MTS Copper Line Trolley Service Begins Sunday Between El Cajon, Santee

San Diego Metropolitan Transit System officials are celebrating the launch of service on the Copper Line – East County Connector.

Starting at 5:12 a.m. Sunday, East County residents may begin riding the new Trolley line, serving four stations between El Cajon Transit Center and Santee Trolley Station every 15 minutes daily.

The new segment is set to replace the existing Green and Orange Line Trolley service north of El Cajon Transit Center. The Copper Line will improve the reliability of Trolley service, not just in East County, but throughout the system, according to transit officials.

“MTS wants to make taking transit more reliable not only for East County residents, but for riders across the entire system,” said San Diego City Council member Stephen Whitburn, who serves as the MTS board chair. “With the Copper Line, we are doing just that. It creates a better, more efficient transit system.”

As part of the launch, trolley riders at the El Cajon Transit Center may stop by the MTS booth from 6 to 8 a.m. Monday to get a free donut, coffee, and either a Copper Line mug or collector’s pin.

The primary purpose of the Copper Line is to reduce the impacts of the single-track segment between Gillespie Field and Santee, which officials say will improve service reliability between El Cajon and Santee.

In addition, delays that may occur on the rest of the system will no longer impact service between the two cities.

“El Cajon has 14 different bus routes and three Trolley stations serving our city. It’s the centerpiece of transit in East County,” said El Cajon Council member Steve Goble, also the MTS board vice chair. “Having dedicated service like the Copper Line will enhance our ability to provide fast and reliable transportation options for residents to reach work, school, health appointments and more.”

When the new service plan goes into effect, Green Line service will terminate at El Cajon Transit Center, allowing Trolleys to avoid the single-track segment between the Gillespie Field and Santee stations.

This segment can create a ripple effect of delays and missed transfers for riders coming in and out of East County as only one train can enter or exit at a time. With the Copper Line segment, trains will now turn at El Cajon Transit Center rather than Santee, alleviating the bottleneck.

“The Copper Line is not just a service enhancement; it’s also a system efficiency that saves taxpayer dollars at the same time. Overall, that’s a win-win for transit and taxpayers,” said Santee City Council member Ronn Hall, who also sits on the MTS board.

MTS anticipates Green Line on-time performance will improve, meaning riders have more reliable transfer times and fewer delays. Green Line service also will be extended later at night, and all Sunday service will continue to El Cajon Transit Center, instead of alternating trains stopping short at the SDSU Transit Center.

Operating with shorter trains, the Copper Line also will reduce the wait times and lessen traffic at Santee intersections along Cuyamaca Street.

It is estimated that approximately 8% of passenger trips on the Green Line are expected to make a transfer to or from the Copper Line once the reconfiguration in East County is implemented. The other 92% of passenger trips will see improved reliability, without an additional transfer.