Transportation in California
Rail travel
Table:
System

Image

Type

No. of lines

Description

Altamont Corridor Express

Commuter rail

1

The Altamont Commuter Express, also known as ACE, runs from San Jose northeast to Stockton, providing service from the Silicon Valley to Eastern Alameda County and San Joaquin County.

Bay Area Rapid Transit

Heavy rail, light rail, automated guideway transit

6

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) operates in the San Francisco Bay Area, connecting San Francisco with cities in the East Bay and suburbs in northern San Mateo County.

Caltrain

Commuter rail

1

Caltrain runs from San Francisco south down the San Francisco Peninsula to the Silicon Valley

COASTER

Commuter rail

1

The San Diego Coast Express Rail (COASTER) operates in the central and northern coastal regions of San Diego County, running from San Diego north to Oceanside.

Metro Rail

Heavy and light rail

6

Metro Rail is an integrated subway and light rail system serving Los Angeles County.

Metrolink

Commuter rail

7

Metrolink serves Los Angeles and the surrounding area of Southern California, connecting Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura Counties.

Muni Metro

Light rail

6

Muni Metro is a premetro/light rail system connecting various neighborhoods and districts of San Francisco.

Sacramento RT Light Rail

Light rail

3

The Sacramento Regional Transit District (RT) light rail system serves Sacramento and vicinity.

San Diego Trolley

Light rail

4

The San Diego Trolley serves the metropolitan area of San Diego.

San Francisco cable car system

Streetcar

3

The world's last manually operated cable car system continues to operate in northeast San Francisco, but the system's small service area and premium fares for single rides currently make the cable cars used more as a tourist attraction.

Sonoma–Marin Area Rail Transit

Commuter rail

1

Sonoma–Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) runs through Sonoma and Marin counties.

SPRINTER

Diesel light rail

1

The SPRINTER operates in north region of San Diego County, running from Oceanside east to Escondido.

VTA Light Rail

Light Rail

3

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Light Rail system serves San Jose and its suburbs in the Silicon Valley.

From the following table along with the supplementary paragraphs listed at the end.

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The Altamont Corridor Express ( also known as ACE , formerly Altamont Commuter Express ) is a commuter rail service in California , connecting Stockton and San Jose during peak hours only . ACE is named for the Altamont Pass , through which it runs . Service is managed by the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission , and operations are contracted to Herzog Transit Services , using AAR assigned reporting mark ACEX . The 86-mile ( 138 km ) route includes ten stops , with travel time about 2 hours and 12 minutes end-to-end . The tracks are owned by Union Pacific Railroad . ACE uses Bombardier BiLevel Coaches and MPI F40PH-3C locomotives . Service began on October 19 , 1998 , with two weekday round trips . A third round trip was added in May 2001 , followed by a fourth round trip in October 2012 . Saturday service commenced in September 2019 . As of 2018 [ update ] , average weekday ridership is 5,900 . Under the ACEforward program , a number of improvements to the service are being considered . These include a rerouted line through Tracy , an extension to Modesto and Merced , and connections to BART at Union City and Tri-Valley .
Commuter rail , or suburban rail , is a passenger rail transport service that primarily operates within a metropolitan area , connecting commuters to a central city from adjacent suburbs or commuter towns . Generally commuter rail systems are considered heavy rail , using electrified or diesel trains . Distance charges or zone pricing may be used . The term can refer to systems with a wide variety of different features and service frequencies , but is often used in contrast to rapid transit or light rail . Similar non-English terms include Treno suburbano in Italian , Cercanías in Spanish , Rodalies in Catalan , Proastiakos in Greek , Train de banlieue in French , Příměstský vlak or Esko in Czech , Elektrichka in Russian , Pociąg podmiejski in Polish and Pendeltåg in Swedish . Some services share similarities with both commuter rail and high-frequency rapid transit , such as the German S-Bahn , the Réseau Express Régional in Paris , many Japanese commuter systems , and some Australasian suburban networks . Some services , like British commuter rail , share tracks with other passenger services and freight . In the United States , commuter rail often refers to services that operate a higher frequency during peak periods and a lower frequency off-peak . Since the creation of GO Transit 's commuter service in 1967 , commuter rail services and route length have been expanding in North America . In the US , commuter rail is sometimes referred to as regional rail .
San Jose [ A ] ( /ˌsæn hoʊˈzeɪ , -ˈseɪ/ ; Spanish : [ saŋ xoˈse ] ; Spanish for Saint Joseph ) , officially the City of San José , [ B ] is the economic , cultural and political center of Silicon Valley , and the largest city in Northern California ( both by population and area ) . With an estimated 2018 population of 1,030,119 , it is the third-most populous city in California ( after Los Angeles and San Diego ) and the tenth-most populous in United States . Located in the center of the Santa Clara Valley , on the southern shore of San Francisco Bay , San Jose covers an area of 179.97 square miles ( 466.1 km2 ) . San Jose is the county seat of Santa Clara County , the most affluent county in California and one of the most affluent counties in the United States . San Jose is the main component of the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara Metropolitan Statistical Area , with an estimated population of around 2 million residents in 2018 . It is also the most populous city in both the San Francisco Bay Area and the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland Combined Statistical Area , which contain 7.7 million and 8.7 million people respectively . San Jose is a global city , notable as a center of innovation , for its affluence , Mediterranean climate , and extremely high cost of living . San Jose 's location within the booming high tech industry , as a cultural , political , and economic center has earned the city the nickname Capital of Silicon Valley . San Jose is one of the wealthiest major cities in the United States and the world , and has the third highest GDP per capita in the world ( after Zürich , Switzerland and Oslo , Norway ) , according to the Brookings Institution . The San Jose Metropolitan Area has the most millionaires and the most billionaires in the United States per capita . With a median home price of $ 1,085,000 , San Jose has the most expensive housing market in the country and the fifth most expensive housing market in the world , according to the 2017 Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey . Major global tech companies including Cisco Systems , eBay , Adobe Systems , PayPal , Broadcom , Samsung , Acer , Hewlett Packard Enterprise , and Western Digital maintain their headquarters in San Jose , in the center of Silicon Valley .
Stockton is the county seat of San Joaquin County in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California . Stockton was founded by Captain Charles Maria Weber in 1849 after he acquired Rancho Campo de los Franceses . The city is named after Robert F. Stockton , and it was the first community in California to have a name not of Spanish or Native American origin . The city is located on the San Joaquin River in the northern San Joaquin Valley and had an estimated population of 311,178 by the California Department of Finance for 2018 . Stockton is the 13th largest city in California and the 63rd largest city in the United States . It was named an All-America City in 1999 , 2004 , 2015 and again in 2017 . Built during the California Gold Rush , Stockton 's seaport serves as a gateway to the Central Valley and beyond . It provided easy access for trade and transportation to the southern gold mines . The University of the Pacific ( UOP ) , chartered in 1851 , is the oldest university in California , and has been located in Stockton since 1923 . In 2012 Stockton filed for what was then the largest municipal bankruptcy in US history , which had multiple causes including financial mismanagement in the 1990s , generous fringe benefits to unionized city employees , and the 2008 financial crisis . Stockton successfully exited bankruptcy in February 2015 .
Silicon Valley is a region in the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California that serves as a global center for high technology , innovation , and social media . It corresponds roughly to the geographical Santa Clara Valley , although its boundaries have increased in recent decades . San Jose is the Valley 's largest city , the third-largest in California , and the tenth-largest in the United States . Other major Silicon Valley cities include Palo Alto , Menlo Park , Redwood City , Cupertino , Santa Clara , Mountain View , and Sunnyvale . The San Jose Metropolitan Area has the third-highest GDP per capita in the world ( after Zurich , Switzerland and Oslo , Norway ) , according to the Brookings Institution . The word silicon in the name originally referred to the large number of innovators and manufacturers in the region specializing in silicon-based MOS transistors and integrated circuit chips . The area is now home to many of the world 's largest high-tech corporations , including the headquarters of more than 30 businesses in the Fortune 1000 , and thousands of startup companies . Silicon Valley also accounts for one-third of all of the venture capital investment in the United States , which has helped it to become a leading hub and startup ecosystem for high-tech innovation and scientific development . It was in Silicon Valley that the silicon-based integrated circuit , the microprocessor , and the microcomputer , among other technologies , were developed . As of 2013 , the region employed about a quarter of a million information technology workers . As more high-tech companies were established across San Jose and the Santa Clara Valley , and then north towards the Bay Area 's two other major cities , San Francisco and Oakland , the term Silicon Valley has come to have two definitions : a geographic one , referring to Santa Clara County , and a metonymical one , referring to all high-tech businesses in the Bay Area . The term is often used as a synecdoche for the American high-technology economic sector .
Alameda County ( /ˌæləˈmiːdə/ AL-ə-MEE-də ) is a county in the state of California in the United States . As of the 2010 census , the population was 1,510,271 , making it the 7th-most populous county in the state . The county seat is Oakland . Alameda County is included in the San Francisco Bay Area , occupying much of the East Bay region . The Spanish word alameda means either , .a grove of poplars , .or a tree lined street a name originally used to describe the Arroyo de la Alameda . The willow and sycamore trees along the banks of the river reminded the early Spanish explorers of a road lined with trees . Although a strict translation to English might be Poplar Grove Creek , the name of the principal stream that flows through the county is now simply Alameda Creek . Alameda County is included in the San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley , CA Metropolitan Statistical Area , which is also included in the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland , CA Combined Statistical Area .
San Joaquin County ( /ˌsæn hwɑːˈkiːn/ ) , officially the County of San Joaquin is a county in the U.S. state of California . As of the 2010 census , the population was 685,306 . The county seat is Stockton . San Joaquin County comprises the Stockton-Lodi-Tracy metropolitan statistical area within the regional San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland combined statistical area . The county is located in Northern California 's Central Valley just east of the very highly populated nine-county San Francisco Bay Area region and is separated from the Bay Area by the Diablo Range of low mountains with its Altamont Pass . One of the smaller counties in area in California , it has a high population density and is growing rapidly due to overflow from the Bay area 's need for housing . The City of San Joaquin , despite sharing its name with the county , is located in Fresno County .
Bay Area Rapid Transit ( BART ) is a rapid transit public transportation system serving the San Francisco Bay Area in California . The heavy rail elevated and subway system connects San Francisco and Oakland with urban and suburban areas in Alameda , Contra Costa , and San Mateo counties . BART serves 48 stations along six routes on 112 miles ( 180 km ) of rapid transit lines , including a 10-mile ( 16 km ) spur line in eastern Contra Costa County which utilizes diesel multiple-unit trains and a 3.2-mile ( 5.1 km ) automated guideway transit line to the Oakland International Airport . With an average of 411,000 weekday passengers and 118 million annual passengers in fiscal year 2019 , BART is the fifth-busiest heavy rail rapid transit system in the United States . BART is operated by the Bay Area Rapid Transit District , formed in 1957 . The initial system opened in stages from 1972 to 1974 . The Silicon Valley BART Extension is scheduled to open in Milpitas and Berryessa ( San Jose ) in 2020 , in partnership with the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority ( VTA ) .
Various terms are used for passenger rail lines and equipment-the usage of these terms differs substantially between areas :
Light rail transit ( LRT ) is a form of urban rail transit using rolling stock similar to a tram , but operating at a higher capacity , and often on an exclusive right-of-way .
The automated guideway transit ( AGT ) is a fully automated , driverless , grade-separated transit system in which vehicles are automatically guided along a guideway . The vehicles are often rubber tired or steel wheeled , but other systems including air cushion and maglev systems have also been used in experiments . The guideway normally provides both physical support , like a road , as well as the guidance . In the case of fixed-route systems , the two are often the same in the same way that a rail line provides both support and guidance for a train . For systems with multiple routes , most AGT systems use smaller wheels riding on the guideway to steer the vehicle using conventional steering arrangements like those on a car . AGT covers a wide variety of systems , from limited group rapid transit ( GRT ) systems ( also known as people mover systems ) , like those commonly found at airports , to more complex mass transit systems like the Vancouver SkyTrain . In the people mover role the term automated people mover ( APM ) is sometimes used , although this distinction is relatively rare because most people movers are automated . Larger systems span a variety of conceptual designs , from subway-like advanced rapid transit ( ART ) systems to smaller ( typically two to six passengers ) vehicles known as personal rapid transit ( PRT ) which offer direct point-to-point travel along a switched network .
The San Francisco Bay Area , popularly referred to as the Bay Area or simply the Bay , is a populous region surrounding the San Francisco , San Pablo , and Suisun Bay estuaries in Northern California . Although the exact boundaries of the region vary depending on the source , the Bay Area is defined by the Association of Bay Area Governments to include the nine counties that border the aforementioned estuaries : Alameda , Contra Costa , Marin , Napa , San Mateo , Santa Clara , Solano , Sonoma , and San Francisco . Other sources may exclude parts of or even entire counties , or expand the definition to include neighboring counties that do not border the bay such as San Benito , San Joaquin , and Santa Cruz . Home to approximately 7.75 million people , Northern California 's nine-county Bay Area contains many cities , towns , airports , and associated regional , state , and national parks , connected by a complex multimodal transportation network . The larger combined statistical area of the region , which includes fourteen counties , is the second-largest in California ( after the Greater Los Angeles area ) , the fifth-largest in the United States , and the 41st-largest urban area in the world with 9.67 million people . The Bay Area 's population is ethnically diverse : for example , roughly half of the region 's residents are Hispanic , Asian , African American , or Pacific Islander , all of whom have a significant presence throughout the region . The earliest archaeological evidence of human settlements in the Bay Area dates back to 8000-10,000 BC ( from shell mounds in the Coyote Hills ) . In 1769 , the Bay Area was inhabited by the Ohlone people when a Spanish exploration party led by Gaspar de Portolà entered the Bay - the first documented European visit to the Bay Area . After Mexico established independence from Spain in 1821 , the region was briefly controlled by the Mexican government until the United States purchased the territory in 1846 during the Mexican-American War . Soon after , discovery of gold in California attracted a flood of treasure seekers , many using ports in the Bay Area as an entry point . During the early years of California 's statehood , state legislative business rotated between three locations in the Bay Area before a permanent state capital was established in Sacramento . A major earthquake leveled the city of San Francisco and environs in 1906 , but the region quickly rebuilt in time to host the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition .
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco and colloquially known as SF , San Fran , Frisco , or The City , is the cultural , commercial , and financial center of Northern California . San Francisco is the 15th most populous city in the United States , and the fourth most populous in California , with 883,305 residents as of 2018 . It covers an area of about 46.89 square miles ( 121.4 km2 ) , mostly at the north end of the San Francisco Peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area , making it the second most densely populated large U.S. city , and the fifth most densely populated U.S. county , behind only four of the five New York City boroughs . San Francisco is the 12th-largest metropolitan statistical area in the United States by population , with 4.7 million people , and the 4th-largest by economic output , with GDP of $ 549 billion in 2018 . With San Jose , it forms the fifth most populous combined statistical area in the United States , the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland , CA Combined Statistical Area ( 9.67 million residents in 2018 ) . As of 2018 , San Francisco was the seventh-highest-income county in the United States , with a per capita personal income of $ 130,696 . In the same year , San Francisco proper had a GDP of $ 183.2 billion , and a GDP per capita of $ 207,371 . The CSA San Francisco shares with San Jose and Oakland was the country 's third-largest urban economy as of 2018 , with a GDP of $ 1.03 trillion . Of the 500+ primary statistical areas in the U.S. , this CSA had among the highest GDP per capita in 2018 , at $ 106,757 . San Francisco was ranked 12th in the world and 2nd in the United States on the Global Financial Centres Index as of September 2019 . As of 2016 , the San Francisco metropolitan area had the highest GDP per capita , labor productivity , and household income levels in the OECD . San Francisco was founded on June 29 , 1776 , when colonists from Spain established Presidio of San Francisco at the Golden Gate and Mission San Francisco de Asís a few miles away , all named for St. Francis of Assisi .
The East Bay is the eastern region of the San Francisco Bay Area and includes cities along the eastern shores of the San Francisco Bay and San Pablo Bay . The region has grown to include inland communities in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties . With a population of roughly 2.5 million in 2010 , it is the most populous subregion in the Bay Area . Oakland is the largest city in the East Bay and the third largest in the Bay Area . The city serves as a major transportation hub for the U.S. West Coast , and its port is the largest in Northern California . Increased population has led to the growth of large edge cities such as Alameda , Concord , Emeryville , Fremont , Pleasanton , San Ramon and Walnut Creek .
San Mateo County ( /ˌsæn məˈteɪ.oʊ/ SAN mə-TAY-oh ) , officially the County of San Mateo , is a county located in the U.S. state of California . As of the 2010 census , the population was 718,451 . The county seat is Redwood City . San Mateo County is included in the San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley , CA Metropolitan Statistical Area , and is part of the San Francisco Bay Area , the nine counties bordering San Francisco Bay . It covers most of the San Francisco Peninsula . San Francisco International Airport is located at the northern end of the county , and Silicon Valley begins at the southern end . The county 's built-up areas are mostly suburban with some areas being very urban , and are home to several corporate campuses .
Caltrain ( reporting mark JPBX ) is a California commuter rail line on the San Francisco Peninsula and in the Santa Clara Valley ( Silicon Valley ) . The northern terminus of the line is in San Francisco at 4th and King Streets ; its southern terminus is in San Jose at Diridon Station with select trains running as far as Gilroy . Trains leave San Francisco and San Jose hourly during weekdays , and every 90 minutes during weekends , with limited stop service during rush hour running every 20 minutes , and Baby Bullet express service running every 30 minutes . Extra trains are often run for special events held in Oracle Park in San Francisco , Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto , and SAP Center in San Jose . Caltrain operates 92 weekday trains , six of which extend to Gilroy . Weekday ridership in February 2018 averaged 65,095 . Caltrain is governed by the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board ( PCJPB ) which consists of agencies from the three counties served by Caltrain : San Francisco , San Mateo and Santa Clara . Each member agency has three representatives on a nine-member Board of Directors . The member agencies are the City and County of San Francisco , SamTrans and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority . Caltrain has 28 regular stops , one limited-service weekday-only stop ( College Park ) , one football-only stop ( Stanford ) , and two weekend-only stops ( Broadway and Atherton ) . As of July 2018 Caltrain runs 92 weekday trains ( 22 Baby Bullet ) , 36 Saturday ( 4 Baby Bullet ) , and 32 Sunday ( 4 Baby Bullet ) .
The San Francisco Peninsula is a peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area that separates San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean . On its northern tip is the City and County of San Francisco . Its southern base is in northern Santa Clara County , including the cities of Palo Alto , Mountain View , and Los Altos . Most of the Peninsula is occupied by San Mateo County , between San Francisco and Santa Clara counties , and including the cities and towns of Atherton , Belmont , Brisbane , Burlingame , Colma , Daly City , East Palo Alto , El Granada , Foster City , Hillsborough , Half Moon Bay , La Honda , Loma Mar , Los Altos , Menlo Park , Millbrae , Mountain View , Pacifica , Palo Alto , Pescadero , Portola Valley , Redwood City , San Bruno , San Carlos , San Mateo , South San Francisco , Sunnyvale , and Woodside . Whereas the term peninsula technically refers to the entire geographical San Franciscan Peninsula , in local jargon , The Peninsula does not include the city of San Francisco .
Coaster ( stylized as COASTER ) ( reporting mark NCTC ) is a commuter rail service that operates in the central and northern coastal regions of San Diego County , California , United States . The service is currently operated by Bombardier Transportation on contract with North County Transit District ( NCTD ) . The service has eight stops and operates primarily during weekday peak periods , with additional weekend and holiday service .
North County is a region in the northern area of San Diego County , California . It is the second-most populous region in the county ( after San Diego ) , with an estimated population of 869,322 . North County is well known for its affluence , especially in Encinitas , Carlsbad , Del Mar , Rancho Santa Fe , and Solana Beach , where house prices range , on average , above one million dollars . Cities along the 78 freeway ( Oceanside , Vista , San Marcos ) have more upper middle class incomes , while Escondido has more mixed income . Beach culture is prominent in the area , and many of the region 's beaches and lagoons are protected areas to help ensure the environment remains pristine , though there has been pressure from commercial entities to develop some of these areas .
San Diego County , officially the County of San Diego , is a county in the southwestern corner of the state of California , in the United States . As of the 2010 census , the population was 3,095,313. making it California 's second-most populous county and the fifth-most populous in the United States . Its county seat is San Diego , the eighth-most populous city in the United States . It is the southwesternmost county in the 48 contiguous United States . San Diego County comprises the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad , CA Metropolitan Statistical Area , which is the 17th most populous metropolitan statistical area and the 18th most populous primary statistical area of the United States as of July 1 , 2012 . San Diego is also part of the San Diego-Tijuana metropolitan area , the largest metropolitan area shared between the United States and Mexico . Greater San Diego ranks as the 38th largest metropolitan area in the Americas . San Diego County has more than 70 miles ( 110 km ) of coastline . This forms the most densely populated region of the county , which has a mild Mediterranean to semiarid climate and extensive chaparral vegetation , similar to the rest of the western portion of southern California . Precipitation and temperature extremes increase to the east , with mountains that receive frost and snow in the winter . These lushly forested mountains receive more rainfall than average in southern California , while the desert region of the county lies in a rain shadow to the east , which extends into the Desert Southwest region of North America . There are also 16 naval and military installations of the U.S. Navy , U.S. Marine Corps , and the U.S. Coast Guard in San Diego County .
San Diego ( /ˌsæn diˈeɪɡoʊ/ , Spanish : [ san ˈdjeɣo ] ; Spanish for Saint Didacus ) is a city in the U.S. state of California on the coast of the Pacific Ocean , approximately 120 miles ( 190 km ) south of Los Angeles and immediately adjacent to the border with Mexico . With an estimated population of 1,425,976 as of July 1 , 2018 , San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest in California . It is part of the San Diego-Tijuana conurbation , the second-largest transborder agglomeration between the U.S. and a bordering country after Detroit-Windsor , with a population of 4,922,723 people . The city is known for its mild year-round climate , natural deep-water harbor , extensive beaches , long association with the United States Navy , and recent emergence as a healthcare and biotechnology development center . San Diego has been called the birthplace of California . Historically home to the Kumeyaay people , it was the first site visited by Europeans on what is now the West Coast of the United States . Upon landing in San Diego Bay in 1542 , Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo claimed the area for Spain , forming the basis for the settlement of Alta California 200 years later . The Presidio and Mission San Diego de Alcalá , founded in 1769 , formed the first European settlement in what is now California . In 1821 , San Diego became part of the newly declared Mexican Empire , which reformed as the First Mexican Republic two years later . California became part of the United States in 1848 following the Mexican-American War and was admitted to the union as a state in 1850 . The city is the seat of San Diego County and is the economic center of the region as well as the San Diego-Tijuana metropolitan area . San Diego 's main economic engines are military and defense-related activities , tourism , international trade , and manufacturing .
Oceanside is a coastal city located on California 's South Coast . It is the third-largest city in San Diego County , California . The city had a population of 167,086 at the 2010 census . Together with Carlsbad and Vista , it forms a tri-city area . Oceanside is located just south of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton .
The Los Angeles Metro Rail is an urban rail transportation system serving Los Angeles County , California . It consists of six lines , including two rapid transit subway lines ( the B and D lines ) and four light rail lines ( the A , C , L and E lines ) serving 93 stations . It connects with the Metro Busway bus rapid transit system ( the G Line ( Orange ) and J Line ( Silver ) ) and also with the Metrolink commuter rail system . Metro Rail is owned and operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority ( Metro ) and started service in 1990 . It has been extended significantly since that time and several further extensions are either in the works or being considered . The system served a ridership of 344,176 on an average weekday in 2018 . Los Angeles had two previous rail transit systems , the Pacific Electric Red Car and Los Angeles Railway Yellow Car lines , which operated between the late 19th century and the 1960s . The Metro Rail system utilizes many of their former rights-of-way , and thus can be considered their indirect successor .
Los Angeles County , officially the County of Los Angeles , in the Los Angeles metropolitan area of the U.S. state of California , is the single most populous county in the United States , with more than 10 million inhabitants as of 2018 [ update ] . As such , it is the largest non-state level government entity in the United States . Its population is larger than that of 41 individual U.S. states . It is the third-largest metropolitan economy in the world , with a Nominal GDP of over $ 700 billion - larger than the GDPs of countries such as Belgium , Norway , or Taiwan . It has 88 incorporated cities and many unincorporated areas and , at 4,083 square miles ( 10,570 km2 ) , it is larger than the combined areas of Delaware and Rhode Island . The county is home to more than one-quarter of California residents and is one of the most ethnically-diverse counties in the U.S. Its county seat , Los Angeles , is also California 's most populous city and the second most populous city in the U.S. , with about 4 million residents .
Metrolink ( reporting mark SCAX ) is a commuter rail system in Southern California consisting of seven lines and 62 stations operating on 534 miles ( 859 km ) of rail network . The system operates in Los Angeles , Orange , Riverside , San Bernardino , and Ventura counties , as well as to Oceanside in San Diego County . It connects with the Los Angeles County Metro Rail and Metro Busway system , the San Diego Coaster commuter rail and Sprinter light rail services , and with Amtrak 's Pacific Surfliner , Coast Starlight , Southwest Chief , Sunset Limited , and Texas Eagle intercity rail services . Metrolink owns several hundred miles of rail ; however , it also shares some track with freight trains . The system , founded in 1991 as the Southern California Regional Rail Authority ( SCRRA ) and adopting Metrolink as its moniker , started operation in 1992 . Average weekday ridership was 42,928 as of 2017 .
Los Angeles ( /lɔːs ˈændʒələs/ ( listen ) ; [ a ] Spanish : Los Ángeles ; Spanish for The Angels ) , officially the City of Los Angeles and often known by its initials L.A. , is the most populous city in California ; the second most populous city in the United States , after New York City ; and the third most populous city in North America , after Mexico City and New York City . With an estimated population of nearly four million people , Los Angeles is the cultural , financial , and commercial center of Southern California . The city is known for its Mediterranean climate , ethnic diversity , Hollywood , the entertainment industry , and its sprawling metropolis . Los Angeles lies in a basin in Southern California , adjacent to the Pacific Ocean , with mountains as high as 10,000 feet ( 3,000 m ) , and deserts . The city , which covers about 469 square miles ( 1,210 km2 ) , is the seat of Los Angeles County , the most populous county in the United States . The Los Angeles metropolitan area ( MSA ) is the second-largest metropolitan area in the nation with a population of 13.1 million people . Greater Los Angeles , which includes the metro area of Riverside and San Bernardino , is the nation 's second most populous combined statistical area , with a 2015 estimate of 18.7 million people . Historically home to the Chumash and Tongva , Los Angeles was claimed by Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo for Spain in 1542 . The city was officially founded on September 4 , 1781 , by Spanish governor Felipe de Neve . It became a part of Mexico in 1821 following the Mexican War of Independence . In 1848 , at the end of the Mexican-American War , Los Angeles and the rest of California were purchased as part of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo , and thus became part of the United States . Los Angeles was incorporated as a municipality on April 4 , 1850 , five months before California achieved statehood .
Southern California ( colloquially known as SoCal ; Spanish : Sur de California ) is a geographic and cultural region that generally comprises the southernmost counties of California , and is the second most populous urban agglomeration in the United States . The region contains ten counties : Imperial , Kern , Los Angeles , Orange , Riverside , San Bernardino , San Diego , Santa Barbara , San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties . The Colorado Desert and the Colorado River are located on southern California 's eastern border with Arizona , and the Mojave Desert is located north on California 's Nevada border . Southern California 's southern border is part of the Mexico-United States border .
Los Angeles County , officially the County of Los Angeles , in the Los Angeles metropolitan area of the U.S. state of California , is the single most populous county in the United States , with more than 10 million inhabitants as of 2018 [ update ] . As such , it is the largest non-state level government entity in the United States . Its population is larger than that of 41 individual U.S. states . It is the third-largest metropolitan economy in the world , with a Nominal GDP of over $ 700 billion - larger than the GDPs of countries such as Belgium , Norway , or Taiwan . It has 88 incorporated cities and many unincorporated areas and , at 4,083 square miles ( 10,570 km2 ) , it is larger than the combined areas of Delaware and Rhode Island . The county is home to more than one-quarter of California residents and is one of the most ethnically-diverse counties in the U.S. Its county seat , Los Angeles , is also California 's most populous city and the second most populous city in the U.S. , with about 4 million residents .
Orange County is a county located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area in the U.S. state of California . As of the 2010 census , the population was 3,010,232 , making it the third-most populous county in California , the sixth most populous in the U.S. , and more populous than 21 U.S. states . Although mostly suburban , it is the second most densely populated county in the state , behind San Francisco County . The county 's four most populous cities , Anaheim , Santa Ana ( the county seat ) , Irvine , and Huntington Beach , each have a population exceeding 200,000 . Six cities are on the Pacific coast , including Seal Beach , Huntington Beach , Newport Beach , Laguna Beach , Dana Point , and San Clemente . Orange County is included in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim Metropolitan Statistical Area . The county has 34 incorporated cities . Older cities like Santa Ana , Anaheim , and Fullerton have traditional downtowns dating back to the 19th century , while newer commercial development or edge cities stretch along I-5 between Disneyland and Santa Ana and between South Coast Plaza and the Irvine Business Complex , and cluster at Irvine Spectrum . Northern and Central Orange County , while single-family homes are still prevalent , is relatively more urbanized and dense , while beyond Irvine , the county is relatively less dense , though still contiguous , suburban and not exurban . The county is a tourist center , with attractions like Disneyland , Knott 's Berry Farm , and several popular beaches along its more than 40 miles ( 64 km ) of coastline .
Riverside County is a county located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of California . As of the 2010 census , the population was 2,189,641 , making it the fourth-most populous county in California and the 11th-most populous in the United States . The name was derived from the city of Riverside , which is the county seat . Riverside County is included in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario Metropolitan Statistical Area , also known as the Inland Empire . The county is also included in the Los Angeles-Long Beach Combined Statistical Area . Roughly rectangular , Riverside County covers 7,208 square miles ( 18,670 km2 ) in Southern California , spanning from the greater Los Angeles area to the Arizona border . Geographically , the county is mostly desert in the central and eastern portions , but has a Mediterranean climate in the western portion . Most of Joshua Tree National Park is located in the county . The resort cities of Palm Springs , Palm Desert , Indian Wells , La Quinta , Rancho Mirage , and Desert Hot Springs are all located in the Coachella Valley region of central Riverside County . Large numbers of Los Angeles area workers have moved to the county in recent years ( data from the US Census Bureau for 2007 through 2011 ) to take advantage of relatively affordable housing . Along with neighboring San Bernardino County , it was one of the fastest growing regions in the state prior to the recent changes in the regional economy . In addition , smaller , but significant , numbers of people have been moving into southwest Riverside County from the San Diego metropolitan area .
San Bernardino County , officially the County of San Bernardino , is a county located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of California , and is located within the Inland Empire area . As of the 2010 U.S. Census , the population was 2,035,210 , making it the fifth-most populous county in California and the 14th-most populous in the United States . The county seat is San Bernardino . While included within the Greater Los Angeles area , San Bernardino County is included in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan statistical area ( also known as the Inland Empire ) , as well as the Los Angeles-Long Beach combined statistical area . With an area of 20,105 square miles ( 52,070 km2 ) , San Bernardino County is the largest county in the United States by area , although some of Alaska 's boroughs and census areas are larger . The county is close to the size of West Virginia . This vast county stretches from where the bulk of the county population resides in three Census County Divisions ( Ontario , San Bernardino , & Victorville-Hesperia ) , holding 1,793,186 people as of the 2010 Census , covering the 1,730 square miles ( 4,480 km2 ) , across the thinly populated deserts and mountains . It spans an area from south of the San Bernardino Mountains in San Bernardino Valley , to the Nevada border and the Colorado River .
Ventura County is a county in the southern part of the U.S. state of California . As of the 2010 census , the population was 823,318 . The largest city is Oxnard , and the county seat is the city of Ventura . Ventura County comprises the Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura , CA Metropolitan Statistical Area , which is also included in the Los Angeles-Long Beach , CA Combined Statistical Area . It is also considered the southernmost county along the California Central Coast . Two of the California Channel Islands are part of the county : Anacapa Island , which is the most visited island in Channel Islands National Park , and San Nicolas Island .
The Muni Metro is a light rail system serving San Francisco , California , United States , operated by the San Francisco Municipal Railway ( Muni ) , a division of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency ( SFMTA ) . With an average weekday ridership of 162,500 passengers as of the fourth quarter of 2017 , Muni Metro is the United States ' third busiest light rail system . Muni Metro operates a fleet of 151 Breda light rail vehicles ( LRVs ) , which are being supplemented and replaced by Siemens S200 SF LRVs . Muni Metro is the modern incarnation of the traditional streetcar system that had served San Francisco since the late 19th century . While many streetcar lines in other cities , and even in San Francisco itself , were converted to buses after World War II , five lines survived until the early 1980s , when they were rerouted into the newly built Market Street Subway . The system today traverses a number of different types of rights of way , including tunnels , reserved surface trackage with at-grade street crossings , and streetcar sections operating in mixed traffic ; surface stops range from high-platform stations to traditional curbside streetcar stops . Recently , the system has undergone expansion , most notably the Third Street Light Rail Project , completed in 2007 , which started the first new rail line in San Francisco in over half a century . Other projects , such as the Central Subway , are underway .
The Sacramento RT Light Rail system ( reporting mark SCRT ) is a 42.9 mi ( 69.0 km ) light rail system , consisting of three rail lines , 54 stations , and 76 vehicles . It is operated by the Sacramento Regional Transit District . Sacramento 's light rail system , with an average of 36,800 weekday daily boardings in Q3 2018 , is the sixteenth busiest in the United States .
Sacramento ( /ˌsækrəˈmɛntoʊ/ SAK-rə-MEN-toh ; Spanish : [ sakɾaˈmento ] ; Spanish for sacrament ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the seat of Sacramento County . Located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in Northern California 's Sacramento Valley , Sacramento 's estimated 2018 population of 501,334 makes it the sixth-largest city in California and the ninth largest capital in the United States . Sacramento is the seat of the California Legislature and the Governor of California , making it the state 's political center and a hub for lobbying and think tanks . Sacramento is also the cultural and economic core of the Sacramento metropolitan area , which had a 2010 population of 2,414,783 , making it the fifth largest in California . Before the arrival of the Spanish , the area was inhabited by the Nisenan , indigenous peoples of California . Spanish cavalryman Gabriel Moraga surveyed and named the Rio del Santísimo Sacramento ( Sacramento River ) in 1808 , after the Blessed Sacrament , referring to the Eucharist in the Catholic Church . In 1839 , Juan Bautista Alvarado , Mexican governor of Alta California , granted the responsibility of colonizing the Sacramento Valley to Swiss-born Mexican citizen John Augustus Sutter , who subsequently established Sutter 's Fort and the settlement at the Rancho Nueva Helvetia . Following the American Conquest of California and the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo , the waterfront developed by Sutter began to be developed , and incorporated in 1850 as the City of Sacramento . As a result of the California Gold Rush , Sacramento became a major commercial center and distribution point for Northern California , serving as the terminus for the Pony Express and the First Transcontinental Railroad . Sacramento is the fastest-growing major city in California , owing to its status as a notable financial center on the West Coast and as a major educational hub , home of California State University , Sacramento and University of California , Davis . Similarly , Sacramento is a major center for the California healthcare industry , as the seat of Sutter Health , the world-renowned UC Davis Medical Center , and the UC Davis School of Medicine , and notable tourist destination in California , as the site of The California Museum , the Crocker Art Museum , the California State Railroad Museum , the California Hall of Fame , the California State Capitol Museum , and the Old Sacramento State Historic Park . Sacramento International Airport , located northwest of the city , is the city 's major airport .
The San Diego Trolley ( reporting mark SDTI ) is a light rail system operating in the metropolitan area of San Diego . It is known colloquially as The Trolley . The Trolley 's operator , San Diego Trolley , Inc. ( SDTI ) , is a subsidiary of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System ( MTS ) . The Trolley began service on July 26 , 1981 , making it the oldest of the second-generation light rail systems in the United States . The entire Trolley network serves 53 stations , and comprises 53.5 miles ( 86.1 km ) of route , and three primary lines named the Blue Line , the Orange Line , and the Green Line , as well as a supplementary heritage streetcar downtown circulator known as the Silver Line that operates on select weekdays , weekends and holidays . In Q4 2014 , the Trolley was the 5th most-ridden light rail system in the United States , with an average of 119,800 riders per weekday . The San Diego Trolley is operated by MTS , which is one of the oldest transit systems in Southern California dating back to the 1880s , although its operating names have changed over the years . San Diego Trolley initially used the same German-built Siemens-Duewag U2 vehicles as the Edmonton Light Rail Transit system in Edmonton and the C-Train in Calgary , Alberta , Canada , and the Frankfurt U-Bahn in Frankfurt , Germany . The fleet has since been expanded to include Siemens SD-100 vehicles , and most recently Siemens S70 vehicles .
The San Francisco cable car system is the world 's last manually operated cable car system . An icon of San Francisco , the cable car system forms part of the intermodal urban transport network operated by the San Francisco Municipal Railway . Of the 23 lines established between 1873 and 1890 , only three remain ( one of which combines parts of two earlier lines ) : two routes from downtown near Union Square to Fisherman 's Wharf , and a third route along California Street . While the cable cars are used to a certain extent by commuters , the vast majority of their seven million annual passengers are tourists , and as a result , the wait to get on can often reach two hours or more . They are among the most significant tourist attractions in the city , along with Alcatraz Island , the Golden Gate Bridge , and Fisherman 's Wharf . The cable cars are listed on the National Register of Historic Places . The cable cars are separate from San Francisco 's heritage streetcars , which operate on Market Street and the Embarcadero , as well as from the more modern Muni Metro light rail system .
A tram ( in North America streetcar or trolley ) is a rail vehicle that runs on tramway tracks along public urban streets ; some include segments of segregated right-of-way . The lines or networks operated by tramcars are called tramways . Historically the term electric street railways was also used in the United States . In the United States , the term tram has sometimes been used for rubber-tired trackless trains , which are unrelated to other kinds of trams . Tram vehicles are usually lighter and shorter than main line and rapid transit trains . Today , most trams use electrical power , usually fed by a pantograph sliding on an overhead line ; older systems may use a trolley pole or a bow collector . In some cases by a contact shoe on a third rail is used . If necessary , they may have dual power systems - electricity in city streets , and diesel in more rural environments . Occasionally , trams also carry freight . Trams are now commonly included in the wider term light rail , which also includes grade-separated systems . Some trams , known as tram-trains , may have segments that run on mainline railway tracks , similar to interurban systems . The differences between these modes of rail transport are often indistinct , and a given system may combine multiple features .
Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit ( SMART ) is a passenger rail service and bicycle-pedestrian pathway project in Sonoma and Marin counties of the U.S. state of California . When completed , the entire system will serve a 70-mile ( 110 km ) corridor between Cloverdale in northern Sonoma County and Larkspur Landing in Marin County . The first phase of the system , a 43-mile ( 69 km ) segment between Northern Santa Rosa and Downtown San Rafael , opened to public preview and excursion services ( as far south as Marin Civic Center ) on June 29 , 2017 . Regular service began on August 25 , 2017 , after Federal Railroad Administration ( FRA ) gave the final approval for the Positive Train Control ( PTC ) system . The southern two miles ( 3.2 km ) of the line was completed to Larkspur with service commencing on December 14 , 2019 .
Sonoma County is a county in the U.S. state of California . As of the 2010 United States Census , its population was 483,878 . Its county seat and largest city is Santa Rosa . It is to the north of Marin County and the south of Mendocino County . It is west of Napa County and Lake County . Sonoma County comprises the Santa Rosa-Petaluma , CA Metropolitan Statistical Area , which is also included in the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland , CA Combined Statistical Area . It is the northwesternmost county in the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area region . Sonoma is the southwestern county and largest producer of California 's Wine Country region , which also includes Napa , Mendocino , and Lake counties . It possesses thirteen approved American Viticultural Areas and over 350 wineries . In 2012 , Sonoma County ranked as the 22nd county in the United States in agricultural production . As early as 1920 , Sonoma County was ranked as the eighth most agriculturally productive US county and a leading producer of hops , grapes , prunes , apples , and dairy and poultry products , largely due to the extent of available , fertile agricultural land in addition to the abundance of high quality irrigation water . More than 8.4 million tourists visit each year , spending more than $ 1 billion in 2016 .
Marin County /məˈrɪn/ is a county located in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California . As of the 2010 census , the population was 252,409 . Its county seat is San Rafael . Marin County is included in the San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley , CA Metropolitan Statistical Area across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco . As of 2010 , Marin County had the fifth highest income per capita in the United States at $ 91,483 . [ needs update ] The county is governed by the Marin County Board of Supervisors . The county is also well known for its natural environment . [ citation needed ] San Quentin State Prison is located in the county , as is George Lucas ' Skywalker Ranch . Autodesk , the publisher of AutoCAD , is also located there , as well as numerous other high-tech companies . The Marin County Civic Center was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and draws thousands of visitors a year to guided tours of its arch and atrium design . In 1994 , a new county jail facility was embedded into the hillside nearby . Marin County 's natural sites include the Muir Woods redwood forest , the Marin Headlands , Stinson Beach , the Point Reyes National Seashore , and Mount Tamalpais .
The Sprinter ( stylized as SPRINTER ) is a DMU-operated light rail line operating between Oceanside and Escondido , California , United States . The service uses the pre-existing 22 miles ( 35 km ) Escondido Branch trackage of the San Diego Northern Railroad . Station platforms were constructed for the line 's fifteen stations serving the cities of Oceanside ( western terminus ) , Vista , San Marcos , and Escondido ( eastern terminus ) . The line provides service to Palomar College and California State University , San Marcos . Sprinter service operates every 30 minutes and is targeted towards commuters . The Sprinter is operated by the North County Transit District of Oceanside , the area 's public transit agency . The agency also operates the Coaster commuter rail line and the BREEZE Bus routes . At Oceanside Transit Center , the Sprinter connects to three commuter rail lines ( the Coaster , the Metrolink Orange County Line , and the Metrolink Inland Empire-Orange County Line ) , as well as to Amtrak 's Pacific Surfliner regional rail line . A 2007 study by the San Diego Association of Governments ( SANDAG ) predicted that the Sprinter would reduce road trips by 5,000 a day ( a round trip by car would be two road trips ) . It also predicted over 11,000 riders ( trips ) per day by the end of the first year . Ridership numbers did climb after opening , reaching just under 8,000 people per day as of March 2008 . Average weekday ridership for FY2018 was approximately 8,300 .
Escondido ( /ˌɛskənˈdiːdoʊ/ ES-kən-DEE-doh ) is a city in San Diego County 's North County region , 30 miles ( 48 km ) northeast of downtown San Diego , 11.5 miles from the ocean , and 35 miles from the Mexican border . The city occupies a shallow valley ringed by rocky hills . Incorporated in 1888 , it is one of the oldest cities in San Diego County . It had a population of 143,911 in the 2010 census .
VTA Light Rail ( reporting mark SCCT ) is a light rail system serving San Jose , California , and its suburbs in Silicon Valley . It is operated by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority , or VTA , and consists of 42.2 miles ( 67.9 km ) of network comprising two main lines and a spur line on standard gauge tracks . Originally opened on December 11 , 1987 , the light rail system has gradually expanded since then , and currently has 60 light rail stations in operation on the three lines . VTA operates a fleet of Kinki Sharyo Low Floor Light Rail Vehicles ( LFLRV ) to service its passengers . The system 's average weekday daily ridership as of Q3 2018 is 28,800 passengers ; the greatest daily average recorded over a month was 37,536 in June 2008 .