In 1996, the trolley line was extended 3.2 miles from Downtown San Diego to Old Town along the existing rail line. From Old Town, the trolley extended its service into Mission Valley in November 1997, providing connections to the Fashion Valley and Mission Valley Shopping Centers and Qualcomm Stadium. Future trolley extensions will continue the Mission Valley line east, serving the campus of San Diego State University, and connecting with the existing East Line of the trolley in La Mesa. When this segment is completed in 2004, the trolley will provide a full loop system in the metropolitan area. The planned Mid-Coast trolley line will serve the Golden Triangle area, including UCSD and University Towne Center.
Work is under way to qualify the north line for federal funding.
This extension is scheduled for completion by 2005. In addition, future rail service improvements are in the works for a light rail-type operation in the Route 78 corridor between Oceanside and Escondido. Transit officials have identified an alignment as well as station locations for this east-west rail project, which also will serve the students, faculty and staff of Palomar College and California State University at San Marcos. Each of the region's 18 cities and the county government are using the remaining third of TransNet funds to improve the local street network. TransNet is helping local communities throughout the region to fund street paving projects, make traffic signal and safety improvements, and construct and widen streets and bridges to help relieve existing traffic congestion.