The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) is boldly moving to become a 24-hour operation with the introduction of the Route 910 Overnight Express. This overnight bus service promises to connect late-night travelers and service-industry employees who live and work across the border starting next Sunday, Jan. 26, San Diego Metropolitan Transit System announced. "For the first time in the agency’s history, MTS will have an overnight bus service that will benefit countless late night travelers and service-industry employees that live on both sides of the border," Stephen Whitburn, MTS Board Chair and San Diego City Councilmember, District 3, highlighted the significance of this new service.
The new Route 910 will fill a gap left by the UC San Diego Blue Line Trolley, which cannot operate during late night hours because the agency shares part of the rail line with heavy freight companies, and federal regulations limit the agency’s ability to run service simultaneously, according to plans detailed by MTS. "This new route is specifically designed to meet the demand for service for late-night travelers or early bird commuters," John McCann, MTS Board Member and Mayor of Chula Vista, pointing to the advantages for residents who now can enjoy more flexibility with their commuting schedules which translates into less time traveling and more time with their families without having to worry about the constraints of traditional transit timings, as per the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System.
Connecting major hubs across the region, Route 910 will run from the San Ysidro Transit Center to downtown San Diego, operating express service between U.S.-Mexico border and downtown, which reduces the number of stops to make the route time competitive, offering conveniences to users at stops including Iris Avenue Transit Center, Palomar Street Transit Center, and near Harborside and Barrio Logan Trolley Stations as well as multiple stops in downtown San Diego. "The Route 910 Overnight Express is a gamechanger for our region," added Vivian Moreno, MTS Board Member and San Diego City Councilmember, District 8, citing that more than 50% of pedestrians crossing the border at San Ysidro use public transit, the new route will consequently have significant economic benefits for the area, as cited by the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System.
Security measures are set to accompany this new service, as MTS plans include a dedicated security team patrolling Route 910 stops during operation hours, along with mobile security teams dedicated to patrolling Trolley stations in downtown San Diego and other teams for UC San Diego Blue Line stations in South County. Riders can contact MTS Security at any time for assistance at 619-595-4960 should the need arise, and the security team will be available to respond to ensure the safety of those who travel during the night.
