SAN DIEGO\u27S LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM: A SUCCESS STORY. 1988 TRANSPORTATION ACHIEVEMENT AWARD (OPERATIONS)

The pragmatic approach of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit Development Board (MDTB) led to the development and success of the San Diego Trolley system. The article describes how the no frills, functional design helped to keep the capital costs of the system low and affordable, and was instrumental in keeping a lid on unit operating costs. This was made possible by MDTB\u27s adoption of the elements of project feasibility that included the following: low project capital cost; guideway should extend a long distance and offer high-speed operation; and the guideway system should be cost-effectively operated with an increasing farebox recovery rate. The project also illustrates an excellent incremental enhancement of service and staged development. A high degree of interagency cooperation has permitted a smooth coordination of bus and LRT planning. The culmination of unifying efforts was the creation of the fixed-route operating entities to form a federation of transit providers: the Metropolitan Transit System