Frequently Asked Questions
How will the trolley benefit students at SDSU?
When operational in early 2005, the trolley will provide many benefits to the campus and the community. The trolley will
help relieve parking and traffic congestion near the campus. It will allow riders to save money on costs associated with
commuting, parking and auto insurance. It will also provide an important link to the community and a "bridge" from the
campus to the U.S./Mexico border.
What security measures are planned for the station at SDSU?
The trolley station at SDSU will be one of the most secure locations on campus. It will have an on-site security office.
There will be two around-the-clock Metropolitan Transit Service security personnel on site at all times. SDSU Police
will overlap with the trolley security. Surveillance cameras will also be utilized and monitored 24 hours a day. In addition,
the station will be one of the best lighted places on campus.
What systems are in place to ensure fire safety in the tunnel?
There is a very sophisticated Fire/Life Safety Plan to insure tunnel safety. It includes ventilation fans, evacuation plans
(i.e. stairways corridors, tunnel walkways, safe havens, escalators etc. The underground station has sprinklers and the
tunnel has a wet standpipe with fire hoses. Both have fire detection systems and fire alarm systems. MTDB has a standing
Fire Life Safety Committee with police, fire, SDSU police and fire marshall, Public Utilities Commision, State Fire Marshall
and San Diego Trolley Inc, which have helped develop the overall plan and meets on quarterly basis to review progress
and plan for the future startup and training. It is safe to saythat MTDB is installing state of the art measures for Fire/Life/Safety
under the guidance of F/L/S and the ongoing overview of SFM and San Diego Fire Department.
How far along is the construction on the trolley?
Work began on the Trolley in November 2000, and is past the 50 percent complete mark. It is on schedule to begin
service to campus in mid 2005.
How big is the underground trolley station?
The underground trolley station will be 300-feet long, 80-feet wide and 55-feet tall. To excavate a station this large
it will take more than 18,000 dump trucks removing enough materials to fill 76 Olympic-sized pools. It will take enough
concrete to build a ten-story building to complete the station.
Where is the trolley route and underground station at SDSU?
The trolley will be routed from Interstate 8 southward on a bridge over Parking Lot X, through a tunnel between Parking
Structure 4 and West Commons. The route will continue under the tennis courts and softball field. The first-of-its-kind
underground transit station will be under Aztec Walk between Adams Humanities and Aztec Center. The trolley will emerge
again at street level on the east side of College Avenue, near E Lot. It will be routed behind Parking Structure 1, elevated
on a bridge over Parking Lot C and Alvarado Road, then re-paralleling I-8 to connect to the Grossmont Station in La
Mesa.
During construction how will parking be impacted?
While construction will relocate parking somewhat over the four-year trolley construction project, there will be a net
increase of parking spaces on campus even with ongoing construction activities. Intermittently, construction will
impact parking in lots C, D, E, F, G, W and X. Visitor parking will be re-distributed to Parking Structure 5 (Aztrac). PS 6
has been completed adding an additional 2,458 spaces.
Won't trolley construction be noisy and disrupt classes?
The University and MTDB have agreed to several construction procedures that will minimize noise impacts on campus.
There will be limited construction during finals or during commencement. Also, a 16-foot high sound abatement wall
has been built, double-glazed windows installed and dust abatement programs are in effect.
Will there be detours on campus due to trolley construction?
With any large construction project, detours do occur. Please look for red trolley construction notice/detour signs to
detour you around closed areas. For up-to-the-minute updates on construction, please call the trolley construction
Talkline at 619-594-TALK (8255).
How will I receive information on trolley construction?
A campus-wide communication campaign called "Education on Track" is on going. To receive up-to-date information,
register at www.sdsutrolley.com. There is a live interaction Web cam for instant, real time looks at construction progress.
Education on Track has also launched a Trolley Construction Talkline at (619-594-TALK) to announce construction activity.
In addition Education on Track will provide, Daily Aztec updates, posters and other signage to notify faculty, staff and
students of construction activity.
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