Report: San Diego Trolley Extension Cost Double the Average for U.S. Light Rail

Experts attribute the high cost of the project to local opposition and call on state and federal leaders to give transportation agencies more authority over local jurisdictions.

2 minute read

January 24, 2022, 11:00 AM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


San Diego Trolley car

The Port of Authority / San Diego Trolley car

A report from UC Berkeley found that San Diego's Blue Line trolley extension cost double the per-mile average for similar projects, but was completed in half the average time. Joshua Emerson Smith outlines the findings of the study, which also analyzed four other rail projects in the state.

Ethan Elkind, co-author of the report, says the high cost of the San Diego project is indicative of the many challenges faced by rail initiatives in places like California. According to Elkind, the project was "well executed," but remains a "cautionary tale." The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) worked with local stakeholders to reduce opposition and mitigate community concerns, raising the cost of the project by promising new parking spaces in certain areas and elevating the trolley tracks on the UC San Diego campus. 

The report recommends that state and federal leaders "crack down" on local opposition to rail projects, with Elkind arguing that "we need to empower transit leaders to make decisions for the good of the region and not always give in to local demands along the route." But agency leaders like SANDAG Executive Director Hasan Ikhrata are reluctant to take an aggressive approach or take away local land use authority.

Other California rail projects have shown varied results: while San Francisco's Central Subway project has encountered major delays and cost increases, L.A.'s Purple Line extension is costing 70 percent of the national average. The report calls the state's beleaguered high-speed rail project "a case study in how not to build rail," citing the project's lack of foresight in securing land acquisition before designing routes.

Wednesday, January 19, 2022 in San Diego Union-Tribune

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

U-Haul truck on road with blurred grassy roadside in background.

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?

Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

March 27, 2025 - Alan Mallach

High-rise apartment buildings in Waikiki, Hawaii with steep green mountains in background.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss

The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

April 6, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Rusty abandoned oil well and equipment with prickly pear cactus next to it in West Texas.

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage

Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

March 31, 2025 - Pennsylvania State University

Rendering of proposed greenway design for downtown San Diego street.

San Diego Swaps Parking Lane for Kid-Friendly Mini Park

The block-long greenway will feature interactive play equipment and landscaping.

April 7 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Oil well on hilltop in Los Angeles with city neighborhoods in background.

Tracking the Invisible: Methane Leaks From LA’s Neighborhood Oil Sites

Environmental advocates are using infrared technology to monitor and document methane leaks from neighborhood oil sites, filling regulatory gaps and pushing for stronger protections to safeguard community health and the climate.

April 7 - LAist

Downtown Billings, Montana with mountains in background.

Montana Bill Promotes Parking Reform

A bill before the Montana state senate would bar cities from requiring more than one parking spot per new housing unit.

April 7 - Montana Free Press