The Mira Mesa Direct Access Ramp will open October 6 for use by carpools, vanpools, permitted clean-air vehicles, motorcycles, and single-occupancy vehicles with FasTrak transponders.
SAN DIEGO–The Mira Mesa Direct Access Ramp (DAR) will open Oct. 6, and the Miramar College Transit Station will open Sunday, Oct. 12, providing the region’s residents fast and efficient ways to get to key destinations along the I-15 corridor, as well as UC San Diego, Sorrento Mesa, and the UTC area.
Dignitaries from around the region participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony today to mark the completion of the $60 million infrastructure project, and the expansion of high-frequency, limited-stop Rapid transit services. SANDAG, Caltrans, and the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) built the new facilities in partnership with the City of San Diego and the San Diego Community College District. The enhancements were paid for by TransNet, the regional half-cent sales tax for transportation, as well as state and federal funds.
“This transit station provides a great new hub for MTS services on the I-15 corridor,” MTS Chair Harry Mathis said. “With this new facility, together with the introduction of our new Rapid 235 and Rapid 237 services, we have greatly enhanced the ability of people all over San Diego to get around our region. Rapid 235 is already a huge success, with more than 3,700 trips every weekday, and this facility will increase ridership even more. We’re confident that Rapid 237 will meet similar success.”
“As a region, we are making historic investments to transform public transit into an attractive and viable travel choice,” SANDAG First Vice Chair and Imperial Beach Mayor Jim Janney said. “Rapid offers a new level of comfort and convenience – comparable to riding the Trolley.”
Rapid 235, which began service in June between Escondido and Downtown San Diego, will start serving the college transit station on Sunday, Oct. 12.Rapid 237, a brand new line, will operate during weekday rush hours between Rancho Bernardo and UC San Diego starting Monday, Oct. 13. Rapidvehicles will take advantage of the DAR and the I-15 Express Lanes to improve speed and reliability.
Rapid 235 operates seven days a week from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., every 15 minutes during weekday rush hours and every 30 minutes during non-rush hours and on weekends. Besides Miramar College, the service stops at Escondido, Del Lago, Rancho Bernardo, Sabre Springs, Kearny Mesa, City Heights, City College, and along Broadway in Downtown San Diego.
Rapid 237 will operate every 15 minutes during weekday rush hours from 5:30-10:30 a.m. and 2-7 p.m. The service will stop at Rancho Bernardo, Sabre Springs, Miramar College, multiple locations along Mira Mesa Boulevard, La Jolla Village Drive at Genesee Avenue near the Westfield UTC mall, and the new Gilman Transit Center at UC San Diego.
These routes are part of a Rapid transit network that will continue to expand in the coming years. Riders will enjoy the new buses, faster service along dedicated lanes, limited stops, and comfortable shelters. The adult cash fare for Rapid is $2.50 each way. An adult Regional Monthly Pass costs $72. Discounted passes are available for youth, seniors, the disabled, and those on Medicare. To learn more about Rapid, visit RapidMTS.com.
Located off Black Mountain Road west of I-15, the Miramar College Transit Station features a dozen bus bays, new shelters, and next vehicle arrival signs, as well as on-campus parking for transit riders. The top level of the college police station/parking garage will be available for transit riders who download a parking pass in advance from sdmts.com. Other bus routes that will service the station include Routes 20, 31, 110, 921, and 964.
In addition to public transit vehicles, the Mira Mesa DAR will be open for use by carpools, vanpools, permitted clean-air vehicles, motorcycles, and single-occupancy vehicles with FasTrak transponders – just like the other DARs along the I-15. This is the fifth DAR that Caltrans and SANDAG have built on the I-15 corridor. For more information about the project, visit KeepSanDiegoMoving.com/miramar.
