The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System is scheduled to hold three live online public forums to lay out its plans to dramatically expand bus and rail service with a half-cent sales tax measure planned for the November ballot.

Projects to be included would likely include a trolley extension to the airport, an expansion of bus routes, free passes for K-12 students and elevated rail tracks at busy vehicle crossings to eliminate wait times for drivers.

If approved by voters, the levy is expected to bring in $24 billion over 50 years, doubling the agency’s current annual budget of $300 million.

The live public webinars are slated for Wednesday, Feb. 19, at 7 a.m.; Thursday, Feb. 20, at 9:30 a.m.; and in Spanish on Tuesday, Feb. 25, at 5:30 p.m.


During the hour-long events, participants will have a chance to ask questions and partake in interactive polling to influence the final design of the ballot proposal. MTS officials will be on hand to answer questions from the public.

Interested residents must register for the events at ElevateSD2020.com/webinar

Recent MTS polling found the agency is just shy of securing the needed two-thirds voter support needed to pass the measure in November. The Republican Party of San Diego County opposes the measure.

The agency now appears to be beefing up its outreach to promote its plan as well as solicit input about what voters would like to see included in the measure.


MTS has seen its ridership increase in recent months after having sustained declines for several years. Between July and December, the agency saw its daily boardings rise by more than a million trips, compared to the same time frame last year.

“More and more San Diegans are using transit as an alternative to driving. This has a direct effect on lessening traffic congestion, providing cleaner air and lowering greenhouse gas emissions,” said San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher, who chairs the MTS Board of Directors. “This momentum significantly helps our efforts moving MTS forward to provide a better connected, less congested, greener future.”

MTS operates 95 bus routes and three Trolley lines in 10 cities and unincorporated parts of the county, servicing 300,000 passenger a day during the week.

