San Diego MTS bus system
Introduction  CNG Powered MTS bus in Downtown San Diego  An Electric MTS BusThe San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) operates 97 bus routes in the city of San Diego and the rest of the southern half of San Diego County, California, .There are 85 "MTS Bus" fixed-route services, nine "Rapid" bus rapid transit routes, and the "MTS Access" paratransit service. In , the system had a ridership of , or about  per weekday as of .Routes are operated by private contractors and by the San Diego Transit Corporation (SDTC), a subsidiary of the MTS. The SDTC operates 27 routes based out of Downtown San Diego (Imperial Avenue Division), Transdev operates 52 routes based out of Chula Vista (South Bay Division) and El Cajon (East County Division),18 while First Transit operates the "MTS Access" paratransit service and 21 fixed-route services that are operated with mini-buses based out of Kearny Mesa (Copley Park Division).19 All buses and division facilities, even those used by contractors, are owned by the MTS.MTS serves San Diego proper and the surrounding East County and South Bay regions, while the North County area is served by the North County Transit District's BREEZE bus system.
Routes === Rapid & Express Routes ===RouteTerminalsViaAnnual ridership (FY 2023)Notes20'''Downtown San Diego''' 10th Av & Broadway'''Rancho Bernardo''' Rancho Bernardo Transit StationSR-163360,22360'''University City''' UTC Transit Center'''Chollas View''' Euclid Avenue Transit CenterI-15 55,598110'''Downtown San Diego''' Front St & B St'''Mira Mesa''' Camino Santa Fe & Flanders DrI-5, SR 16317,646201/202'''University City''' UTC Transit CenterLa Jolla Village Dr, Nobel Dr2,452,699'''Rapid (SuperLoop)'''204'''San Diego''' UTC Transit CenterExecutive Dr, Judicial Dr, Nobel Dr70,422'''Rapid (SuperLoop)'''215'''Downtown San Diego''' Santa Fe Depot Transit Center'''College Area''' SDSU Transit CenterEl Cajon Bl1,271,180225'''Downtown San Diego''' Santa Fe Depot Transit Center'''Otay Mesa''' Otay Mesa Transit CenterSR 125, I-805495,535227'''Imperial Beach''' Imperial Beach Pier'''Otay Mesa''' Otay Mesa Transit CenterCoronado Av, SR 905215,097 (from predecessor route 950)235'''Downtown San Diego''' Santa Fe Depot Transit Center'''Escondido''' Escondido Transit CenterI-15 1,035,247237'''Mira Mesa''' Miramar College Transit Station'''University City''' UTC Transit CenterMira Mesa Bl151,933280'''Downtown San Diego''' Pacific Hwy & Grape St'''Escondido''' Escondido Transit CenterI-15, SR 16350,070290'''Downtown San Diego''' Pacific Hwy & Grape St'''Rancho Bernardo''' Rancho Bernardo Transit StationI-15, SR 16351,994=== Local Routes ===RouteTerminalsViaAnnual ridership (FY 2023)Notes1'''Mission Valley''' Fashion Valley Transit Center'''La Mesa''' La Mesa Boulevard StationEl Cajon Bl707,6652'''Downtown San Diego''' Front St & B St'''North Park''' 30th St & Adams AvBroadway, 30th St535,7503'''Chollas View''' Euclid Avenue Transit Center'''Hillcrest''' Front St & Arbor DrOcean View Bl827,9614'''Downtown San Diego''' 12th & Imperial Transit Center'''Skyline Hills''' Paradise Valley Rd & Meadowbrook DrImperial Av505,3785'''Downtown San Diego''' 10th Av & Broadway'''Chollas View''' Euclid Avenue Transit CenterMarket St389,1796'''Mission Valley''' Fashion Valley Transit Center'''North Park''' 30th St & University AvCamino De La Reina245,3947'''Downtown San Diego''' Front St & B St'''Redwood Village''' University Av & College AvUniversity Av1,731,4048'''Old Town''' Old Town Transit Center'''Clairemont''' Balboa Avenue Transit CenterGrand Av, Mission Bay Dr511,2089/9A'''Old Town''' Old Town Transit Center'''Pacific Beach''' Jewell St & Garnet AvIngraham St (9/9A) & Sea World (9)259,82210'''Old Town''' Old Town Transit Center'''Redwood Village''' University Av & College AvUniversity Av870,403'''(Limited Stops)'''No service east of City Heights Transit Center on weekends11'''Downtown San Diego''' 1st Av & Broadway'''College Area''' SDSU Transit CenterAdams Av, 1st Av467,45012'''Downtown San Diego''' City College Transit Center'''Skyline Hills''' Paradise Valley Rd & Meadowbrook DrNational Av, Skyline Dr850,89213'''National City''' 24th Street Transit Center'''Grantville''' Crawford St & Zion Av (Kaiser Hospital)Fairmount Av1,490,15414'''Grantville''' Grantville Station'''La Mesa''' Baltimore Dr & Lake Murray Bl70th St, Camino Del Rio37,14618 (Loop)'''Grantville''' Grantville StationCamino Del Rio12,84625'''Mission Valley''' Fashion Valley Transit Center'''Kearny Mesa''' Kearny Mesa Transit CenterAero Dr, SR-16337,69327'''Kearny Mesa''' Kearny Mesa Transit Center'''Pacific Beach''' Bayard St & Garnet AvGarnet Av, Balboa Av213,31028'''Old Town''' Old Town Transit Center'''La Playa''' Anchorage Ln & Shelter Island DrRosecrans St214,79030'''Old Town''' Old Town Transit Center'''University City''' UTC Transit CenterLa Jolla Bl1,017,25631'''University City''' UTC Transit Center'''Mira Mesa''' Miramar College Transit StationMiramar Rd77,21635'''Old Town''' Old Town Transit Center'''Ocean Beach''' Cable St & Newport AvMidway Dr, Cable St318,44141''''Mission Valley''' Fashion Valley Transit Center'''Torrey Pines''' Gilman Transit Center (UCSD)Genesee Av759,24843'''Kearny Mesa''' Kearny Mesa Transit Center'''Clairemont''' Balboa Avenue Transit CenterClairemont Mesa Bl386,00744'''Old Town''' Old Town Transit Center'''Kearny Mesa''' Kearny Mesa Transit CenterLinda Vista / Mesa College683,17983'''Old Town''' Old Town Transit Center'''Downtown San Diego''' America Plaza StationReynard Way / Mission Hills14,10684'''Point Loma''' Cabrillo National Monument'''Point Loma''' Sub Base GateRosencrans St (Sub Base) or Catalina Bl (Cabrillo Monument)12,47388'''Old Town''' Old Town Transit Center''''Mission Valley''' Fashion Valley Transit CenterHotel Circle88,452105'''Old Town''' Old Town Transit Center'''University City''' UTC Transit CenterMorena Bl, Clairemont Dr192,420115'''College Area''' SDSU Transit Center'''El Cajon''' El Cajon Transit CenterJackson Dr, Fletcher Pkwy189,961120'''Downtown San Diego''' 4th Av & C St'''Kearny Mesa''' Kearny Mesa Transit CenterFashion Valley Rd, Linda Vista Rd483,432'''(Limited Stops)'''No service north of Sharp Memorial Hospital on weekends701'''Chula Vista''' H Street Transit Center'''Chula Vista''' Palomar Street Transit CenterMain St, Hilltop Dr, F St296,390704'''Chula Vista''' E Street Transit Center'''Chula Vista''' Palomar Street Transit CenterNaples St, Orange Av291,968705'''Chula Vista''' E Street Transit Center'''Chula Vista''' Southwestern CollegeE St, Otay Lakes Rd146,765707'''Chula Vista''' Eastlake Pkwy & Olympic Pkwy'''Chula Vista''' Southwestern CollegeEastlake Pkwy82,390709'''Chula Vista''' H Street Transit Center'''Chula Vista''' Olympic Pkwy & Eastlake PkwyH St534,694712'''Chula Vista''' Palomar Street Transit Center'''Chula Vista''' Southwestern CollegePalomar St434,158815'''El Cajon''' El Cajon Transit Center'''El Cajon''' Main St & Oakdale AvMain St262,403816'''El Cajon''' El Cajon Transit Center'''Rancho San Diego''' Cuyamaca CollegeWashington Av, Jamacha Rd82,034832 (Loop)'''Santee''' Santee Town Center StationCuyamaca St, Woodglen Vista Dr, Magnolia Ave31,578833'''Santee''' Santee Town Center Station'''El Cajon''' El Cajon Transit CenterGraves Av53,920834 (Loop)'''Santee''' Santee Town Center StationMission Gorge Rd20,796838'''Granite Hills'''East County Square'''Alpine''' Viejas CasinoAlpine Bl105,830848'''El Cajon''' El Cajon Transit Center'''Lakeside''' Mapleview St & Ashwood StWinter Gardens Bl218,127851'''La Mesa''' Spring Street Station'''La Presa''' Spring Valley Shopping CenterBancroft Dr, Sweetwater Rd44,973852'''San Diego''' Orange Av & 54th St'''La Presa''' Grossmont Transit CenterUniversity Avenue200,986854'''La Presa''' Grossmont Transit Center'''El Cajon'''Grossmont CollegeLake Murray Bl (854) or Route 125 (854X)33,583855'''La Mesa''' Spring Street station'''Rancho San Diego'''Jamacha Bl & Folex WayCampo Rd156,213856'''San Diego'''SDSU Transit Center'''Rancho San Diego'''Cuyamaca CollegeCollege Av, Jamacha Bl373,080864'''El Cajon'''El Cajon Transit Center'''Granite Hills'''East County SquareMadison Av238,460872(Loop)'''El Cajon'''El Cajon Transit CenterChase Av, Magnolia Av29,232874/875(Loop)'''El Cajon'''El Cajon Transit CenterWashington Av, Broadway230,852901'''Otay Mesa West''' Iris Transit Center'''Downtown San Diego''' 3rd Av & B StSilver Strand Bl512,372904'''Coronado''' Glorietta Bl & 2nd Av'''Coronado'''Silver Strand Bl & Avenue de las ArenasOrange Av67,772905'''Otay Mesa'''Otay Mesa Transit Center'''Otay Mesa West''' Iris Transit CenterSR 905, Otay Mesa Rd398,812906/907'''Otay Mesa West''' Iris Transit Center'''San Ysidro''' San Ysidro Transit CenterBeyer Bl, San Ysidro Bl, Calle Primera824,801909'''Otay Mesa''' Otay Mesa Transit Center'''Otay Mesa''' Southwestern College Otay MesaOtay Mesa Rd, Britannia Bl40,149916/917(Loop)'''Chollas View''''''Euclid Avenue Transit CenterStreamview Dr, Massachusetts Av107,619921'''San Diego'''UTC Transit Center'''Mira Mesa''' Miramar College Transit StationMira Mesa Bl186,603921A'''Torrey Pines'''Gilman Transit Center (UCSD)923'''Ocean Beach''' Point Loma Av & Sunset Cliffs Bl'''Downtown San Diego'''9th Av & C StVoltaire St, Harbor Dr113,318928'''Kearny Mesa'''Kearny Mesa Transit Center''''Mission Valley'''Fashion Valley Transit CenterRuffin Rd125,303929'''Otay Mesa West''' Iris Transit Center'''Downtown San Diego''' 1st Av & BroadwayHighland Av, 3rd Av1,180,640932'''National City''' 8th Street Transit Center'''Otay Mesa West''' Iris Transit CenterNational City Bl, Broadway623,475933/934(Loop)Iris Transit Center Seacoast Imperial Beach Boulevard / Palm Avenue1,095,907936'''College Area'''SDSU Transit Center'''Spring Valley'''Orville St & Brucker AvCollege Grove / Skyline Drive299,196944'''Sabre Springs'''Sabre Springs Transit Station'''Poway'''Hilleary Pl / Hilleary Park DrPoway Rd37,693945/945A'''Rancho Bernardo'''Rancho Bernardo Transit Station'''Poway'''Temple St / Midland RdPomerado Road / Poway Road (945) / Poway Loop (945A)83,693955'''National City'''8th Street Transit Center'''College Area'''SDSU Transit Center43rd Street / Euclid Transit Center / 54th Street805,316961'''National City'''24th Street Transit Center'''Encanto'''Encanto/62nd Street station30th Street / Plaza Bonita / Woodman Street407,638962'''National City'''8th Street Transit Center'''Spring Valley'''Orville St & Brucker AvPlaza Boulevard / Paradise Valley Road356,058963'''National City'''8th Street Transit Center'''Paradise Hills'''Saipan Dr & Potomac StPlaza Boulevard / Reo Drive109,486964'''Mira Mesa'''Camino Ruiz & Capricorn Way '''Scripps Ranch'''Alliant International UniversityMiramar College Transit Station78,325965(Loop) I-15 City Heights Transit Plaza CirculatorUniversity Avenue / Azalea Park / Home Avenue37,981967(Loop)24th Street Transit Center Division & Ava D Avenue / Division Street27,497968'''National City'''8th Street Transit Center'''National City'''Westfield Plaza Bonita4th Street / Euclid Avenue44,426985(Loop)UC San Diego N.Torrey Pines LoopTorrey Pines Road22,896992(Loop)City College Station Airport Broadway / Harbor Drive288,060=== Rural Routes ===RouteTerminalsViaAnnual ridership (FY 2022)Notes888'''El Cajon''' Parkway Plaza'''Jacumba Hot Springs''' Campo St & Old Hwy 80Alpine / Guatay / Pine Valley / Campo 1,004Monday & Friday only891'''El Cajon'''El Cajon Transit Center'''Borrego Springs''' Christmas Circle & Palm Canyon DrShelter Valley / Ramona337Friday Only892'''El Cajon''''''El Cajon Transit Center''''''Borrego Springs''' Christmas Circle & Palm Canyon DrRanchita / Ramona299Thursday Only894'''El Cajon''' Parkway Plaza'''Tecate'''Tecate Rd & Thing Rd '''Campo''' Hwy 94 & Buckman Springs Rd  Oak Shores (Malt Shop) Lake Morena Dr & Gladiola DrTecate / Campo / Morena Village35,882Monday through Friday only=== COASTER Connection Routes ===''Services operate weekdays only. ''RouteTerminalsViaAnnual ridership (FY 2022)Notes972San Diego Sorrento Valley stationLusk Bl4,747973Sorrento Valley Rd6,326974I-55,976978Genesee Av5,976979Genesee Av4,009
Bus fleet === Active fleet ===Make/ModelFleet NumbersThumbnailYearEngineTransmissionDivisionsNotes'''Gillig Low Floor CNG 40''''201-2232015Cummins Westport ISL GZF 6AP1400BKearny Mesa'''New Flyer C40LFR'''601-6262011Cummins Westport ISL GZF 6HP594CImperial Avenue622-626 were transferred to the South Bay Division, and re-numbered to 2923-2927 in early 2022. '''New Flyer C40LFR'''701-7312012Cummins Westport ISL GZF 6HP594CImperial Avenue'''Gillig Low Floor CNG 40''''801-8262013Cummins Westport ISL GZF 6AP1400BImperial Avenue'''Gillig Low Floor CNG 40''''901-9122014Cummins Westport ISL GZF 6AP1700BKearny Mesa'''New Flyer XN60'''1101-11292013Cummins Westport ISL GZF 6AP1700BKearny MesaThese buses are used for MTS Rapid Route 235.Some units were retrofitted with 3-slot bike racks. These buses are in the process of being retired as of late 2023.10 buses will be sold to Santa Cruz METRO. '''New Flyer XN60'''1201-12182013Cummins Westport ISL GZF 6AP1700BImperial Avenue/Kearny MesaThese buses are used for MTS Rapid Route 215, and occasionally on Routes 7 & 13. '''New Flyer XN60'''1301-13132015Cummins Westport ISL GZF 6AP1700BKearny MesaThese buses are painted in the standard MTS livery, but are regularly assigned to Rapid routes. '''Gillig Low Floor CNG 40''''1401-14102017Cummins Westport ISL G NZZF 6AP1400BKearny MesaAll 10 units were transferred from Imperial Avenue to Kearny Mesa in mid-2023 to replace the now-retired MTS Rapid C40LFs. All buses have been repainted in the MTS Rapid Livery. '''New Flyer XE40''' 1501-15062019Siemens ELFA2Imperial Avenue/South Bay/East County'''Gillig Low Floor Plus EV 40''''1601-16022020Cummins Battery Electric SystemImperial Avenue'''Gillig Low Floor Plus EV 40''''1603-16072021Cummins Battery Electric SystemImperial AvenueThese buses are painted red instead of green. '''Gillig Low Floor CNG 40''''1701-17382020-2021Cummins Westport L9NZF 6AP1420BImperial Avenue/Kearny Mesa1701-1722 are the 2020 models, 1723-1738 are the 2021 models. Entered service in January 2021, replaced the 300-series C40LF buses. First Gillig buses delivered to San Diego MTS with an updated roof design. '''New Flyer XN60'''1801-18262021Cummins Westport L9NZF 6AP1720BImperial AvenueEntered service on February 4, 2021, replaced the 1000-series NABI 60-BRT buses. Used on Routes 7, 10, 13 & occasionally on Rapid Route 215. '''New Flyer XN60'''1901-19292023Cummins Westport L9NZF 6AP1720BKearny MesaThese buses entered service in late 2023, currently replacing the 1100-series New Flyer XN60 buses. Used on MTS Rapid Route 235, SuperLoop Rapid Route 201/202 and occasionally on Route 10. '''Gillig Low Floor CNG 40''''2001-20142015Cummins Westport ISL GZF 6AP1400BSouth Bay'''Gillig Low Floor CNG 40''''2101-21362017Cummins Westport ISL G NZZF 6AP1400BSouth Bay'''Gillig Low Floor CNG 40''''2201-22382022Cummins Westport L9NZF 6AP1420BSouth BayThese are the final batch of Gillig CNG buses delivered to San Diego MTS. Entered service in late 2022, replaced the 2800-series C40LF buses. These Gillig buses have an updated roof design. '''Gillig Low Floor CNG 40''''2301-23242013Cummins Westport ISL GZF 6AP1400BSouth Bay/East County2301-2306 were transferred to East County in early 2022. '''Gillig Low Floor CNG 40''''2401-24382014-2015Cummins Westport ISL GZF 6AP1400BSouth Bay2401-2418 are the 2014 models, 2419-2438 are the 2015 models. '''Gillig Low Floor CNG 40''''2601-26322021Cummins Westport L9NZF 6AP1420BSouth BayEntered service in late 2021, replaced the 2800-series C40LF buses. These Gillig buses have an updated roof design. '''Gillig Low Floor CNG 40''''2781-27872018Cummins Westport L9NZF 6AP1400BSouth Bay'''Gillig Low Floor CNG 40''''2791-2795130x130px2021Cummins Westport L9NZF 6AP1400BSouth BayThese Gillig buses have an updated roof design. '''New Flyer C40LFR'''2901-29272011-2012Cummins Westport ISL GZF 6HP594CSouth Bay2923-2927 are the 2011 models, and were originally numbered 622-626.2901-2922 are the 2012 models. '''ElDorado National AeroElite'''3001-30062014Ford Triton 3V SEFI V10 6.8LFord 5R110WCopley ParkUsed on Sorrento Valley Coaster Connection Routes, and occasionally on Route 83. '''ElDorado National AeroElite'''3101-31312016Ford Triton 3V SEFI V10 6.8LFord 5R110WCopley ParkEntered service in late 2016, replaced the 3400-series cutaways. '''New Flyer XN60'''7401-74102017Cummins Westport ISL G NZZF 6AP1700BSouth Bay'''New Flyer XN60'''7501-75172017-2018Cummins Westport ISL G NZZF 6AP1700BSouth BayThese buses are used for MTS Rapid Route 225, and occasionally on Rapid Route 227. '''New Flyer XE60'''7551-75622023SiemensSouth BayThese buses are used for MTS Rapid Route 227. '''Gillig Low Floor CNG 40''''8201-82132015Cummins Westport ISL GZF 6AP1400BEast County'''Gillig Low Floor CNG 40''''8301-83382016Cummins Westport ISL GZF 6AP1400BEast County8325 is the only Gillig bus with the Cummins Westport ISL G NZ engine.Cummins Westport ISL G NZ'''Gillig Low Floor CNG 40''''8351-83562019Cummins Westport L9NZF 6AP1420BEast County'''MCI D4500CT CNG'''8531-85542020Cummins ISX-12NAllison B500East CountyThese buses are exclusively used for MTS Rapid Express Routes 280 and 290.
References
External links * MTS bus routes and schedules* NCTD bus routes and schedules