Final trolley arrives in San Diego to complete MTS’ Mid-Coast Trolley Project fleet

The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) received delivery of the final S700 light-rail vehicle needed for service for the $2.1-billion Mid-Coast Trolley Project.

This will complete the fleet of 45 new light-rail vehicles built by Siemens Mobility to support the project.

“This is an exciting time at MTS. With the Mid-Coast Trolley fleet now complete, it signifies that we are nearing the end of construction for the Mid-Coast Trolley project – one of the largest infrastructure developments in San Diego’s history,” said Nathan Fletcher, MTS board chair and San Diego County supervisor. “The California Transportation Commission helped make this day possible. It provided funding for these trolleys and many other transit projects in San Diego that are a catalyst for economic growth and cleaner air.”

“It was great to see on my tour San Diego’s dedication to large transportation infrastructure projects and a strong vision for the future,” said Hilary Norton, chair of the California Transportation Commission (CTC), who joined MTS to commemorate the occasion. “CTC’s SB1 grants enhance mobility, create jobs, increase accessibility and improve safety. In turn, our grants help stimulate the economy. The Mid-Coast Trolley project is an important example of achieving all these goals.”

That commitment to rail transportation has encouraged UC San Diego to build a downtown campus, as well as new mixed-use projects that are being planned along the whole corridor from Old Town to University City, according to San Diego MTS. The Mid Coast Trolley project is an 11-mile extension of the UC San Diego Blue Line from Santa Fe Depot in downtown San Diego to the University community, serving major activity centers such as Old Town, UC San Diego and University Town Centre. San Diego MTS anticipates to begin service in late 2021.

The event also included a special dedication to the late MTS CEO Paul Jablonski. During Jablonski’s 16-year tenure at MTS, he helped secure a full-funding grant agreement of $2.1 billion for the construction of the Mid-Coast Trolley Extension, making it the largest light-rail extension in San Diego’s history.

A commemorative plaque was presented by Michael Cahill, president of Rolling Stock of Siemens Mobility, to honor Jablonski’s dedication and legacy. It will be permanently displayed in Trolley car 5045. 

“It was fitting that Siemens honored Paul’s legacy of service to the transit industry,” said Sharon Cooney, MTS chief executive officer. “Siemens has been a partner with MTS since 1980. Every light-rail car we have ever purchased – 244 of them – have been from Siemens. This partnership was extremely important to Paul and it is partly responsible for the huge growth of the California-based manufacturer. The Siemens Mobility division now supplies rail vehicles all over the world.”