One of the largest public works projects this region has seen is on course, but with a revised start date to welcome all aboard.
The North County Transit District, or NCTD, announced Jan. 25 that although it worked in earnest to begin Sprinter service in January, the start date of the light-rail train system had to be postponed until March 9. The line travels 22 miles along the state Route 78 corridor and serves 15 stations, with a total trip time of 53 minutes between Escondido and Oceanside.
There are numerous reasons for the delay, according to NCTD officials.
Diesel multiple-unit trains, like the Sprinter, have never before been operated in California, causing the state and federal regulatory agencies to understandably employ a high level of scrutiny during inspections. NCTD optimistically underestimated the time it would take to complete all regulatory safety inspections and compliance approvals.
“We want to begin offering service for passengers on the Sprinter as soon as possible, but safety certification of the system is our current priority,” said NCTD Executive Director Karen King. “When passengers board the Sprinter for the first time, we know they'll be impressed with the convenience and comfort of the train.”
Even with the postponed start date, there may be some landscaping and other tasks that will need to be finished after operations begin. One technical issue that will not likely be resolved is the eastbound platform at the Escondido Avenue station in Vista.
A modification to adjust the station platforms to more accurately lineup with vehicle doors is underway. It is anticipated that the station will be fully functional by late spring.
The revised start date will offer the operations contractor for the Sprinter added time to test the operating schedule to ensure reliable service for passengers. A March 9 start date also provides train operators and dispatchers with additional hands-on training.
“When people get to ride it, they are going to know it was worth the wait,” said NCTD Spokesman Tom Kelleher.
The Sprinter will run 64 daily trips on weekdays. Passenger service will run seven days a week; weekday trains will run every 30 minutes in each direction, from approximately 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. Weekend trains will operate every hour in both directions.
Fares for the Sprinter are the same as the NCTD's Breeze buses: $2 for a single trip or $4 for a day pass, with half price discounts for seniors and passengers with disabilities.
“We have an anticipated ridership of 11,700 (daily passengers) during the first year of operation,” Kelleher said.
He said the Sprinter fulfills the missing link in public transportation between coastal and inland North County and will relieve traffic congestion as state Route 78 becomes more and more clogged with vehicles over the years.
“There is now a connecting network. People can easily connect from Coaster to Sprinter stations,” Kelleher said. “That will benefit people in Carlsbad.”
Carlsbad residents can connect to the Sprinter by taking the Coaster to the Oceanside Transit Center or from Breeze bus route 309, which runs north and south along El Camino Real. Route 309 connects the Carlsbad business parks with a stop at the El Camino Real Sprinter station in Oceanside. Carlsbad commuters also can connect with the Sprinter by taking Breeze bus route 325, which runs east and west from Carlsbad Village to the College Boulevard Sprinter station.
The Sprinter trains have a comfortable and bright interior with a maximum capacity of 452 passengers. The Sprinter is a sleek, quiet and efficient transportation system. The trains, which travel at a maximum speed of 55 mph, are smaller and much quieter than the Coaster.
Gary Knight, CEO and president of the San Diego North Economic Development Council, said the Sprinter's completion marks the triumph of a mass transit project conceived more than 20 years ago. He said getting people to ride the Sprinter will require a change in how we all think and commute.
“Until we start using alternative means of transportation, the commute times will increase and our quality of life will suffer,” Knight said. “It's time to stop waiting for others to change and take action ourselves.”
For more information, call (760) 966-6500 or visit www.gonctd.com.
The North County Transit District, or NCTD, announced Jan. 25 that although it worked in earnest to begin Sprinter service in January, the start date of the light-rail train system had to be postponed until March 9. The line travels 22 miles along the state Route 78 corridor and serves 15 stations, with a total trip time of 53 minutes between Escondido and Oceanside.
There are numerous reasons for the delay, according to NCTD officials.
Diesel multiple-unit trains, like the Sprinter, have never before been operated in California, causing the state and federal regulatory agencies to understandably employ a high level of scrutiny during inspections. NCTD optimistically underestimated the time it would take to complete all regulatory safety inspections and compliance approvals.
“We want to begin offering service for passengers on the Sprinter as soon as possible, but safety certification of the system is our current priority,” said NCTD Executive Director Karen King. “When passengers board the Sprinter for the first time, we know they'll be impressed with the convenience and comfort of the train.”
Even with the postponed start date, there may be some landscaping and other tasks that will need to be finished after operations begin. One technical issue that will not likely be resolved is the eastbound platform at the Escondido Avenue station in Vista.
A modification to adjust the station platforms to more accurately lineup with vehicle doors is underway. It is anticipated that the station will be fully functional by late spring.
The revised start date will offer the operations contractor for the Sprinter added time to test the operating schedule to ensure reliable service for passengers. A March 9 start date also provides train operators and dispatchers with additional hands-on training.
“When people get to ride it, they are going to know it was worth the wait,” said NCTD Spokesman Tom Kelleher.
The Sprinter will run 64 daily trips on weekdays. Passenger service will run seven days a week; weekday trains will run every 30 minutes in each direction, from approximately 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. Weekend trains will operate every hour in both directions.
Fares for the Sprinter are the same as the NCTD's Breeze buses: $2 for a single trip or $4 for a day pass, with half price discounts for seniors and passengers with disabilities.
“We have an anticipated ridership of 11,700 (daily passengers) during the first year of operation,” Kelleher said.
He said the Sprinter fulfills the missing link in public transportation between coastal and inland North County and will relieve traffic congestion as state Route 78 becomes more and more clogged with vehicles over the years.
“There is now a connecting network. People can easily connect from Coaster to Sprinter stations,” Kelleher said. “That will benefit people in Carlsbad.”
Carlsbad residents can connect to the Sprinter by taking the Coaster to the Oceanside Transit Center or from Breeze bus route 309, which runs north and south along El Camino Real. Route 309 connects the Carlsbad business parks with a stop at the El Camino Real Sprinter station in Oceanside. Carlsbad commuters also can connect with the Sprinter by taking Breeze bus route 325, which runs east and west from Carlsbad Village to the College Boulevard Sprinter station.
The Sprinter trains have a comfortable and bright interior with a maximum capacity of 452 passengers. The Sprinter is a sleek, quiet and efficient transportation system. The trains, which travel at a maximum speed of 55 mph, are smaller and much quieter than the Coaster.
Gary Knight, CEO and president of the San Diego North Economic Development Council, said the Sprinter's completion marks the triumph of a mass transit project conceived more than 20 years ago. He said getting people to ride the Sprinter will require a change in how we all think and commute.
“Until we start using alternative means of transportation, the commute times will increase and our quality of life will suffer,” Knight said. “It's time to stop waiting for others to change and take action ourselves.”
For more information, call (760) 966-6500 or visit www.gonctd.com.