Copper Line (San Diego Trolley)

Proposed light rail line in San Diego, California

Copper Line

Trolley at Santee

Overview
Status| Proposed, approved by MTS Board of Directors[1][2][3]
Owner| San Diego Metropolitan Transit System
Locale| San Diego, California
Termini|

* Santee
* El Cajon

Stations| 4
Website| sdmts.com/inside-mts/current-projects/copper-line-east-county-connector
Service
Type| Light rail
System| San Diego Trolley
Operator(s)| San Diego Trolley, Inc.
Rolling stock| Single-car trains[4][5]
History
Planned opening| September 29, 2024[6]
Technical
Number of tracks| 2 (El Cajon–Gillespie Field)
1 (Gillespie Field–Santee)
Track gauge| 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification| Overhead line, 600 V DC
Operating speed| 55 mph (89 km/h) (max)

Route map

Legend

|  |  |

|  | Santee

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|  |

|  |

SR 52

|  |

|  | Gillespie Field
|  |

|  | Arnele Avenue
|  |

|  |

I-8

|  |

|  | El Cajon |

|  |

|  |  | Green Line

to 12th & Imperial
Orange Line

to Courthouse

* * *

|  |  |  |  |  |
|  | Multiple

services

|  |  | All stations

are accessible
|  |  |  |  |  |

This diagram:

* view
* talk
* edit

The Copper Line, officially the Copper Line - East County Connector,[4] is a future line of the San Diego Trolley in East County, San Diego. It will operate as a shuttle between the El Cajon Transit Center and the Santee station, replacing the existing Green and Orange line service in that area. The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) proposed the Copper Line because the section of the line between Gillespie Field station and Santee has a single track, which has been the source of delays that impact both the Green and Orange lines. The Copper Line aims to alleviate these issues by creating a dedicated shuttle service disconnected from the larger Green and Orange lines.

## History

[edit]

### Background

[edit]

The tracks between El Cajon and Santee originally opened on July 26, 1995, as part of the fourth extension of the Orange Line (known as the "East Line" until 1997).[7][8] Between Gillespie Field station and Santee Town Center, the line is single tracked and street running in the median strip of Cuyamaca Street.[9]

This single-tracked section has caused operational issues for the San Diego Trolley, which became worse after the opening of the Green Line in 2005, which shared the tracks between Santee and El Cajon with the Orange Line.[10] Since that time, SDMTS has tried several different service patterns to attempt to lessen the operational issues, including truncating the Orange Line at various stations in the area.[11][12] SDMTS reports that Green Line trains are often unable to complete their route to Santee and are turned around at Gillespie field at least once a day. In addition, during periods of heavy ridership such as San Diego Comic-Con, Green Line trolley service between Gillespie Field and Santee is replaced with a shuttle. The trolley also adds to congestion in the Santee area as the three-car trains (necessary on other sections of the line) operate with few passengers and stop traffic as they slowly traverse Cuyamaca Street.[4][13]

### Copper Line proposal

[edit]

To address these issues, starting in the early 2020s, the MTS began planning to add a third track and extending a platform at the El Cajon Transit Center, to allow shuttle trains to terminate there.[14] The MTS believes that Copper Line shuttle trains will alleviate these issues by creating a dedicated shuttle service disconnected from the larger Green and Orange lines. The MTS says that these shorter trains will also improve roadway traffic, since drivers at the railroad crossings on Mission Gorge Road and Cuyamaca Street will have shorter wait times as the single-car Copper Line trains pass.[4][13][15][5][2]

The MTS accepted written public comments about this proposal until 1:00 PM on June 19, 2024 for potential approval at its June 20, 2024 meeting.[4][13] MTS stated that Copper Line service could begin as soon as September 1, 2024, running once every 15 minutes from 5:00 AM until midnight.[4][13]

### Approval of the Copper Line

[edit]

Although the promised June 20 public hearing was held, the MTS Board of Directors was prevented from approving the Copper Line because under federal law, a service equity analysis needed to be redone. Although the original analysis concluded that the Copper Line would not negatively effect people of color or low-income residents, the MTS conceded at the meeting that they needed more analysis.[16]

On July 18, 2024, the MTS board of directors unanimously approved to implement the Copper Line.[1][2][3] In preparation for the opening of the Copper Line, the MTS is also making safety approvements to the El Cajon Transit Center, including the addition of new personnel, support staff, and signs.[17]

The MTS has stated that the new Copper Line will save the MTS $1 million in operational costs,[2][18][19] and although only 8% of trolley trips will be affected by this service change,[3] it will improve the ability of the Green and Orange Lines to run on time.[3][17]

As of August 31, 2024, the MTS has updated their Copper Line webpage to show a planned implementation date for the Copper Line as September 29, 2024.[6]

## Stations

[edit]

See also: List of San Diego Trolley stations

Station  | Location  | Connections

|
|

Santee | Santee |

* MTS: 832, 833, 834
* Park and ride (number of spaces varies)

Gillespie Field |

* Park and ride: 175 spaces

Arnele Avenue | El Cajon |

* MTS: 115, 833[a]
* Park and ride: 65 spaces

El Cajon |

* Green Line Orange Line
* MTS: 115, 815, 816, 833, 848, 864, 872, 874, 875, 888, 891, 892, 894
* Greyhound Lines
* Sycuan Casino Shuttle
* Park and ride: 469 spaces

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Route 833 serves Arnele Avenue station only in the Southbound direction[20]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "MTS Board Gives Green Light to New Copper Line Trolley; Sets Stage for Better System Reliability". MTS. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
2. ^ a b c d "MTS board approves Copper Line trolley between Santee and El Cajon". NBC 7 San Diego. July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
3. ^ a b c d Dawson, Danielle (July 19, 2024). "MTS unanimously approves addition of new 'Copper Line' to Trolley system". FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
4. ^ a b c d e f "Copper Line - East County Connector". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. April 29, 2024. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
5. ^ a b "San Diego MTS approves plans to open Copper Line East County Connector in Sep 2024". www.tam-america.com. July 23, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
6. ^ a b "Copper Line - East County Connector". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
7. ^ "History". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. May 22, 2015. Retrieved June 6, 2024. "JULY 26, 1995 - EL CAJON TRANSIT - Fourth East (Orange) Line segment opens between El Cajon Transit Center and Santee Town Center."
8. ^ "History". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. May 22, 2015. Retrieved June 6, 2024. "1997 - BLUE LINE EXTENDS [...] MTDB renames South Line to Blue Line and East Line to Orange Line along with adding identification numbers for each Trolley Station."
9. ^ "East extension means changes in routes, timetables". U-T San Diego. July 3, 2005. Archived from the original on February 24, 2014. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
10. ^ "MTS hopes new 'Copper Line' can improve trolley system's reliability". KPBS Public Media. May 7, 2024.
11. ^ "September 2, 2012 Service Changes. Major Bus and Trolley Service Changes". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. Archived from the original on April 30, 2015.
12. ^ "April 29, 2018 Trolley Changes". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. April 11, 2018. Retrieved June 6, 2024. "The Orange Line will also be extended in El Cajon to Arnele Avenue Station."
13. ^ a b c d "San Diego MTS looking at adding new 'Copper Line' to Trolley system". FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
14. ^ "Board of Directors – DRAFT MINUTES" (PDF). San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. May 12, 2022.
15. ^ "San Diego tendría una nueva línea del Trolley: conoce la Copper Line" [San Diego would have a new Trolley line: meet the Copper Line]. SanDiegoRed (in Spanish). May 10, 2024. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
16. ^ Garrick, David (June 23, 2024). "New copper line trolley would bring major changes to East County transit". The San Diego Union-Tribune.
17. ^ a b "Rail News - San Diego MTS OKs new Copper Line Trolley. For Railroad Career Professionals". Progressive Railroading. July 22, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
18. ^ "San Diego MTS Board approves implementing new Copper Line Trolly Line segment". Mass Transit. July 19, 2024.
19. ^ Schulz, Sam (July 19, 2024). "New Copper Line OK'd for East County to help ease trolley delays". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
20. ^ "833" (PDF). www.sdmts.com. San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. June 30, 2023. Retrieved June 9, 2024.

* v
* t
* e

San Diego Trolley

Blue Line

University City|

* UTC
* Executive Drive
* UC San Diego Health La Jolla
* UC San Diego Central Campus
* VA Medical Center
* Nobel Drive

Clairemont|

* Balboa Avenue
* Clairemont Drive
* Tecolote Road

Old Town/Middletown|

* Old Town
* Washington Street
* Middletown

Downtown|

* County Center/Little Italy
* Santa Fe Depot
* America Plaza
* Civic Center
* Fifth Avenue
* City College
* Park & Market
* 12th & Imperial

Barrio_Logan|

* Barrio Logan
* Harborside
* Pacific Fleet

National City|

* 8th Street
* 24th Street

Chula Vista|

* E Street
* H Street
* Palomar Street

South San Diego|

* Palm Avenue
* Iris Avenue
* Beyer Boulevard
* San Ysidro Transit Center

Orange Line

Downtown|

* Courthouse
* Civic Center
* Fifth Avenue
* City College
* Park & Market
* 12th & Imperial

Logan Heights|

* 25th & Commercial
* 32nd & Commercial

Chollas View/Lincoln Park & Encanto|

* 47th Street
* Euclid Avenue
* Encanto/62nd Street

Lemon Grove|

* Massachusetts Avenue
* Lemon Grove Depot

La Mesa|

* Spring Street
* La Mesa Boulevard
* Grossmont

El Cajon|

* El Cajon
* Arnele Avenue

Green Line

Downtown|

* 12th & Imperial
* Gaslamp Quarter
* Convention Center
* Seaport Village
* Santa Fe Depot
* County Center/Little Italy

Old Town/Middletown|

* Middletown
* Washington Street
* Old Town

Mission Valley|

* Morena/Linda Vista
* Fashion Valley
* Hazard Center
* Mission Valley Center
* Rio Vista
* Fenton Parkway
* Stadium
* Mission San Diego

Grantville & College Area, San Diego|

* Grantville
* SDSU
* Alvarado

La Mesa|

* 70th Street
* Grossmont
* Amaya Drive

El Cajon Santee|

* El Cajon
* Arnele Avenue
* Gillespie Field
* Santee

Other

Other lines & stations|

* Silver Line (limited service)
* Special Event Line (used during Comic-Con only)
* Copper Line (proposed)
* Purple Line (proposed)

* San Diego Square (closed station)
* Columbia Street (closed station)

Connecting services|

* COASTER
* Pacific Surfliner

* MTS Bus
* NCTD Breeze Bus

* Pronto
* Transportation in San Diego
* San Diego Metropolitan Transit System
* San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway
* San Diego and Imperial Valley Railroad
* San Diego Electric Railway

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