What is the South Bay Rapid project?
South Bay Rapid will provide frequent, rapid, and reliable bus service along a 21-mile route from the Otay Mesa Port of Entry to Downtown San Diego via eastern Chula Vista. South Bay Rapid will improve travel times when compared to other forms of transit by utilizing dedicated transit-only lanes, traffic signal priority, limited station stops, and real-time passenger information.
What are the benefits of South Bay Rapid?
South Bay Rapid will help minimize traffic congestion along a major transportation corridor and offer service to areas not currently served by rapid transit. It will connect residents to employment and activity centers, including offices, shopping, recreational facilities, residential communities, schools, and Park & Ride lots, as well as the Otay Mesa Port of Entry.
Why is the project needed?
The population in the South Bay is expected to increase substantially over the next 20 years, leading to added congestion. The planned South Bay Rapid will help minimize traffic congestion along a major transportation corridor and offer service to areas not currently served by regional transit.
When will the South Bay BRT be completed?
The SANDAG Board of Directors certified the South Bay Rapid project’s Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on July 26, 2013. South Bay Rapid construction is scheduled to begin in early 2016. Service is expected to begin in 2018. Construction on the portion of the guideway between Magdalena Avenue and State Route 125 in Otay Ranch is scheduled to begin in early 2016.
What areas will be served by the South Bay Rapid?
There will be 11 stations along the 21-mile South Bay Rapid route connecting residents to employment and activity centers in Downtown San Diego and the South Bay, including the cities of Chula Vista and National City. South Bay Rapid will serve offices, shopping centers, recreational facilities, residential communities, schools, and Park & Ride lots, as well as the U.S.-Mexico border at Otay Mesa.
How much will the project cost and how is it funded?
South Bay Rapid is funded through TransNet, a regional voter-approved half-cent sales tax for local transportation projects. The overall project budget for the TransNet Early Action Plan phase of the project is approximately $100 million. This budget includes costs for capital improvements, property acquisition, procurement of buses, and support costs for design engineering and construction. Once completed, South Bay Rapid will be operated by the Metropolitan Transit System.