North County Transit District
Encyclopedia
The North County Transit District (NCTD) is the agency responsible for public transportation in North San Diego County, California
, United States
. The agency operates the "Breeze" bus service, the Sprinter light rail service between Oceanside and Escondido, and manages the San Diego Coaster, a commuter rail service between Oceanside and Downtown San Diego, in conjunction with Amtrak
.
NCTD owns 62 mi (99.8 km) of mainline track, as well as the 22 mi (35.4 km) Escondido Branch that is served by the Sprinter beginning in 2008. The Coaster commuter train runs on 41.1 mi (66.1 km) of the mainline.
NCTD maintains two rail yards. One is shared with the San Diego Trolley
at 12th & Imperial in Centre City San Diego. It is used to store trainsets during the midday. The other, located north of Oceanside at Stuart Mesa on Camp Pendleton, is shared with Metrolink
. This is where the main maintenance facility is located.
in 1994. NCTD created the subsidiary San Diego Northern Railway Corporation in 1994 and dissolved it in 2002. Total investments through NCTD total $750 million.
In November 2009, NCTD approved outsourcing
all bus and rail operations effective July 1, 2010 to First Transit
. The agency would save $70 million over seven years with the move. Fleet and facility operators remained NCTD employees until their contracts expired June 30, 2011.
NCTD still uses the SDNR reporting marks for its rail equipment. With new rail operations management, between January 2010 and June 2011 ridership increased 29%. This is the single greatest increase in ridership for all US rail-lines in the year 2010.
* indicates route that does not run on Saturdays, Sundays, or holidays.
** indicates route that does not run on Sundays or holidays.
to store regional transit passes and/or cash value on a re-writeable RFID card.
, called the Surfing Madona, that city is removing it.
North San Diego County, California
North County is a region in the northern area of San Diego County, California. It is the second most populous region in the county after San Diego, with an estimated population of 826,985. North County is well known for its affluence, especially in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Carlsbad, Del Mar, Rancho...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The agency operates the "Breeze" bus service, the Sprinter light rail service between Oceanside and Escondido, and manages the San Diego Coaster, a commuter rail service between Oceanside and Downtown San Diego, in conjunction with Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
.
NCTD owns 62 mi (99.8 km) of mainline track, as well as the 22 mi (35.4 km) Escondido Branch that is served by the Sprinter beginning in 2008. The Coaster commuter train runs on 41.1 mi (66.1 km) of the mainline.
NCTD maintains two rail yards. One is shared with the San Diego Trolley
San Diego Trolley
The San Diego Trolley is a light rail system operating in the metropolitan area of San Diego. The operator, San Diego Trolley, Inc. , is a subsidiary of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System ...
at 12th & Imperial in Centre City San Diego. It is used to store trainsets during the midday. The other, located north of Oceanside at Stuart Mesa on Camp Pendleton, is shared with Metrolink
Metrolink (Southern California)
Metrolink is a commuter rail system serving Los Angeles and the surrounding area of Southern California; it currently consists of six lines and 55 stations using of track....
. This is where the main maintenance facility is located.
History of the San Diego Northern Railway and NCTD
San Diego Northern Railway (SDNR) purchased the tracks used by Coaster from the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe RailwayAtchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
in 1994. NCTD created the subsidiary San Diego Northern Railway Corporation in 1994 and dissolved it in 2002. Total investments through NCTD total $750 million.
In November 2009, NCTD approved outsourcing
Outsourcing
Outsourcing is the process of contracting a business function to someone else.-Overview:The term outsourcing is used inconsistently but usually involves the contracting out of a business function - commonly one previously performed in-house - to an external provider...
all bus and rail operations effective July 1, 2010 to First Transit
First Transit
First Transit, a division of FirstGroup America, is a United States-based subsidiary of the United Kingdom-based FirstGroup. It provides contract public transit and paratransit services, transit management services and transit consulting throughout North America...
. The agency would save $70 million over seven years with the move. Fleet and facility operators remained NCTD employees until their contracts expired June 30, 2011.
NCTD still uses the SDNR reporting marks for its rail equipment. With new rail operations management, between January 2010 and June 2011 ridership increased 29%. This is the single greatest increase in ridership for all US rail-lines in the year 2010.
Services
- Breeze- Fixed-route local and express bus services.
- Breeze RapidBreeze RapidBreeze Rapid is a bus rapid transit service operated by the North County Transit District in Escondido, California, in North County, San Diego....
- Bus rapid transitBus rapid transitBus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
line in Escondido. - Coaster- Commuter rail service from Oceanside to Downtown San Diego.
- Lift- ParatransitParatransitParatransit is an alternative mode of flexible passenger transportation that does not follow fixed routes or schedules. Typically mini-buses are used to provide paratransit service, but also share taxis and jitneys are important providers....
service for those with disabilities that are unable to use the accessible fixed-route system. - Sprinter- Light rail from OceansideOceanside, California-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Oceanside had a population of 167,086. The population density was 3,961.8 people per square mile...
to Escondido, CaliforniaEscondido, CaliforniaEscondido is a city occupying a shallow valley ringed by rocky hills, just north of the city of San Diego, California. Founded in 1888, it is one of the oldest cities in San Diego County. The city had a population of 143,911 at the 2010 census. Its municipal government set itself an operating...
.
Breeze Lines
As of January 2011, there are thirty bus routes run by NCTD.- 101 - Oceanside Transit CenterOceanside (Amtrak station)Oceanside is a station on Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner passenger train route located in Oceanside, California. It is located at the Oceanside Transit Center, which is also the northern terminus of the San Diego Coaster, the southern terminus of the Metrolink Orange County Line and Inland...
to UTCWestfield UTCWestfield UTC, formerly University Towne Centre , is an open-air shopping mall in the University City community of San Diego, California. It lies just east of La Jolla, near the University of California, San Diego campus...
via former Highway 101- Transfers to: Sprinter (Oceanside), Coaster (Oceanside, Carlsbad VillageCarlsbad Village (NCTD station)Carlsbad Village is one of two passenger rail stations serving the city of Carlsbad, California on North County Transit District's COASTER commuter rail route. It is the last station on the line before reaching the northern terminus at Oceanside....
, EncinitasEncinitas (NCTD station)Encinitas is a passenger rail station serving the city of Encinitas, California on North County Transit District's COASTER commuter rail route.-External links:*...
, Solana BeachSolana Beach (Amtrak station)Solana Beach is a large railway station on Amtrak California's Pacific Surfliner passenger train and on North County Transit District's COASTER commuter rail route route located in Solana Beach, California. The Pacific Surfliner is the second most travelled railway in the United States, with only...
), AmtrakAmtrakThe National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
(Oceanside, Solana Beach), MetrolinkMetrolink (Southern California)Metrolink is a commuter rail system serving Los Angeles and the surrounding area of Southern California; it currently consists of six lines and 55 stations using of track....
(Oceanside), MTSSan Diego Metropolitan Transit SystemThe San Diego Metropolitan Transit System is the public transit service provider for Central, South, Northeast and Southeast San Diego County, in the United States. MTS operating subsidiaries include the San Diego Trolley, Incorporated , and San Diego Transit Corporation...
(La Jolla Shores, Torrey Pines Rd, UTCWestfield UTCWestfield UTC, formerly University Towne Centre , is an open-air shopping mall in the University City community of San Diego, California. It lies just east of La Jolla, near the University of California, San Diego campus...
), RTARiverside Transit AgencyRiverside Transit Agency is a joint powers agency that provides public transportation in western Riverside County, California, United States. It operates more than 300 vehicles on 36 local fixed routes, eight long-distance "CommuterLink" express bus routes, and Dial-A-Ride service. RTA was...
(Oceanside)
- Transfers to: Sprinter (Oceanside), Coaster (Oceanside, Carlsbad Village
- 302 - Oceanside to Vista Transit CenterVista Transit CenterVista Transit Center is a station located in Vista, California, served by North County Transit District's Sprinter light rail line and Breeze bus line . The station is located midpoint between the rail line's western terminus at Oceanside Transit Center and eastern terminus at Escondido Transit...
via Vista Way- Transfers to: Sprinter (Oceanside, Coast HighwayCoast Highway (NCTD station)Coast Highway is a station in Oceanside, California that is served by North County Transit District's Sprinter light rail line. The station is located at 1304½ S. Tremont Street.-External links:*...
, Vista), Coaster (Oceanside), Amtrak (Oceanside), Metrolink (Oceanside), RTA (Oceanside)
- Transfers to: Sprinter (Oceanside, Coast Highway
- 303 - Oceanside to Vista via Mission Avenue and N Santa Fe Ave
- Transfers to: Sprinter (Oceanside, Vista), Coaster (Oceanside), Amtrak (Oceanside), Metrolink (Oceanside), RTA (Oceanside)
- 304*/404* - EncinitasEncinitas (NCTD station)Encinitas is a passenger rail station serving the city of Encinitas, California on North County Transit District's COASTER commuter rail route.-External links:*...
to San Marcos via Rancho Santa Fe Road- Transfers to: Sprinter (Palomar CollegePalomar College (NCTD station)Palomar College is a station in San Marcos, California that is served by North County Transit District's Sprinter light rail line and Breeze bus line. It is located across the street from Palomar College, serving the campus. The bus bay is also located across the street from the station.-External...
), Coaster (Encinitas)
- Transfers to: Sprinter (Palomar College
- 305 - Escondido Transit CenterEscondido Transit CenterEscondido Transit Center is a bus and train station located in Downtown Escondido, California. It serves as the current eastern terminus of the North County Transit District's Sprinter light rail line and the northern terminus of the Breeze Rapid bus rapid transit line...
to Vista via Mission Rd/S Santa Fe Ave- Transfers to: Sprinter (Vista, Buena CreekBuena Creek (NCTD station)Buena Creek is a station in Vista, California that is served by North County Transit District's Sprinter light rail line. The station is located at 1923 Buena Creek Road. Although its mailing address lists Vista as the city, it is the only station along the entire line to be situated in an...
, Palomar College, San Marcos Civic CenterSan Marcos Civic Center (NCTD station)San Marcos Civic Center is a station on North County Transit District's Sprinter light rail line. It serves the heart of San Marcos, California. It is located at the intersection of San Marcos Boulevard and West Mission Road.-External links:*...
, Nordahl RdNordahl Road (NCTD station)Nordahl Road is a station served by North County Transit District's Sprinter light rail line. It straddles the city limits of San Marcos and Escondido, California, with its mailing address in Escondido. The station is located between Barham Drive and Auto Park Way/Nordahl Road, both of which...
, Escondido), RTA (Escondido)
- Transfers to: Sprinter (Vista, Buena Creek
- 306 - FallbrookFallbrook, CaliforniaFallbrook is an unincorporated community in northern San Diego County, California. The Fallbrook census-designated place population was 30,534 at the 2010 census, up from 29,100 at the 2000 census....
to Vista via Mission Rd- Transfers to: Sprinter (Vista)
- 308 - Solana Beach StationSolana Beach (Amtrak station)Solana Beach is a large railway station on Amtrak California's Pacific Surfliner passenger train and on North County Transit District's COASTER commuter rail route route located in Solana Beach, California. The Pacific Surfliner is the second most travelled railway in the United States, with only...
to Escondido via Del Dios Hwy.- Transfers to: Sprinter (Escondido) Coaster (Solana Beach), Amtrak (Solana Beach), RTA (Escondido)
- 309 - Oceanside to Encinitas via El Camino Real
- 313* - Oceanside to Town Center North via Mesa Drive
- Transfers to: Sprinter (Oceanside), Coaster (Oceanside), Amtrak (Oceanside), Metrolink (Oceanside), RTA (Oceanside)
- 315 - Town Center North to 22 Area (Camp PendletonMarine Corps Base Camp PendletonMarine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is the major West Coast base of the United States Marine Corps and serves as its prime amphibious training base...
) via Vandegrift Blvd. - 317* - Vandegrift/Gold to Rancho Del Oro StationRancho Del Oro (NCTD station)Rancho Del Oro is a station in Oceanside, California that is served by North County Transit District's Sprinter light rail line. The station is located at 3513 Oceanside Boulevard.-External links:*...
via Ocean Ranch- Transfers to: Sprinter (Rancho Del Oro)
- 318** - Oceanside to El Camino Real StationEl Camino Real (NCTD station)El Camino Real is a station in Oceanside, California that is served by North County Transit District's Sprinter light rail line. The station is located at 1505 El Camino Real.-External links:*...
via Oceanside Blvd- Transfers to: Sprinter (Oceanside, Coast Highway, Crouch StCrouch Street (NCTD station)Crouch Street is a station in Oceanside, California that is served by North County Transit District's Sprinter light rail line. The station is located at 609 Crouch Street.-External links:*...
, El Camino Real), Coaster (Oceanside), Amtrak (Oceanside), Metrolink (Oceanside), RTA (Oceanside)
- Transfers to: Sprinter (Oceanside, Coast Highway, Crouch St
- 319* - El Corazon Senior Center - Rancho Del Oro Station - MiraCosta CollegeMiraCosta CollegeMiraCosta College is a community college located in the northern coastal region of San Diego County, California. MiraCosta College is located at 1 Barnard Drive, Oceanside, California 92056. It also has a campus in Cardiff-by-the-Sea and a Community Learning Center in Oceanside.- History :MiraCosta...
- Transfers to: Sprinter (Rancho Del Oro)
- 321* - Carlsbad VillageCarlsbad Village (NCTD station)Carlsbad Village is one of two passenger rail stations serving the city of Carlsbad, California on North County Transit District's COASTER commuter rail route. It is the last station on the line before reaching the northern terminus at Oceanside....
to Palomar College via LegolandLegoland CaliforniaLegoland California is a theme park located in Carlsbad, California, focused on Lego bricks. It opened on March 20, 1999. It is the third Legoland park to open, and the first Legoland outside of Europe...
- Transfers to: Sprinter (Palomar College), Coaster (Carlsbad Village)
- 325** - Carlsbad Village to Town Center North via College Blvd
- Transfers to: Sprinter (College BlvdCollege Boulevard (NCTD station)College Boulevard is a station in Oceanside, California that is served by North County Transit District's Sprinter light rail line. The station is located at 4103½ Oceanside Boulevard.-External links:*...
), Coaster (Carlsbad Village)
- Transfers to: Sprinter (College Blvd
- 331 - Buena Creek StationBuena Creek (NCTD station)Buena Creek is a station in Vista, California that is served by North County Transit District's Sprinter light rail line. The station is located at 1923 Buena Creek Road. Although its mailing address lists Vista as the city, it is the only station along the entire line to be situated in an...
to University Dr- Transfers to: Sprinter (Buena Creek)
- 332* - South Vista and Vista Business Park
- Transfers to: Sprinter (Vista)
- 333 - Town Center North to Vista via Old Grove Rd and Oceanside Blvd
- Transfers to: Sprinter (College Blvd, Melrose DrMelrose Drive (NCTD station)Melrose Drive is a station in Oceanside, California that is served by North County Transit District's Sprinter light rail line. The station is located at 1495 1/2 N. Melrose Drive.-External links:*...
, Vista)
- Transfers to: Sprinter (College Blvd, Melrose Dr
- 334*/335* - VistaVista, CaliforniaVista is a city in north San Diego County, California. It was incorporated January 28, 1963 and became a charter city on June 13, 2007. Located just seven miles inland from the Pacific Ocean in northern San Diego County, the City of Vista has a Mediterranean climate...
Circulator- Transfers to: Sprinter (Melrose Dr, Vista)
- 340* - Cal State San MarcosCalifornia State University, San MarcosCalifornia State University San Marcos is a public, coeducational university and one of the 23 general campuses of the California State University system. located in San Marcos, California, a suburban town in north San Diego County. It was founded in 1989 as the 20th CSU campus and was the first...
Shuttle- Transfers to: Sprinter (Cal State San MarcosCal State San Marcos (NCTD station)Cal State San Marcos is an elevated station in San Marcos, California. It is the only elevated station along the North County Transit District's Sprinter light rail line. The station serves the California State University, San Marcos campus, which is located southwest of the station...
)
- Transfers to: Sprinter (Cal State San Marcos
- 347* - Escondido to Palomar College via Cal State San Marcos
- Transfers to: Sprinter (Palomar College, Cal State San Marcos, Nordahl Rd, Escondido), RTA (Escondido)
- 350 Breeze RapidBreeze RapidBreeze Rapid is a bus rapid transit service operated by the North County Transit District in Escondido, California, in North County, San Diego....
- Escondido to Del Lago Park and RidePark and ridePark and ride facilities are car parks with connections to public transport that allow commuters and other people wishing to travel into city centres to leave their vehicles and transfer to a bus, rail system , or carpool for the rest of their trip...
- Transfers to: Sprinter (Escondido), MTS (Del Lago), RTA (Escondido)
- 351/352 - EscondidoEscondido, CaliforniaEscondido is a city occupying a shallow valley ringed by rocky hills, just north of the city of San Diego, California. Founded in 1888, it is one of the oldest cities in San Diego County. The city had a population of 143,911 at the 2010 census. Its municipal government set itself an operating...
Circulator- Transfers to: Sprinter (Escondido), RTA (Escondido)
- 354 - Orange Glen High SchoolOrange Glen High SchoolOrange Glen High School is one of the five public high schools in the Escondido Union School District in Escondido, California. It was established in 1962. The school earned the prestigious California Distinguished School Award in 2007...
via Mission Rd, Lincoln Ave, and Midway Dr- Transfers to: Sprinter (Escondido), RTA (Escondido)
- 356 - Morning View Dr, El Norte Pkwy, and Escondido Blvd
- Transfers to: Sprinter (Escondido), RTA (Escondido)
- 358*/359* - N Broadway, Country Club, and El Norte Pkwy
- Transfers to: Sprinter (Escondido), RTA (Escondido)
- 386* - Escondido to RamonaRamona, CaliforniaRamona is a census-designated place in San Diego County, California. The population was 20,292 at the 2010 census.The term Ramona also refers to an unincorporated community that includes both the Ramona CDP and the adjacent CDP of San Diego Country Estates CDP...
via Wild Animal Park- Transfers to: Sprinter (Escondido), MTS (Ramona), RTA (Escondido)
- 388/389 - Escondido to PalaPala Indian ReservationThe Pala Indian Reservation is located in the middle San Luis Rey River Valley in northern San Diego County, California, east of the community of Fallbrook, and has been assigned feature ID 272502. Historic variant names used to describe the area include Mission Indian Reservation and Mission...
- Transfers to: Sprinter (Escondido), RTA (Escondido)
- 395 - Oceanside to San ClementeSan Clemente, CaliforniaSan Clemente is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 63,522 at the 2010 census. Located on the California Coast, midway between Los Angeles and San Diego at the southern tip of the county, it is known for its ocean, hill, and mountain views, a pleasant climate and its Spanish...
via Camp Pendleton- Transfers to: Sprinter (Oceanside), Coaster (Oceanside), Amtrak (Oceanside), Metrolink (Oceanside), OCTAOrange County Transportation AuthorityThe Orange County Transportation Authority is the public sector transportation planning body and mass transit service provider for Orange County, California. Its ancestor agencies include not only the prior Orange County Transit District but also such diverse entities as the Pacific Electric...
(San Clemente), RTA (Oceanside)
- Transfers to: Sprinter (Oceanside), Coaster (Oceanside), Amtrak (Oceanside), Metrolink (Oceanside), OCTA
- 444* - Carlsbad PoinsettiaCarlsbad Poinsettia (NCTD station)Carlsbad Poinsettia is one of two passenger rail stations serving the city of Carlsbad, California on North County Transit District's COASTER commuter rail route.-External links:*...
- Coaster Connection- Transfers to: Coaster (Carlsbad Poinsettia)
- 445* - Carlsbad Poinsettia - Coaster Connection
- Transfers to: Coaster (Carlsbad Poinsettia)
* indicates route that does not run on Saturdays, Sundays, or holidays.
** indicates route that does not run on Sundays or holidays.
Compass Card
In September 2008, SANDAG introduced a new contactless "Compass Card" using technology by Cubic Transportation Systems, Inc. The Compass Card allows passengers from NCTD and the San Diego Metropolitan Transit SystemSan Diego Metropolitan Transit System
The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System is the public transit service provider for Central, South, Northeast and Southeast San Diego County, in the United States. MTS operating subsidiaries include the San Diego Trolley, Incorporated , and San Diego Transit Corporation...
to store regional transit passes and/or cash value on a re-writeable RFID card.
Smoking Ban
On October 16, 2008, NCTD board members unanimously voted to adopt NCTD Ordinance 1, banning smoking at all transit centers, train stations, and bus stops. The ban does not apply to parking lots at transit centers and there is no penalty for anyone found noncompliant with the ordinance.Surfing Madonna
One of the trains ugly overpasses just North of the Encinitas COASTER Station, was beautified by a stunning stain glass and tile mosaic in bluescale of a surfing Virgin Mary in Encinitas, CaliforniaEncinitas, California
Encinitas is a coastal beach city in San Diego County, California. Located within Southern California, it is approximately north of San Diego in North County and about south of Los Angeles. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 59,518, up from 58,014 at the 2000 census. Encinitas is...
, called the Surfing Madona, that city is removing it.
External links
- North County Transit District
- Transit agency faces $3 million budget gap (Union Tribune, May 10, 2008)