Of
all the cities in California that have built new light rail systems,
San Diego may be the most inspiring. This southern metropolis is
both a warm refuge from colder climes, as well as a magnet for those
from Central America looking for better economic conditions.
The bright red cars of the San Diego Trolley first linked downtown
with the Mexican border over 20 years ago. Workers and tourists can
use the light rail trains to avoid congestion on parallel roads and
highways. You can hop off the Blue line just yards from the
frontier, take a pedestrian overpass and be in Mexico a few minutes
later. Heading north from central San Diego, this route travels to
Old Town, a state park that recreates life in a colonial Spanish
town. The area’s shops, bars and fancy Mexican restaurants attract
both locals and visitors.
In
the last quarter century, two more Trolley lines have opened – each
assigned a colour and special pictograph. The latter helps
distinguish between routes without relying on words. Such designs
are used in various transit systems around the world including
Mexico City, where each subway station sports a unique symbol.
Toronto briefly flirted with this method of “way-finding” – look for
clues at St. George station.
The Blue line to Tijuana, marked by a stylized ocean wave, runs
parallel to the Pacific coastline. The Orange line, its symbol a
shining sun, runs east of downtown through suburbs that have
sprawled over San Diego’s many hills. A tour of the city lights
after dark would be marvellous, except that the streetcar’s windows
are heavily tinted. The Green line (no surprise – a palm tree)
opened in 2005 and travels from Old Town eastward where it
eventually joins up with the Orange line.
The streetcars are almost entirely separated from traffic, running
on exclusive street lanes downtown and speeding along rail lines in
the suburbs. The region’s transit system could be considered
‘mature’, with 82 kilometers of light rail serving around two
million people. The TTC’s three subway lines and
Scarborough RT measure about 70
kilometers in length.
And yet, this is still a Californian city -- most people get around
by car. Despite having relatively frequent service compared to other
U.S. cities, many buses here do not arrive more than every half
hour. Even the trolley lines operate half-hourly during evenings or
nights. The original Blue line offers service every 7 and a half
minutes in peak periods.
The larger San Diego area also has one commuter rail line, known as
the Coaster. It shares tracks and the delightful downtown Santa Fe
station with Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner train. This intercity
service departs regularly for Los Angeles, at times travelling right
next to the ocean.
Although Mexico’s passenger trains ceased operations in the last
century, the Mexican state of Baja California is planning its own
rail service to the border. A line between Tijuana and the nearby
city of Tecate may open later this year, serving both workers and
tourists.