#2
Fastest growing ridership in the country since 2020
MTS is coming to a crossroads.
Public transportation in San Diego is seeing a lot of momentum.
However, that current growth is threatened by a projected $100 million budget shortage in just a few years.
MTS OnTrack will create two plans to help guide the future of MTS service. One plan that outlines service improvements if MTS gets more funding, and another plan outlining service cuts should MTS receive no additional funding. (You can learn more in the timeline below, or on our FAQ page.)
You can help shape the future of MTS by completing the activities below:
- Vote for the priorities that matter most to you in a public transit system
- Map where you want to see new and/or improved bus and Trolley service in the region
- Join the conversation about transportation project and service needs, trending project ideas, and more.
Learn more about MTS OnTrack, ridership, funding levels and more below.
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80+ Million
Passenger trips taken on MTS buses and Trolleys
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71%
More youth trips since launch of free youth pass
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67%
Riders using MTS to get to work or school
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49%
Increase in riders reporting their primary trip purpose is for special event and leisure ridership
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Vote for Your Transit Priorities
What matters most to you when investing in a better transit system? Low fares? More frequent service? Faster service?
Help shape what priorities are reflected in MTS' plans for the future of transit.
Map Where You Want Better Service
Show MTS where you want new and/or better bus and Trolley service in the region.
Community Forum
Have a transit project or improvement you want to see come to life?
Comment about what you want to see for MTS service in the future, and engage with others' ideas, too.
OnTrack Timeline
Phase 1: Plan for Better Service
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Timeline item 1 - active
Community Feedback (April - August 2025)
DESIRED TRANSIT INVESTMENTS
MTS is conducting in-person and online outreach to learn from community members what they want to see in the transit system should MTS receive more funding. -
Timeline item 2 - incomplete
Expanded Transit Service Design (September - October 2025)
MTS and its planning consultant, Transportation Management Design (TMD), will be evaluating all community feedback received to-date, and well as system performance, regional travel data and more.
At this stage, they will be creating proposed service improvements and projects to help meet the agency's goal of making transit work better for more people.
Expect to see proposals for community review and feedback in late fall/early winter.
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Timeline item 3 - incomplete
Proposed Project Improvements (November - Decemeber 2025)
COMMUNITY FEEDBACK ON PROPOSED TRANSIT IMPROVEMENT PLAN/PROJECTS
Community members will be invited to provide feedback on potential service improvements and projects that could be included in the MTS OnTrack Plan for service improvements.
The final projects included in the plan will help shape MTS staff and Board priorities for the forseeable future.
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Timeline item 4 - incomplete
Final Plan Approval (January - March 2026)
BOARD APPROVAL OF PLAN FOR SERVICE IMPROVEMENT
The final plan for service improvements is expected to go before the MTS Board of Directors in early 2026. The final plan will shape MTS priorities for project and service implementation should additional funding be secured.The service improvements outlined in the plan will only take place if/when additional funding is secured. Should no additional funding be available to MTS by the end of 2026, service cuts are expected (please see MTS OnTrack phase two information).
Phase 2: Service Cuts
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Timeline item 1 - incomplete
Community Feedback (Spring-Summer 2026)
SERVICE PRIORITIES
In order to meet anticipated budget projections, MTS expects to cut up to $50 million of transit services.Starting in spring-summer of 2026, riders will be asked to provide input on their priorites for maintaining service throughout the system.
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Timeline item 2 - incomplete
Transit Service Modeling (Summer 2026)
MTS and its planning consultant, Transportation Management Design (TMD), will be evaluating all community feedback received to date, and well as system performance, and more.
They will create proposed service cut packages that would meet the agency's budget demands, should no additional funding be secured for MTS.
Expect to see proposals for community review and feedback in summer 2026.
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Timeline item 3 - incomplete
Proposed Service Cuts (Early Fall 2026)
COMMUNITY FEEDBACK ON PROPOSED SERVICE REDUCTIONS
Transit dependent communities and MTS riders will be asked to provide feedback on proposed service reduction packages and plans as the agency looks to address a potential $100 million budget shortfall in about two years.
If no additional funding is identified for MTS by the end of 2026, service reductions outlined in the plan may start going into effect in early 2027.
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Timeline item 4 - incomplete
Final Plan Approval + Public Hearing (November-December 2026)
BOARD APPROVAL OF PLAN FOR SERVICE REDUCTIONS
The final plan for service improvements is expected to go before the MTS Board of Directors at a public hearing in late 2026. The final plan will outline how MTS would start applying service reductions in 2027.As a reminder, the plan will only take place if, by the end of 2026, no additional is fundingis identified. Should additional funding be secured before the end of 2026, MTS would start implementing service improvements from phase one of MTS OnTrack.
Sign up for OnTrack Updates
Contact Us
Have questions or want to learn more about a project, contact us below:
| participate@sdmts.com | |
| Website | www.sdmts.com |
