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Public Transit

Mid-City Rapid/Rapid 215

Mid-City Rapid (Rapid 215) – a high-frequency, limited-stop service between San Diego State University and Downtown San Diego via El Cajon and Park boulevards – began service on October 12, 2014. For more information, including project fact sheets visit RapidMTS.com and RapidMTS.com/about-rapid.

Major construction activities for this project are complete; however, minor work is ongoing to finish up various components of the project.

For construction details, please visit   KeepSanDiegoMoving.com/MidCityRapid.

Rapid 215 provides North Park, City Heights, and College Area residents, students, and workers with a fast and reliable service in a key transit corridor in the region. 

Rapid 215 achieves faster travel times by using measures such as transit signal priority, dedicated bus lanes, and limited station spacing. Rapid 215 is among the first of a new breed of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) services that SANDAG is building in collaboration with the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS). The project is an integral part of a regionwide strategy to create a BRT network, so residents have travel choices that are attractive alternatives to driving.

The Mid-City Rapid project is included in the TransNet Extension Ordinance approved by local voters in 2004. TransNet, a regional half-cent sales tax for transportation, funds half of the cost of Mid-City Rapid. The other half of the funding comes from a federal grant. The budget for the project, including buying new buses, is about $44 million.

Project Benefits

The project benefits both existing transit riders and serves to attract new riders by transforming MTS Route 15 into a Rapid service with faster travel times, enhanced customer experience, and more frequent service. Specific improvements include:

Faster Travel Times: Improved travel times is achieved by consolidating transit stops, building transit-only lanes on Park Boulevard, synchronizing traffic signals on El Cajon Boulevard, extending green signal phases for buses, and low-floor boarding.

Enhanced Customer Experience: The customer experience has been improved through the creation of transit stations with distinctive shelters branded for the Rapid service, next arrival signs, and new articulated vehicles with a unique look. The project also has improved the pedestrian environment and safety in and around station areas through better crosswalks and hardscape/landscape enhancements.

Frequent Service: Service frequency has been upgraded on the Rapid to every 10 minutes during weekday rush hours, and every 15 minutes during most non-rush hours and weekends, and every 30 minutes after hours on weekdays and weekends.

Rapid 215 route runs through several of San Diego’s older, densely developed urban communities that are identified as smart growth areas in the Regional Comprehensive Plan. New development continues to occur along the route, with an emphasis on residential in-fill and walkability. In addition, El Cajon Boulevard has been enhanced with landscaped medians to improve its image and appeal. The Mid-City Rapid project will continue this trend and support the revitalization of El Cajon Boulevard.

Project Manager

Eric Adams, Senior Project Manager
Phone: (619) 699-1974, Email: eric.adams@sandag.org

For media inquiries, please contact the SANDAG Public Information Office at (619) 699-1950 or pio@sandag.org.