Rapid 235 began operation in June 2014 along the I-15 corridor. Mid-City Rapid 215 launched n October 12, 2014, and Rapid 237 launched on October 13, 2014. An additional route, South Bay Rapid 225, launched in January 2019.
This high-frequency, limited-stop service is operated by
Metropolitan Transit System (MTS).
Rapid vehicles
were designed to make the ride more comfortable, accessible, and convenient for
passengers. Design features, such as comfortable seating and larger windows improve
ride quality, while features such as multiple doors, low-floor designs for
easier boarding, fare boxes that accept Compass Cards, and video monitors that announce
the next stop and other transit information increase passenger accessibility
and convenience.
With increased routes connecting
residential areas with major employment centers and leisure destinations, Rapid
runs more often, offering increased reliability and customer convenience
similar to rail services. Additionally, service improvements such as
coordination of time intervals between connecting transit routes and signs
that display information about the “next vehicle” arrival increase service
reliability and predictability for customers. DARs connect upgraded transit stations
and their Park & Ride lots to the Express Lanes.
To complement Rapid service, a variety of projects
have been implemented including planned improvements to the transit stations
and transit centers along the I-15 corridor. Click on the Transit Projects tab above to access more information about
these improvements.
Current Routes
Rapid Express (previously
called Premium Express) is a weekday, peak-hour service that makes multiple
trips south in the morning and north in the evening, along the I-15 Express
Lanes and SR 163. Rapid Express 280
operates between Escondido Transit Center and Downtown San Diego, with one stop
at Del Lago. Rapid Express 290
operates between Rancho Bernardo and Downtown, with one stop at Sabre Springs. To
learn more about Rapid
Express routes, visit MTS.
Rapid 235 is an all-day, limited-stop service
(15-minute frequency in peak-hours and 30 minute frequency off-peak and on
weekends) that runs from Escondido Transit Center to Downtown San Diego via
I-15 and Clairemont Mesa Blvd. This route includes a connection to the future Rapid 215 at I-15 and El Cajon
Boulevard.
Rapid 237 is a new
weekday, extended peak-hour service between the Rancho Bernardo Transit
Station and UC San Diego via I-15, with stops in Mira Mesa, Sorrento Mesa, and at Westfield University Towne Centre (UTC Transit Center) and UC San Diego (Gilman Transit Center) where riders can connect to
Superloop, a circular transit system that serves the North University City area of San Diego. The UTC and UC San Diego stations also are planned to be future stations for the Mid-Coast Trolley. Mid-City Rapid 215 operates between San Diego State University and Downtown San
Diego via El Cajon and Park Boulevards. Mid-City Rapid offers connections to Rapid 235
and Santa Fe Depot, where passengers can connect to the Trolley, COASTER, and
Amtrak.
Transit Station/Center Improvements
Transit stations and transit centers help facilitate transit by providing patrons with Park & Ride facilities and serving as transfer points to local transit services. A transit station accommodates only one kind of transit, such as a bus. Transit centers give commuters more choices, such as access to buses, as well as rail or Trolley services. Both are located near I-15 Direct Access Ramps so that the current
Rapid Express and
Rapid services can use the ramps and provide consistent travel times.
Funding