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Buses, trains, freeways, ferries and trolleys make travel accessible and economical for commuters in San Diego. And the City is well-connected with the rest of the country and the world through highways, rail, sea and air. The City of San Diego adheres to "Transit Oriented Development" guidelines to discourage urban sprawl and to promote the creation of places for people instead of automobiles. The guidelines call for the development of places that are designed to be pedestrian friendly, are connected to transit, and have a mix of uses.
The City works with local agencies to provide transportation systems for its residents and visitors. Bus and trolley service, as well as its commuter rail stations, in the City are served by the Metropolitan Transit System. The Port of San Diego operates San Diego International Airport and the maritime activities of San Diego Bay.
Streets and Highways
- San Diego has a well-developed and relatively uncongested highway system. Four major interstate freeways and six state highways serve the City. The average daily round-trip commute ranks fifth best compared to the 20 largest metropolitan areas in the nation. Since 1980, more than 1,000 miles of streets and highways have been added to the San Diego region. More than 50 miles of new and upgraded freeways and expressways are planned for development in the San Diego area by 2010.
Mass Transit
- Nearly 50 miles of light-rail trolley lines circle downtown San Diego and connect the area with East County, Old Town, South Bay, Mission Valley, Qualcomm Stadium and the international border with Mexico. Two new trolley line extensions are planned.
- Passenger rail service is provided by Amtrak and Coaster commuter trains. Amtrak operates nine daily trains to San Diego. The Coaster operates during peak hours connecting San Diego County coastal cities.
- The Metropolitan Transit System operates 29 bus routes covering 635 miles.
Airport
- San Diego International Airport,
centrally located near downtown San Diego, accommodates daily flights
to 158 cities serving an average 36,500 passengers daily, handles more
than 70,000 tons of air cargo annually. Commuter flights also depart
from McClellan Palomar Airport in North San Diego County. Tijuana
International Airport, near the international border, is served
by a number of major airlines.
Seaport
- The Port of San Diego controls the maritime operations of San Diego Harbor, and has three major terminals. San Diego has a growing cruise ship operation, and cargo operations are also a major sector with produce imports from South America, vehicle imports from Germany, Japan and Mexico, and other trade operations.
Freight
- Daily freight rail service is provided by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway. Trains have direct connections to many major cities throughout the United States. There is also freight rail service to Mexico from San Diego.
- More than 80 trucking companies are located in San Diego County providing freight, hauling or equipment services.
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