Construction has begun on Mid-City’s first-ever freeway-level transit station, a $65 million project that officials say will improve travel in the area.

SANDAG, MTS and Caltrans officials joined community officials to break ground on the public transit project, set to build two new stations at University Avenue and El Cajon Boulevard along State Route 15 to serve four bus lines.

There will be next bus signage, customized bus shelters, site lighting, handrails, stairs, elevators and elevated walkways in and around the new stations.

A concrete barrier and sound walls will separate traffic at both stations, Caltrans said.

The Rapid transit services stop at El Cajon at the moment, but this new line will extend service and will later connect to the future South Bay Rapid service, which will travel to Sorrento Valley.

Once construction I complete, rapid transit services will run on the north and southbound transit-only lanes on the freeway median.

The funds for the project come from the Federal Transit Administration and TransNet, SANDAG’s half cent sales tax for transportation.

Later in 2015, Caltrans will begin construction on a bikeway along the SR 15 corridor.