Project Overview
The public strongly advocated for more direct transit service connecting South County to North County through inland communities. The Purple Line project is ultimately planned to connect San Ysidro with UTC or Sorrento Mesa through City Heights; however, rail projects like this can take decades to move from planning to construction and into service.
To provide faster connections between these communities, we're planning Rapid 688. This route aims to provide faster trips using future express lanes on I-805, while also taking riders directly to popular destinations.
Schedule
In fall 2024, the public provided feedback about which destinations were most important to them. Since then, SANDAG has used this input to study potential route alignments, station locations, and other key project details while continuing to gather public feedback to help inform this process. Watch the learning session about this project from August 28, 2024. This work will continue through 2027.
Next steps include environmental clearance, project design, and construction, contingent on available funding.
Budget
In October 2023, the SANDAG Board of Directors approved $26.6 million for the planning and design of six new Rapid routes. The current planning effort for Rapid 688 is funded with FTA formula funds, and the total expected cost is approximately $4 million.
Connect with Us
Subscribe to the SANDAG Newsletter for updates on projects, programs, and opportunities to provide feedback that helps shape SANDAG’s work. For more information, contact rapid@sandag.org.