SANDAG Announces $1B Federal Grant for Mid-Coast Trolley Extension to University City

SAN DIEGO, CA — Federal Transit Administration officials from the U.S. Department of Transportation will join local leaders Wednesday to announce a $1 billion grant to the San Diego region to build the Mid-Coast Trolley Extension, the San Diego Association of Governments announced late Tuesday.

A ceremony is planned for Wednesday at the UC San Diego campus in La Jolla, during which federal and local officials will sign a ceremonial full-funding grant agreement for the project.

"The [...] agreement is the last critical step needed to begin construction of the region’s newest Trolley line, which will extend service from Old Town to the University City community," said Helen Gao, senior public information officer for SANDAG.

It will be the largest public transit project in the history of the region. The 11-mile Mid-Coast Trolley Extension will include nine new stations serving Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, the VA Medical Center, UC San Diego, and the dense business and commercial districts along Genesee Avenue.

The total project cost is estimated at $2.1 billion, with the regional TransNet half-cent sales tax covering half of the cost and this federal grant covering the other half, Gao said.

A community groundbreaking ceremony is planned from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 22 at the Preuss School field in La Jolla. The project will be kicked off with a picnic on the grass, including free food, live music, a commemorative gift and family activities.

More information about the project can be found here.