Construction of the Mid-City Rapid Bus Project began in July 2013 and will last approximately a year. Construction activities are taking place concurrently along Park and El Cajon boulevards. Generally, work proceeds south to north on Park Boulevard between Essex Street and El Cajon Boulevard, and west to east on El Cajon Boulevard between Park Boulevard and College Avenue. Construction occurs six days a week typically from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Some night time work also is anticipated.

During construction, there may be temporary traffic lane closures and detours. Bus services will continue to operate along the construction route, but bus stops may be relocated temporarily, as needed, to accommodate construction. For more information about bus stop closures and detours, visit sdmts.com.

We appreciate your patience as we work to improve transit service in Mid-City.

Mid-City Rapid Construction Map

Park Boulevard

The center median of Park Boulevard is an active construction zone as crews work to build transit-only lanes and bus stations for the Mid-City Rapid bus line. Construction activities to build transit-only lanes and a bus station in the center median are ongoing between University and Polk avenues. Watch out for lane closures in this area.

Temporary Loss of Parking Due to Paving – Park between University and Lincoln: Due to paving work, on-street parking will be unavailable on both sides of Park Boulevard between University and Lincoln avenues on Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 13 and 14, and Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 20 and 21. The Mid-City Rapid construction team worked to minimize the parking impact by selecting dates that correspond with “No Parking” for street sweeping (Parking is closed on the southbound side on Mondays for street sweeping). After paving is completed, the next phase will be to stripe traffic lanes and diagonal parking spaces. This work will also require temporary parking closures. “No Parking” signs will be posted in advance.
Temporary Loss of Parking Due to Trenching – Park between El Cajon and Polk: Starting the week of Jan. 13, crews will begin trenching at El Cajon Boulevard to install traffic signal conduits and will move systematically south on Park Boulevard to perform similar work across Howard and Polk avenues. On-street parking spaces on the northbound side of Park Boulevard will be temporarily closed where crews are actively trenching. “No Parking” signs will be posted in advance. The loss of parking spaces is expected to last a day on any given block, depending on underground conditions and other factors.
Crosswalk on Park at University: The east-west crosswalk on the north side of University Avenue at Park Boulevard closed on Monday, Jan. 6, and will reopen by the end of the week. The crosswalk closure is needed to accommodate construction of the station platform, which is integrated with the crosswalk. When the crosswalk reopens, it will be in its final reconfiguration and is not expected to close again.

Special Advisory for Senior Towers on Park Boulevard

Due to construction activities, the northbound bus stop on Park Boulevard at University Avenue (both bus shelters in front of the Cathedral Arms senior tower) will be intermittently closed over the next few weeks starting Jan. 13. Bus for Routes 1 and 11 will be detoured temporarily from this area. For more information, please call Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) at (619) 233-3004, or look for signs posted at the stop.
Most parking spaces on Park Boulevard immediately in front of Cathedral Arms and Grace Tower are now open for use.
The south end of the diagonal parking spaces mid-block between University and Lincoln (in front of Cathedral Arms and Grace Tower) are closed off. The curb in this area has been painted red to preserve access for emergency vehicles, trash pickup, and U.S. Postal Service deliveries.When calling the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department or a private ambulance, please let the operator know that emergency vehicles have access to the front entrances of both senior towers.
Access via the alley to the parking lots in the back of the senior towers is maintained.

El Cajon Boulevard

El Cajon at 30th and 35th: Construction at these intersections is ongoing but access to storefronts is maintained. Crews are upgrading underground utilities, sidewalks, street lights, and traffic signals, in addition to building new bus station improvements. Construction of storm drain structures is complete at the southeast corner of El Cajon Boulevard and 30th Street, but construction of curbs and gutters continues. At El Cajon Boulevard and 35th Street, demolition activities are ongoing at the northwest corner in front of the used car dealership. The entire sidewalk up to the property line has been demolished. Pedestrians are advised to use the sidewalk on the other side of the street. Watch out for lane closures in this area.
Trenching Activity: Trenching to install traffic signal conduits on El Cajon Boulevard has been completed between Park Boulevard and I-805. Further trenching heading east to College Avenue is currently on hold while crews complete work on Park Boulevard. In the meantime, crews have begun resurfacing trenches on El Cajon Boulevard, starting at Park Boulevard and moving east.The resurfacing is now occurring in the vicinity of Texas Street. The duration of the work depends on underground conditions and other factors.

Bus Service During Construction

The northbound bus stop on Park Boulevard at University Avenue (both bus shelters in front of the Cathedral Arms senior tower) and the eastbound stop on University Avenue at Herbert Street will be intermittently closed over the next few weeks starting Jan. 13. Buses for Routes 1 and 11 will be detoured temporarily from this area. Connections can be made two blocks north, at Polk and at University and Richmond.
The eastbound bus stop on El Cajon Boulevard at 30th Street for Routes 1, 6, and 15 is temporarily closed through the end of January due to construction. Connections for Routes 1 and 15 can be made two blocks east, at El Cajon Boulevard and Illinois Street.
The westbound Route 1 bus stop on El Cajon Boulevard at 35th Street is closed through the end of February. Route 1 connections can be made on El Cajon Boulevard at 36th Street.
For more information about bus stop closures or detours, please visit sdmts.com, call the MTS transit information line at (619)233-3004, or look for signs posted at the stops.

Progress to Date

The entrance to Lincoln Avenue on the east side of Park Boulevard reopened to traffic Sept. 3, 2013. Construction at the northeast corner is complete.
Sidewalk construction has finished on the east side of Park Boulevard in front of Grace Lutheran Church. The new sidewalk reopened on Sept. 27.
Lincoln Avenue, Polk Avenue, and Centre Street immediately off of Park Boulevard were restriped in mid-July 2013 to create new diagonal parking spaces. Please note the restriping of the west side of Centre Street between Harvey Milk Street (formerly Blaine Avenue) and Lincoln Avenue is on hold pending the resolution of a conflict with existing street striping. View parking map for details.
Crews have finished repaving the center of Park Boulevard between Essex Street and University Avenue. On Friday, Sept. 13, 2013, two traffic lanes and a left turn lane reopened after the street was restriped. The realignment of traffic lanes in this area will allow future Rapid buses to transition to transit-only lanes that will be built between University Avenue and El Cajon Boulevard. The bus lane in the center will remain closed off to protect it until the rest of the bus project is complete.
Construction of new sidewalks, storm drains, and bus pads at El Cajon Boulevard and Texas Street has been completed.
Four new street lights have been installed on Park Boulevard between Lincoln Avenue and Centre Street, and another four on Lincoln Avenue between Park Boulevard and Normal Street. The new street lights will be activated in spring 2014.
Seven new curb ramps have been added along the east side of Park Boulevard between University and Howard avenues.