Courthouse station (San Diego Trolley)

Courthouse is a light rail station in San Diego, California, United States. It is the terminus of the San Diego Trolley's Orange Line and is located adjacent to the new San Diego Central Courthouse in Downtown San Diego, on C Street between State and Union streets. The station opened on April 29, 2018, after nearly a year of construction, replacing America Plaza station as the Orange Line's western terminus.

Courthouse
San Diego Trolley station
Location	330 West C Street, San Diego, California United States
Coordinates	32°43′00″N 117°09′58″W
Owned by	San Diego Metropolitan Transit System
Operated by	San Diego Trolley
Platforms	1 side platform
Tracks	3
Construction
Structure type	At-grade
Disabled access
Other information
Station code	75019[1]
History
Opened	April 29, 2018 (2018-04-29)[2]
Services
Preceding station   San Diego Trolley   Following station Terminus Orange Line Civic Center toward Arnele Avenue
Location

History

After construction of the new San Diego Central Courthouse began in 2013, the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) approved plans to build a new light rail station to serve the building.[3] The new station was also intended to become the terminus of the Orange Line, replacing the overcrowded America Plaza station near the Santa Fe Depot, which also serves the Blue Line.[4][5]

The station's location, directly in front of the courthouse, was opposed by county court officials and the sheriff due to potential security risks and disruptions to court operations.[3] The MTS declined to move the station, but cooperated with the court to add shared CCTV and security features.[3]

MTS received a $31.9 million grant from the state government's cap and trade program in 2015 to fund the Courthouse station project and a vehicle replacement program.[6] Construction on the station began in August 2017, requiring multiple weekend shutdowns of the Orange Line.[7] Courthouse station was dedicated by local officials on April 27, 2018, and opened to passengers on April 29; it is the first new station on the trolley system since 2005.[2][8]

Station layout

Orange Line trains at Courthouse station board and alight passengers using a single track leading to a side platform, while Blue and Silver line trains use two passing tracks.

Courthouse station features enhanced lighting, security cameras, and standard station features like ticket vending machines, digital signs, shelters, and benches.[9]

Westbound passing track	←  Blue Line does not stop here
Eastbound passing track	→  Blue Line does not stop here → →  Silver Line does not stop here →
Eastbound	→  Orange Line toward Arnele Avenue (Civic Center) →
Side platform, doors will open on the right

References

1. "Schedules & Real Time". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
2. "New Courthouse Trolley Station Opening Sunday" (Press release). San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. April 27, 2018. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
3. Moran, Greg (October 20, 2017). "Court, sheriff opposed MTS plan to build a trolley station at courthouse". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
4. Cook, Morgan (August 24, 2015). "Trolley posteriors raise downtown ire". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
5. Hessedal, Kelly (April 27, 2018). "New trolley station opens in downtown San Diego". CBS 8. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
6. Connors, Tarcy (July 1, 2015). "MTS Receives $31.9 Million for New Courthouse Trolley Station, Light-Rail Vehicles". San Diego Business Journal. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
7. Wrath, Gary (October 20, 2017). "Orange Line Trolley work to last to summer 2018". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
8. Alvarez, Elizabeth (April 29, 2018). "New courthouse trolley station begins serving passengers Sunday". KUSI. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
9. "Courthouse Trolley Station Opens on Sunday, April 29, 2018". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. Retrieved July 7, 2018.