Skip to main content

Transit hub promised in San Diego area

San Diego North County’s Interstate 15 corridor is best known for its flood of freeway traffic, not its mass transit stations. This is due to change next year, when the Sabre Springs/Penasquitos transit station, just east of I-15 on Sabre Springs Parkway, is set to undergo a US$12.2 million face-lift that will include a four-storey parking garage, electric vehicle charging stations, electronic next bus signs and even some smart parking spaces. “This will be our flagship station,” said Frank Owsiany, who ov
January 18, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
San Diego North County’s Interstate 15 corridor is best known for its flood of freeway traffic, not its mass transit stations.  This is due to change next year, when the Sabre Springs/Penasquitos transit station, just east of I-15 on Sabre Springs Parkway, is set to undergo a US$12.2 million face-lift that will include a four-storey parking garage, electric vehicle charging stations, electronic next bus signs and even some smart parking spaces.

 “This will be our flagship station,” said Frank Owsiany, who oversees station improvements along the inland corridor for the 1789 San Diego Association of Governments, the region’s transportation planning agency.

Construction on what is said to be the ultimate I-15 transit hub, is expected to begin by late February or early March and should last about a year, Owsiany said.

The project is timed to be ready for the early 2014 launch of an expanded rapid bus service along I-15. That service promises to increase the frequency and shorten the routes of express buses that ferry passengers from stations in Escondido, Rancho Bernardo and other points south along the I-15 Express Lanes to job centers in Sorrento Valley and downtown San Diego.

The Sabre Springs project will require the closure of the station’s 150 parking spaces, which will be temporarily replaced at three park and rides along Sabre Springs Parkway. Owsiany said the station ramps that connect drivers to the freeway’s express lanes will remain open during construction.

Once complete, the parking garage will offer 537 spaces to go along with 93 additional surface lot spaces. Solar panels will be added on top of the structure, providing shade for cars on the top level, as well as providing a power source, he said.

Owsiany added that drivers will be able to call and reserve smart parking spots inside the station, where stalls will be lighted either green or red to show whether they have been reserved.

Related Content

  • January 2, 2013
    Rapid transit bus route for Mexico
    The first step towards a long-awaited reform of Tijuana’s antiquated and inefficient public transportation system is scheduled to begin early in 2013, with the construction of a 10.5 mile rapid-transit bus route linking the San Ysidro border to the eastern El Florido area of the city. The city is currently served by a disorganised network of buses and taxis. The US$123 million project, known as Ruta Troncal Número 1, is expected to serve more than 120,000 residents a day. Mexico’s federal development bank,
  • October 25, 2012
    Washington State’s Community Transit launches real time bus information
    Community Transit in Washington State in the US is equipping all its buses with GPS, automatic passenger counters and other technology that will improve operations, enhance the customer experience, and eventually allow customers to get real-time bus information by phone, computer or mobile device. The Transit Technologies pilot project was launched on a small set of commuter buses to downtown Seattle
  • March 22, 2013
    2013 Best of ITS awards finalists announced
    The Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America) today announced the list of finalists for the 2013 Best of ITS Awards, a highly competitive program which recognises the most innovative projects and influential achievements in the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) industry. Winners will be announced during the Opening Plenary session of the 23rd ITS America Annual Meeting and Exposition on Monday 22April 2013 from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Center i
  • September 23, 2013
    San Francisco area toll network to issue RFP for 90 miles of express lanes
    Bay Area Infrastructure Financing Authority (BAIFA) has announced the competitive procurement of a toll system integrator (TSI) to design and provide toll systems for nearly 90 directional miles of toll express lanes and expects to be tolling a total of 270 miles within a few years. The plan is to develop toll express lanes following agreement on a regional network in which all the area's HOV lanes will be tolled for single and two occupant vehicles. The RFP covers three initial projects: 55 kilometres o