We’re planning new bus routes to get you where you need to go faster and without a car! Most routes will come every 10 minutes with service earlier in the morning and later at night. They will get to destinations faster by making fewer stops and using designated bus lanes and green light priority at intersections to get around traffic. To help connect key locations to these routes, we’ll also be improving nearby bike routes and walkways.
In 2023, we finalized an early plan for the first three Next Gen Rapid routes:
- Rapid 41 connecting Hillcrest, Fashion Valley, Linda Vista, Clairemont, University City, UTC, and UC San Diego
- Rapid 471 connecting Eastern Escondido, Escondido Transit Center, and Palomar Medical Center
- Rapid 625 connecting San Diego State University, City Heights, Southeast San Diego, National City, and Chula Vista
Project documents from the study are available in the Resources section below.
Now that we have a framework for how to plan these types of transit routes, we are partnering with Caltrans and our local transit agencies for the next phase with a selection of promising routes. In October 2023, our Board of Directors approved funding for continued planning and environmental work for several routes in the 2021 Regional Plan:
- Rapid 625—We will build on our work from the early planning to design the route between SDSU and Chula Vista.
- Express 77—We will implement new reliable bus service from Ramona to Poway and Sabre Springs.
- Rapid 880—We will plan new frequent bus service along SR 52 connecting El Cajon, Santee, Kearny Mesa, UTC, and UC San Diego.
- Rapid 640 and Rapid 688—We will improve transit service from the U.S.-Mexico border to Downtown San Diego, Mission Valley, Kearny Mesa, and UTC.
- Another Rapid route in North County—We will evaluate route options to improve transit access around SR 78
These projects are part of the 2021 Regional Plan’s Transit Leap strategy, which aims to:
- Move people and goods more efficiently
- Provide affordable, dependable, and safe transit options for all
- Clean up our air while reducing climate change-causing pollution regionwide
