204 runs clockwise and connects with other transit services at the UTC Transit Center.
Timeline
September 2014. The Gilman Transit Center at UC San Diego opened to bus riders. The transit center serves MTS bus Routes 30, 41, 150, and 921; SuperLoop Routes 201 and 202; Rapid 237; NCTD bus Route 101; and campus shuttles.
September 2013. Four new bus stations opened and traffic signal installation was completed near Scripps Memorial Hospital.
April 2013. Construction began to build four new bus stations and to install traffic signals near Scripps Memorial Hospital and on the UC San Diego campus. New SuperLoop stations will be constructed on the east and west sides of Medical Center Drive, and the north and south sides of Voigt Drive. The new traffic signals will incorporate transit signal priority to allow SuperLoop buses to move through traffic more efficiently and maintain schedule reliability.
March 2013. Construction was completed on SuperLoop amenities that include new bus stations and improvements to roadways and traffic signals throughout the approximate nine mile route. The new bus stations feature an inviting shelter, electronic signs indicating when the next SuperLoop vehicle will arrive, leaning rails, comfortable seating, and low-energy lighting.
March 2013. SuperLoop Routes 201 and 202 began pilot service to the existing bus stops at the UC San Diego Gilman Footbridge. Buses will stop on Gilman Drive, just south of Eucalyptus Grove Lane, at the stops currently served by MTS Routes 30 and 150, and NCTD BREEZE Route 101.
June 2012. SuperLoop service expanded to communities east of Genesee Avenue, adding additional stops along Executive, Judicial, and Nobel Drives, including the Nobel Athletic Area and Library. The new Route 204 runs clockwise and connects with other transit services at the UTC Transit Center
June 2011. Final design of the SuperLoop stations and roadway improvements was completed. The SuperLoop stations were designed to retain the look and feel of the proposed station design communicated to the public, while modifying the size and use of materials to remain within the required station cost limit.
September 2010. On September 5, 2010, to further enhance all public transportation services in the University City community, SANDAG and MTS implemented changes to Route 30 and SuperLoop (Routes 201/202). Route 30 provides regional service to La Jolla, Pacific Beach, Old Town, and Downtown, with connections to Mission Valley and the San Diego International Airport. Route 30 was moved from its current alignment along Nobel Drive, Lebon Drive, and Regents Road, to route along La Jolla Village Drive. This change will provide more direct service with shorter trip times for this important regional route.
SuperLoop now serves the many residents in La Jolla Colony with higher frequency and new weekend service. The new route includes stops at the Lebon Drive/Palmilla Drive and Regents Road/Arriba Street intersections. These route changes greatly improve transit options for community residents and people traveling to work, shop, or go to school in the area.
September 2009. To answer questions from some residents in the Villa La Jolla Drive area about the SuperLoop operation, SANDAG completed a noise study of the interim operation using the new SuperLoop vehicles. This study concluded that SuperLoop operation is consistent with the findings in the 2007 environmental review; the SuperLoop project does not result in significant noise impacts.
SuperLoop Bus Operations - Focused Acoustical Analysis Report, September 2009
In addition to this noise study, SANDAG and MTS worked with the hybrid system manufacturer for the SuperLoop vehicles to identify and reprogram the entire fleet with a control system modification that reduces noise while maintaining safety and performance. Residents have acknowledged the noticeable noise reduction. Because this operational improvement took place after the field monitoring for the noise report, SANDAG documented the change in noise level as an addendum to the noise report.
June 2009. The interim service for SuperLoop began on June 15, 2009 as MTS routes 201 and 202, employing the vehicles that were delivered to MTS in spring 2009. The service uses new low-emission, gasoline-electric hybrid SuperLoop buses. Service operates seven days a week, with buses running every ten minutes during peak hours and every 15 minutes during non-peak hours.
SuperLoop provides service in the North University City area of San Diego and operates between University Towne Center and UC San Diego via Genesee Avenue, Nobel Drive, Regents Road, Gilman Drive, and Voigt Drive including Scripps Memorial and Thornton Hospitals.
Spring 2009. The SuperLoop buses, state-of-the-art 35-foot gasoline hybrid vehicles, were received by MTS in spring 2009. The buses were then equipped with traffic signal priority equipment and made available to MTS for training and system checks.
February 2008. A committee of elected officials and senior staff of SANDAG and MTS reviewed a set of revised SuperLoop bus station design options, in response to escalating construction cost estimates. The committee selected the bus station design option that retained the design concept that had been communicated to the public, while requiring that the station be designed to not exceed $225,000 per station.
August 2007. On August 3, 2007, the SANDAG Transportation Committee adopted the Final Negative Declaration / Environmental Initial Study for the SuperLoop transit project. This environmental document incorporates the results of a Noise Analysis that was prepared in 2006 for the project.
Outreach
On March 13, 2012, SANDAG presented a project update to the University Community Planning Group. The update included artist renderings of the final SuperLoop bus station design and an update on the anticipated construction schedule.
On November 9, 2010, SANDAG presented a project update to the University Community Planning Group. The update included a description of analysis and activities undertaken by SANDAG and MTS to address questions by community members related to SuperLoop vehicle operations. A copy of the briefing document and vehicle sound measurements provided by SANDAG are available below.
Project Update
Summary of SuperLoop Vehicle Pass-by Peak Noise Comparison
On April 14, 2009, SANDAG staff presented a project update to the University City Planning Group. The update included information regarding the route, stations, vehicles, and schedule. A copy of the presentation is available below.
Presentation
On July 11, 2007, an open house was held to receive comments on the proposed SuperLoop station design at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, located at 4126 Executive Drive in San Diego from 3 to 7:30 p.m. Twenty display boards provided information about the different aspects of the project and project team members were available to answer questions. A PowerPoint presentation displayed images of the station design during the open house. Approximately 45 members of the public attended. The meeting summary and proposed station design are available below.
Meeting summary
Proposed station design
On May 8, 2007, SANDAG presented project information to the University Community Planning Group. On March 22, 2006, a community meeting was held at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center. Five poster stations provided information on different aspects of the project, such as background and project timeline, route alignment, traffic improvements, vehicle design and branding, and station design. Project team members were available to answer questions at each station. Copies of the news release, meeting summary, and the presentation shown at the meeting are available below.
News release
Meeting summary
Meeting presentation