Skip to Content
Streetsblog California home
Log In
San Diego

San Diego Parking Craters Could House 8,000 Families Near Light Rail Stations

2:35 PM PDT on April 27, 2018

San Diego’s Planning Commission approved new rules to relax parking requirements near transit. Photo: Circulate San Diego

San Diego's light rail stations are not what you'd call hubs of activity.

At most of its trolley stops, the Metropolitan Transit System maintains hundreds of parking spaces. And some of these park-and-ride fields are only 30 percent full on at peak hours, according to a new report from the nonprofit Circulate San Diego. It's time for MTS to get busy redeveloping these sites as spaces where people can live, the group says.

MTS controls some 57 acres of prime developable land, according the report. Under current zoning rules, this real estate could support the construction of more than 8,000 homes. Circulate San Diego recommends that 3,000 of them be reserved for people making no more than 60 percent of the area median income.

Many transit agencies -- notably Atlanta -- have facilitated new development near key stations.

San Diego's MTS is perfectly capable of inviting development proposals at its stations. However, the agency has not issued requests for proposals in more than 10 years, Circulate San Diego found.

"The result is a substantial amount of publicly owned land that is adjacent to a transit stop and not used by anyone for any purpose" writes author Colin Parent.

At the Amaya Drive Station, for example, just under half the 236 parking spots are used during weekdays, according to a survey by volunteers.

The specter of NIMBY opposition is one reason MTS might be hesitant to pursue development opportunities that would make the transit system more useful to more people. By leaving these parking lots untouched, Parent writes, "MTS can avoid difficult conversations with adjoining landowners, neighborhood groups, and other stakeholders."

But that neglects the MTS Board's obligation "to ensure the agency uses it real estate assets to benefit both the agency directly and other important public policy goals," Parent writes. Circulate San Diego recommends that MTS inventory its land holdings and issue a series of RFPs to redevelop strategic sites.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog California

Friday’s Headlines

Caltrans, we need complete streets everywhere, including at freeway interchanges (or maybe especially there); Public agencies and academics join forces to develop AV standards; Republicans really want to suspend the gas tax; More

September 29, 2023

Transit Month Event: Disability Access is for Everyone

BART was the first accessible transit system in the country. Advocates want Bay Area transit agencies to do better at keeping buses and trains accessible for all

September 28, 2023

New Federal Committee Will Push for Transportation Equity By Helping DOT Reckon With Its Past

"Everybody who alive today and in a position of responsibility is accountable for what we do about transportation inequities. That's why we're here.”

September 28, 2023

Thursday’s Headlines

There's new transit funding available, CA needs to access it; Bus shelters are not some optional perk; Biking is up nationwide; More

September 28, 2023
See all posts