Purple Line

People traveling north and south through our region’s most densely populated urban areas need convenient transportation options to avoid sitting in traffic. After years of community advocacy, especially by people in the City Heights neighborhood, we are planning many projects to address this issue, including the Purple Line.

The Purple Line will eventually be a high-speed transit route connecting many people to destinations from San Ysidro to Sorrento Mesa through Chula Vista, National City, City Heights, and Kearny Mesa. It will provide dependable transportation for low-income communities and serve as an attractive alternative to driving. The Purple Line will connect to several transit centers, including all Trolley lines and many Rapid bus routes. It will expand access to jobs, schools, medical services, recreation, and more.

Map showing possible Purple Line route area. Other lines showing include Coaster, Coaster planned reroute in the UTC area, Blue, Orange and Green Line, and the South County Rapid transit study area. The Study will include ways to improve the Blue Line and a COASTER extension from Downtown to the US/Mexico border.

A map of the San Diego region showing a possible Purple Line route area from the border to Sorrento Mesa along with the existing COASTER line, Blue Line, Orange, Line, and Green Line routes. It also shows a planned COASTER reroute near UTC and the area of the South County Rapid Transit Study Area from near the border to Downtown San Diego.

Major railway projects like this often take 15 to 20 years to plan, design, and build. In the meantime, we will explore temporary solutions (such as the Rapid 688 bus line) along the future route to improve access quickly. Watch the info session (en español) about this project and the Rapid 688 bus route from August 28, 2024.

We will seek the community’s input at every step of planning for this critical transit lifeline. Please email us at purpleline@sandag.org and follow us on social media for project updates and feedback opportunities.

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Frequently Asked Questions

We are working on two studies to explore the best way to make this transit connection a reality:

The first study is analyzing the northern section of the Purple Line (National City to Sorrento Mesa). We are considering different train types and evaluating what infrastructure will be needed to support the route. In 2025, we will ask the community for input on possible transit types, routes, station locations, and more.

The southern part of the Purple Line is being analyzed as part of the second study: the South County Rapid Transit Study. It will examine ways to improve all major transit services between San Ysidro and National City. This includes the Purple Line, the Blue Line Trolley, and the COASTER (which could eventually extend to the border).

First, we will study the different types of transit we could use. For example, we might build above or below ground, and we might use a train, Trolley, or bus. We will also consider the various routes the line could take. We want to limit disturbing homes and businesses and consider all the possible impacts on the people in the area.

We will consult the impacted communities along every section of the route to get feedback on details such as where to put the stops, how to access the stations, and more. We will seek input from community groups, schools, businesses, and other groups, and we will work with cities and government agencies to make sure they help shape the plan. After that, we will consider ways to reduce the project’s negative environmental effects, create construction plans, and secure all the permissions we need to get started. Then, we have to apply for funding to plan, design, and build the project.

Construction will take many years. The exact time will depend on the complexity of the project. For example, adding 11 miles to the Blue Line Trolley route took about six years to build, and that project was entirely above ground.

We are committed to taking the necessary time to get all the details of this project right. We want this transit line to help as many people as possible to get where they need to go for decades to come.

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