Courthouse station (San Diego Trolley)
| Company type | Light rail station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | April 29, 2018 |
| Headquarters | San Diego , United States |
Area served | San Diego, California |
| Products | Light rail transit services |
Courthouse station is a light rail stop situated in San Diego, California. It functions as the western endpoint of the San Diego Trolley's Orange Line, positioned downtown on C Street between State and Union streets, nestled between the Hall of Justice and San Diego Central Courthouse. The station commenced operations on April 29, 2018, after nearly a year of construction work.
History
Upon completion of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) Trolley Renewal Project, MTS restructured trolley routes in the downtown area to alleviate operational conflicts caused by three lines sharing the same tracks. Originally, Orange Line services ended at Santa Fe Depot, where they shared tracks with the southbound Green Line. By June 2017, the Orange Line terminus shifted to America Plaza, which serves as the northern terminus for the Blue Line. This change introduced complicated switching maneuvers that frequently resulted in delays for both lines. MTS predicted that extending the Blue Line to UCSD would further exacerbate these operational challenges.
To address this issue, MTS proposed establishing a dedicated western terminus for the Orange Line to streamline layover procedures. The selected location was three blocks east of America Plaza, situated between the Hall of Justice and the under-construction San Diego Central Courthouse. Although court officials and Sheriff Bill Gore expressed security concerns, MTS modified the design by installing a fence to separate the station from courthouse parking and by integrating station surveillance cameras with courthouse security systems.
Funding for the project included a $31.9 million state grant awarded in 2015 through a cap and trade program, supporting both the Courthouse station development and a vehicle replacement plan. Construction began in August 2017, necessitating several weekend closures of the Orange Line. The station was officially dedicated on April 27, 2018, and opened for passenger service two days later.
Station layout
Courthouse station is served by Orange Line trains operating on a single siding track with boarding available from one side platform. Meanwhile, Blue and Silver line trains pass through on two adjacent main tracks without stopping.