Purple Line (San Diego Trolley)
| Company type | Planned commuter rail line |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Founder | San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) |
| Headquarters | San Diego , United States |
Area served | San Diego County, California |
| Products | Commuter rail service |
The Purple Line represents a planned commuter rail route developed by the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) as an extension of the San Diego Trolley network. This line is designed to connect the San Ysidro Transit Center near the Mexico–United States border with Kearny Mesa, and may eventually extend further to Carmel Valley. Its alignment primarily parallels I-805 and could feature as many as 12 stations, alongside a new facility for maintenance and a storage yard.
Initial analyses anticipated more than 40,000 daily riders when the project was conceived as a light rail system, with service intervals during peak hours between 7 and 10 minutes. Following the transition to a faster and higher-capacity commuter rail model, revised ridership projections are expected. The Purple Line's planned launch is set for 2035, dependent on securing necessary funding, with an overall estimated cost of $15.56 billion.
Planning
In April 2011, SANDAG introduced a draft version of its 2050 Regional Transportation Plan, which received approval on October 28, 2011. This blueprint included an inland trolley corridor stretching from San Ysidro to Kearny Mesa, subsequently designated as the Purple Line.
Line name announced
In April 2019, SANDAG sanctioned a ballot measure for November proposing a half-cent increase in countywide sales tax. This initiative outlined future transit developments and provided cost estimates for extending the trolley from San Ysidro to Kearny Mesa. The corridor was formally named the Purple Line at this time.
Mode changed from light rail to commuter rail
By 2021, SANDAG revised the Purple Line concept within its Regional Plan, shifting from light rail to commuter rail technology. This change allows trains to operate at speeds up to 110 mph.
Potential stations
The SANDAG proposal identifies possible station locations including:
- San Ysidro Transit Center, San Ysidro
- Iris Avenue, Otay Mesa West
- Orange Avenue/4th Avenue, Chula Vista
- E Street/4th Avenue, Chula Vista
- East Plaza Boulevard/Highland Avenue, National City
- Euclid Avenue (connection to Orange Line), Southeast San Diego
- Dwight Street/43rd Street, City Heights
- Stadium station (connection to Green Line), Mission Valley
- Anrae Street/Mesa College Drive, Birdland
- Clairemont Mesa Boulevard/Ruffner Street, Kearny Mesa
- UTC Transit Center, University City
- Mira Mesa Boulevard/Pacific Heights Boulevard, Sorrento Valley