The South Bay Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project will provide high-speed transit connections between downtown San Diego and the Otay Mesa Border Crossing along the future I-805 Managed Lanes and a dedicated transitway through eastern Chula Vista. Use of the managed lanes and transitway will provide travel priority for the service allowing it to bypass traffic congestion.
This new BRT will provide access to regional employment centers in downtown San Diego, the Otay Mesa Business Park, and the future Eastern Urban Center, as well as serving residential communities in Chula Vista and National City.
In the long-term, the BRT will operate on HOV lanes on SR 94 and along the I-805 Managed Lanes with Direct Access Ramps connecting freeway stations/park and ride lots. As the route exits I-805 at Palomar Street in Chula Vista, it will travel on a dedicated right-of-way with stations in the Otay Ranch transit-oriented villages of Heritage, Lomas Verdes and Santa Venetia. From there, the BRT will continue southbound with stations at the new Otay Ranch Town Center, the Eastern Urban Center and a future university station.
The BRT will use SR 125 to directly serve the Otay Mesa Border crossing. Prior to construction of the Managed Lanes on I-805, the service is planned to operate in converted freeway shoulder lanes dedicated to transit on both SR 94 and I-805.
Between 2002 and 2005, planning and engineering studies on the alignment, station locations, and transit priority treatments, as well as development of preliminary capital and operating cost estimates have been completed. In early 2006, work has focused on integration of the BRT project (stations and direct access ramps) into the I-805 Managed Lanes environmental document.
The next phase of work will include environmental analyses and preliminary engineering. This project will receive funding from the TransNet 1/2–cent sales tax extension that was approved by voters in November 2004. Additional federal funding may be sought for the project. The first phase of the project, between downtown San Diego and the Eastern Urban Center is scheduled to be completed by 2010. Phase Two to the Otay Mesa Border crossing is scheduled to be completed by 2015. | 
