North County Transit District

The BREEZE Bus Service serves as the main form of public road transportation for residents of North San Diego County. What is now known as the BREEZE began in 1976 when NCTD acquired the municipal bus systems serving Escondido and Oceanside.

The annual ridership of BREEZE buses is 7.9 million people, with an average weekday ridership of 25,800 people. More than 2,600 bus stops and 9 transit centers service the BREEZE route. The fleet comprises 161 vehicles, including 120 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses.[5]

In November 2009, NCTD approved outsourcing all bus and rail operations effective July 1, 2010, to First Transit.[6] The agency anticipated saving $70 million over seven years with the move.[6] Fleet and facility operators remained NCTD employees until their contracts expired June 30, 2011.

As of January 2013, NCTD offers 30 BREEZE bus routes plus 4 FLEX zones.[5]

BREEZE Rapid is a bus rapid transit service operated by the North County Transit District in Escondido, California, in North County, San Diego. The service operates north to the Escondido Transit Center and south to the Westfield North County mall and Del Lago Transit Center, primarily along Escondido Boulevard and Bear Valley Parkway. BREEZE Rapid replaced previous local Line 350 service, although the route remains branded as Line 350. The route officially launched on June 7, 2011, with dedicated buses and branded stops.

The route is approximately six miles long and at build out, service will take approximately 20 minutes from end to end, a 20% reduction in time from previous service. Current headways are 15 minutes during weekdays and 30 minutes during nights and weekends, but the proposed build out headway is 10 minutes during weekdays and 15 minutes on weekends.

The BREEZE Rapid buses used are all New Flyer C40LF CNG buses that previously operated with the main BREEZE fleet. These buses are painted in a special BREEZE Rapid livery that is used to distinguish them from normal BREEZE buses. However, these buses are still assigned to normal BREEZE bus routes as well when not in use on BREEZE Rapid.

The SPRINTER is a 22-mile (35 km) hybrid (diesel engines in passenger cabins) rail line that runs east and west between Escondido and Oceanside.[3] A total of 455 trains run every week.[3]

The SPRINTER's first day of service was March 9, 2008.[3] The annual ridership was 2.5 million people in 2015,[3] with an average weekday ridership of 8,300 people.[3] Fifteen stations are served by the Sprinter route.[3] SPRINTER equipment includes 12 Siemens Desiro diesel multiple unit passenger trains.[3] Bombardier Transportation operates the SPRINTER.[3]

The COASTER is a 41-mile (66 km) commuter rail service that runs north and south between Oceanside and Santa Fe Depot in Downtown San Diego.[4] A total of 126 trains run every week,[4] with expanded service offered in the spring and summer and additional trains scheduled for special events as needed.

The COASTER's first day of service was February 27, 1995.[4] The annual ridership is 1.7 million people, with an average weekday ridership of 5,700 people in 2015.[4] The COASTER route serves 8 stations on its route, including the termini at Oceanside and Santa Fe Depot in Downtown San Diego.[4] Currently, COASTER equipment consists of 7 locomotives and 28 bi-level coaches.[4] Bombardier Transportation operates the COASTER.[4]

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner: Oceanside, Solana Beach, Santa Fe Depot

San Diego Trolley: Old Town, Santa Fe Depot (Green/Blue Lines)

SPRINTER: Oceanside

LIFT vehicles provide origin to destination service for people with disabilities who are unable to use BREEZE buses due to their disability and have been certified for eligibility, as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Service is available for trips within ¾ mile of fixed bus routes.

The LIFT's first day of service was January 1, 1993. The American Logistics Company operates the LIFT.[7]

FLEX is an on-demand service in parts of southwest Carlsbad and Ramona, where BREEZE service is not available. FLEX vehicles take passengers anywhere within the FLEX zone or to the nearest transfer point on the BREEZE, Coaster, or Sprinter. The American Logistics Company operates the FLEX service.[5]

NCTD has implemented cutting-edge green initiatives and sustainability programs that minimize the environmental impact of public transit. NCTD recently installed solar panels, saving the agency $1 million in energy costs over five years. NCTD has increased recycling and improved lighting and is using biodegradable cleaning supplies. In addition, NCTD has received grant funding to install electric smart car chargers in transit center parking lots.[2]

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 System to store regional transit passes and/or cash value on a re-writeable RFID card.

As of January 2012, customers may purchase and add value to Compass Cards at 42 Albertson's grocery stores in North San Diego County.[9]

No smoking sign at the Vista Transit Center. Notice the butt receptacle placed about 10 feet behind the sign next to the ticket vending machines.

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.[10]